Burnet County Historical Commission

The Burnet County Historical Commission will honor seven individuals for their contributions to Burnet County, at a Citizens of Note reception Tuesday, July 2 at 11 a.m. at the Burnet County AgriLife Extension Office, 607 North Vandeveer, Burnet. The community is invited to this special event and welcome to read each of the seven biographies in The Highlander and at highlandernews.com.

Burnet County Historical Commission

Citizen of Note

Eva DuVal (Cook) Duncan

by Harris Husted, Special to the Bulletin

Eva DuVal (Cook) Duncan, or Mama Grande as she came to be known, was born in Burnet, Texas Dec. 11, 1884. She was the fourth child of James and Emily Cook. Eva could trace her lineage on her mother’s side back to Richard Sartwell (1608-1694), an English immigrant who arrived in Boston in 1635. Her great-great-grandfather on her father’s side was Valentine Cook (1729-1797) who was settled in Virginia by 1759.

By Caryl Calsyn

Special to The Highlander

Too many homes of historical value have been torn down or left to rot. Horseshoe Bay has only one still standing and that is the Fuchs (Fox) House and is one of only a few in Burnet County. The house was an important part of our past and can once again be an asset to the community.

By Savanna Gregg

The Highlander

A years-long dream will finally come to fruition for the community of Joppa and the whole of Burnet County on Saturday, May 12. The Russell Fork and North Fork bridges in Joppa will receive their well-deserved Texas Historical Registry recognition at two dedication ceremonies which will be held at the bridges' locations.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The Highlander

A proposal by Enterprise Fleet Management Inc. to manage Burnet County's fleet of patrol vehicles and light-duty trucks presents “an intriguing concept to reduce costs and update our fleet,” Burnet County Judge James Oakley said.

Kirby Watson, a senior fleet consultant with Enterprise Fleet Management, made the presentation to the Burnet County Commissioners Court at the regular meeting Tuesday, July 25. Watson said Enterprise, the largest vehicle operator in the world with nearly 1.9 million vehicles in use, can help the county achieve savings through leasing vehicles on a shorter term.

Burnet's First State Bank will be recognized with a Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission (THC) during the July 25 regular Burnet County Commissioners Court meeting.

The Texas Treasure Business Award program pays tribute to businesses that have provided employment opportunities and support to the state's economy for 50 years or more.

Created in 2005 through legislation authored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and sponsored by Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson (R-Waco), the program recognizes well-established Texas businesses and their exceptional historical contributions to the state's economic growth and prosperity.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A ban on outdoor burning was instituted by the Burnet County Commissioners Court Tuesday morning, June 27.

Members seriously debated whether to take the action before making their decision to institute the ban.

Most of the county has just seen a quarter to a half inch of rain,” said said Herb Darling, director of Burnet County Environmental Services. “I am aware of two projects that may need to burn. Once we put a ban in effect, I'd expect it to be in until the fall.”

“I think it is time,” said Commissioner Joe Don Dockery, whose Precinct 4, has has had some of the lightest rainfall. “The next two weeks are predicted to be hotter than normal and drier than normal. It is not the time of year to be burning anyway.”

by Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Joppa natives and historians are banding together to repair and preserve two historic bridges in northeastern Burnet County and a fish fry on Saturday, Sept. 17 will add to the effort.

The Iron Bridges of Burnet County project is a group focused on the repair and preservation of two of the county's historic bridges by raising money through a community fundraiser.

The North Fork San Gabriel Bridge on County Road 200 and the Russell Fork San Gabriel Bridge on County Road 272 were each built in the early 20th Century and are now eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, a project news release stated. It is the goal of the project to repair the bridges for safe access by the public and use for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

Carole Goble has been honored for her contributions to the preservation of history in Burnet County.

She was presented with the 2015 Distinguished Service Award by the Burnet County Historical Commission at the meeting of the Burnet County Commissioners Court on Feb. 23.

Goble's ancestors settled in Burnet County 146 years ago. She is the author of the historical account "Burnet" in the Images of America series that chronicles the history of small towns and downtowns across the country. She has served as chairman of the Burnet County Historical Commission and the City of Burnet Historical Board and the Burnet County Heritage Society Board of Governors.