On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Texas City Museum received the donation of an important piece of Texas City’s rich history from longtime resident, educator and community historian Vera Bell-Gary, in celebration of her 100th birthday. She will donate the saddle and branding iron of Thomas Caldwell, one of the founders of the city’s 1867 Settlement. The branding iron of one of the other founders, Calvin Bell, is currently housed in the Smithsonian. After the Civil War, an African American community
known as The Settlement emerged during the Reconstruction era, built by formerly enslaved cowboys. Unlike many freed slaves, the founding families of the community were landowners and eventually formed a thriving, self-sufficient community.
At 100 years young, Bell-Gary is the oldest living descendants of the Caldwell and Bell families, two of the founding families of the 1867 Settlement. Many descendants of the original pioneers still reside or own property within the historic community
boundaries, and the oldest structure, the 1887 Frank Sr. and Flavilla Bell home, has been restored as a community museum.
Bell-Gary is devoted to promoting awareness of the area where she grew up and for which she helped to secure state and national historic designations. A dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Showboat (416 6th Street N.). Texas City.
