The Fannin County Historical Commission is excited about its accomplishments this year. FCHC will be honored with a Distinguished Service Award for the third year in a row on Monday, July 16, 2012, at the Fannin County Commissioner’s Court.

On April 26, 2012, a historical marker was replaced for Fort Lyday. In 1836 Isaac Lyday built a fort –a compound of living quarters, storerooms, and a large community well. As many as eighty families sought protection inside the fort during Indian attacks. Texas Ranger Captain William B Stout came in 1838, organized a Ranger force of which Lyday was elected captain of the company until 1839. Fort Lyday sheltered settlers from Indian trouble until after the Civil War.

In a letter from the Texas Historical Commission dated June 18, 2012, Willow Wild Cememtey received the designation of a Historic Texas Cemetery. In 1878, a joint committee appointed by Haywood Lodge, No. 168, I.O.O.F., and Constantine Lodge No. 13, A.F. & A. M., was empowered to purchase grounds for a cemetery in or near the town of Bonham. On May 24, 1878, F. M. Thompson sold approximately 40 acres on the waters of Powder Creek to the Willow Wild Cemetery Commission for a sum of $228.90.

The cemetery has been in continuous operation since that date as a non-profit organization. The Board of Directors is comprised of 3 members each from the I.O.O.F. and Masonic organizations.

Many local citizens of Bonham and Fannin County have been buried in this beautiful historic cemetery, including Mr. Sam Rayburn, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, a Civil War officer General Alfred Pace, county official and legendary surveyor Tom Bean, and Rhodes Scholar Harry Peyton Steger.

South 2nd Street in Bonham has been officially changed to Charlie Christian Street. It will be dedicated on Friday, July 20, at 10:00 a.m. at the Gates Hill Cemetery where Charlie Christian is buried. Christian was born in here in Bonham but his family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma when he was a small child. His parents were musicians and he had two brothers. In 1939 Christian became a part of Benny Goodman’s band. Christian died of tuberlosis at the age of 25. Christian was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1966 (24 years after his death).

Applications for three more historic markers are in the process for the 2013 cycle:
Main Street Presbyterian Church, Honey Grove;
Trenton Baptist Church, Trenton;
Gober Garage, Gober

Members of FCHC are concerned with preserving history through oral interviews, locating and recording historic cemeteries, preserving documents, and offering assistance for those researching Fannin County history. One of the concerns currently being considered is how to raise money to have the James Butler Bonham statue cleaned and sealed.

You are welcome to attend the monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 1 North Center Street, Bonham (in the historic depot) at 7:00 p.m. Volunteers for keeping the office open are desired. FCHC will display quilts from the 30’s and 40’s on July 28 from 9-4:30 as part of the Bonham Community Quilt Hop.