COUNTY LIFE
Montague Catholic Cemetery to receive Texas historical marker
Members of the Montague County Historical Commission cordially invite you to attend the dedication of an official State of Texas historical marker at the Montague Catholic Cemetery at 3 p.m. May 26. The public is invited. (Please note in Wednesday edition the time was incorrect. The event is at 3 p.m. not 2 p.m. as printed).
This marker was donated by the Robert H. Fenoglio family whose ancestors originally settled this area, then grew and prospered through good times and bad to make Montague their home and home for future generations.
The Montague Catholic Cemetery is located 1.3 miles west of the Montague County Courthouseon the north side of Catholic Cemetery Road. It began as part of a rural Catholic community in Montague, but it now serves Montague County, as well as other parts of central North Texas.
Between 1860 to 1920 Italians heavily emigrated from the northern parts of Italy into other European countries and America, eventually into Texas. Peasants from the Lombardy, Piedmont, and Venetian regions of northern Italy left because growing conditions made it almost impossible to make a living.
The earliest Anglo-American settlers known to have located in Montague County were Henry Braden and John Keenan in 1854, but they were soon followed by many other settlers making their way west.
Montague County was created by an act of the state legislature. Though created Dec. 26, 1857, the county government was not organized until Aug. 2, 1858. It is this date that recognized by locals as the county’s birthdate.
Montague Catholic Cemetery, lying approximately one and one half miles southeast of the town of Montague, was established on March 8, 1902. At the time of its establishment it was called the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Montague.
Rules of the cemetery stated that lots were to be free for Roman Catholics living in the community. For those Catholics not living in the Montague community, a fee between $2 and $5 per lot would be assessed.
Since 1910 many other Catholics of Montague and surrounding communities have claimed cemetery lots there. More than 250 marked and unmarked graves are now recorded in the cemetery.
First person to be buried in the Cemetery was Giroloma Vitali, son of John and M. Vitali. He was an infant, born Nov. 11, 1900, and died March 29, 1901. The body of the oldest person lying in the cemetery is that of Barrett Raymond who was born on Oct. 8, 1841. He died March 5, 1915.
The cemetery is lovingly cared for by residents of Montague, some of whom are descendants of those original Italian settlers and attend the church their ancestors attended so long ago.
Many of those buried in the Montague Catholic Cemetery played a major role in the development of the town of Montague and left a legacy of hard work and determination for those who follow as well as a sense of pride in their Italian heritage
In recognition of National Adoption Awareness Month this November, Texas Community Counseling and the Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas are partnering to bring resources to Montague County families.
The two organizations will host an adoption, foster care and kinship care resource fair on Nov. 14 at the United Presbyterian Church of Montague County Fellowship Hall, located at 300 W. Nelson St. in Bowie.
The resource fair will run from 10 a.m. to noon, bringing together local agencies and service providers to answer questions and share information about support available within the county.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Members of the Montague County Historical Commission invite the community to join them on Nov. 14 for a Rolling Bus Tour.
This tour will cover the cemeteries in the south west corner of Montague County. You will have the opportunity to stroll through some of the cemeteries, others the bus will stop and Commission member Calvin Durham will tell the history of the cemetery.
The bus tour will meet at the Old Jail in Montague at 9 a.m. and return at approximately 3 p.m. The tour will include a sack lunch, a brochure of each cemetery visited and a book “This Soil will Grow Grapes” written by Melvin Fenoglio.
The cost of the tour is $20 for adults. There is no charge for children under 12. The commission members strive to preserve the history of the county and to share as much of it as possible with our citizens. You can RSVP by calling 940-841-2674 or 940-872-1007. Please leave a message with your name if there is no answer.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at 1:20 p.m. on Nov. 17.
FEMA’s emergency alert system is a national public warning system made up of thousands of radio, TV, cable and satellite and wireline video providers. Through the EAS, the President can address the American people or share life-saving information with the public during a national emergency.
FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. These tests allow FEMA to identify technical or operational issues before the system is needed during an actual emergency.
FEMA and the FCC are sharing the test date in advance because it is important the public understands what to expect on the day of the test.
At approximately 1:20 p.m. (Central time), on Nov. 17, all the electronics providers will interrupt normal programming to relay a test message.
This message will state: This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency management Agency, covering the United States from 1:20 to 1:50 p.m. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
When the test is concluded, normal programming will resume.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with stakeholders, including participating communications providers as well as federal, state, tribal and territorial agencies to prepare for and conduct the test.
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