A press release from Preservation Texas:

The board of Preservation Texas, the only statewide nonprofit dedicated solely to preservation, visited Wharton, aka “Harrison, Texas” in playwright Horton Foote’s terminology, last week to hold its quarterly board meeting.

On Friday, the preservation group conducted their board meeting at the Carriage House at the Morris Ranch, and was hosted by Stewart Morris, whose company, Steward Title, funded the restoration of the Wharton County Courthouse Tower Clock.

That afternoon the group toured the Wharton County Courthouse with Paul Shannon and Jeffery Blair and afterwards held a public reception at the Plaza Theatre.  That evening, it was off to “Bountiful” and Bud Northington’s Egypt Plantation, for a meal and a history lesson to learn how early settlers and a “Sea of Mud” contributed to achieve Texas Independence.

On Saturday, the group toured historic sites and neighborhoods, including the restored Wharton Southern Pacific Passenger Depot Museum, Hopper Elementary and the 2oth Century Technology museum, before heading to Houston to hold the 2014 Preservation Texas statewide honor awards at the restored 1910 Harris County Courthouse.

The Wharton Chamber of Commerce organized the arrangements for the visit to Wharton, including catering from Hinze’s BBQ, and Mrs. T’s.  Special thanks to Colorado Valley Transit bus driver Lloyd Aldridge, who drove the bus for the Saturday tour.