Historical building collection includes Sam Houston hideaway

From the Conroe Courier, December 1, 2008:

Historians and educators are wrestling with the challenge of preserving a collection of historical buildings – including a hunting lodge used by Sam Houston – in a secluded area of Montgomery County. Fernland, the 40-acre parcel of land donated to Sam Houston State University in 2002, is important to scholars and state historians because it features five historical buildings dating back to the 1820s.

“It’s a secluded site without modern conveniences like water, power and sewer,” said Dr. Patrick Nolan, director of the Sam Houston Museum in Huntsville. “Making it available to the public is a challenge.”

Carroll and May Tharp acquired the first of five historic buildings from Montgomery and Walker Counties in 1974, painstakingly dismantling the structures and moving them to Fernland. Over the years, the buildings were restored to their original condition.

Fernland, a 40-acre parcel of land in Montgomery County maintained by Sam Houston State University, contains five historic buildings dating back to the 1820s, including Bear Bend, a log hunting lodge used by Sam Houston. The Lone Star Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas offers educational talks on the historic site. For information or to schedule a presentation, visit www.lonestarsrt.org.