Sunday, February 22, 2004

Today@Sam: Plans Made to Celebrate Four Historical Occasions

The Walker County Historical Commission, Sam Houston Memorial Museum and the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors’ Center will host a day of activities in honor of four historical occasions on March 2.

The day, which marks Gen. Sam Houston’s birthday, Texas Independence Day Texas Flag Day and Walker County Pioneer Day, will begin with coffee and a reception at Gibbs Powel House Museum, at 1228 11th St., from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m. a group of students, faculty member and administrators, band members, and others interested in continuing the traditional march to the Sam Houston grave will assemble at the Old Main Memorial area.

James Patton, county clerk and long time Huntsville historian, said that Sam Houston Normal Institute students began such marches in 1889, carrying United States and Texas flags. "This tradition continued through the years, with the president of Sam Houston leading the way in an open automobile through about 1966," Patton said. "In 1981, the Walker County Historical Commission renewed this old tradition and broadened the event."

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