COUNTY LIFE

Historic canons returned to Alamo grounds

Published

7 years ago

01/26/2018

SAN ANTONIO – Tuesday the Alamo welcomed the return of two historic cannons used during the 1836 Siege and Battle of the Alamo back to the Alamo grounds. The battle cannons revealed some surprising secrets during their conservation at the Texas A&M Conservation Research Lab in College Station, Texas. The cannons were sent to the lab in October as part of a larger effort to preserve all seven of the Alamo’s existing 1836 battle cannons, and returned with several exciting new discoveries about their origins.

“In October, we shared our commitment to ensuring long-term, extensive preservation and conservation plans for the Alamo’s historic buildings and artifacts,” said Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush. “The 1836 battle cannons are among Texas’ most treasured artifacts, and we are ensuring they receive the care and honor they deserve. Fortunately, in doing this preservation work, we were able to discover more about the cannon’s history than we knew before. We can’t wait to share those exciting discoveries with all visitors and Texans.”


	Photo credit: Texas General Land Office

Those discoveries include finding previously unknown 3 and 5 pound cannonballs which may have been loaded during the battle on March 6, 1836 but never fired.

Video and sound from the cannons’ return to the Alamo may be downloaded in high resolution for television broadcast or lower resolution for social media:

All seven of the known Alamo battle cannons will be restored during this process. The cannon restoration is part of the much larger Alamo restoration Commissioner Bush launched in 2015. This project aims to protect and preserve the Alamo Church and Long Barrack, restore reverence to the Alamo battlefield by recapturing it from the streets and plaza, and build the visitors center and museum the Alamo deserves but does not have, to display the amazing Phil Collins artifact collection – all to bring 1836 to life every day at the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

History lovers can contribute to the cannon preservation project by visiting GoFundMe.com/AlamoBattleCannon. More information about the cannon unveiling and other upcoming events can be found at TheAlamo.org, or on social media @OfficialAlamo. For more information about preservation and restoration efforts ongoing at the Alamo, visit SaveTheAlamo.com.

COUNTY LIFE

Murder mystery comedy opens this weekend

Published

5 days ago

05/29/2025

bowienews

The cast and crew of “A Family Reunion to Die For,” has been busy rehearsing for their murder mystery dinner theater production on May 30 and May 31.
The reunion soon turns sour with murder at a western-style bed and breakfast in the tropics.
Purchase tickets online at https://www.bowieallianceforeducationandthearts.com/events-1.
Show times are 6:30 p.m. on May 30 and May 31 with an afternoon show at noon on May 31 all at the Freedom Life Church. There will be live and silent auction.
All proceeds benefit Montague County students for scholarships in the arts. Come support these thespians.

Aunt Gretchen tries to put away a rifle from a pair of squirrel-hunting hillbilly sisters during “A Family Reunion to Die For.” There will be three shows of the murder mystery dinner theater this weekend.

Top photo – Rehearsals have been underway this past week for the new murder mystery dinner theater of the Bowie Alliance for Education and the Arts. (Photos by Barbara Green)

COUNTY LIFE

TxDOT making speed limit change in Nocona area

Published

5 days ago

05/29/2025

bowienews

Speed limit changes are being put in place on FM 103 North of Nocona. The 60-mph zone is being pushed North of Grayson Street.
As part of the transition, the 45-mph speed limit will be extended just North of the Texas New Mexico Power Office. Drivers see 50 mph signs up to Grayson Street where it becomes a 60-mph zone.
Portable message boards were placed on FM 103 on May 27 to advise motorists of the upcoming changes. The new signs will be unveiled and be enforceable starting June 3.
Citizens and officials with the City of Nocona requested the changes. They were approved by the Texas Transportation Commission in April.
Drivers should be prepared to watch and observe these new speed limits signs in Nocona. Drive safely in Montague County.