This artist’s realization of what the brick making site for Linden City Park could be shows the explanative area at left which might include a brick firing demonstration. Then the town’s authentic pickle shed in the center has been moved to this locat
Here’s what wild flower seeds look like to their human planters. The students are members of Linden- Kildare High School’s ag program, and they have volunteered to help spread the seeds near the town’s city park.From left,they are Zoey Valeu,Josey H
These 10 individuals are standing on the site of a proposed brick-making memorial at Linden City Park. They are, from left, Jack Crawford and Anna Barber with the Linden Heritage Foundation. Next are seven Linden-Kildare High students of floral design and
This area on the north side of the senior citizens center in Linden shows the site being proposed for a brick-making memorial.The young individuals on the bluff are spreading wild flower seeds to help beautify the grounds and prevent soil erosion. A creek
These Linden-Kildare High School students are having fun getting wild flower seeds to throw.The wild flowers will highlight the planned brick-making memorial site.
Linden City Park
Citizens Journal-Sun
Seven students from the floral design class of the Linden-Kildare High ag program got to do something different last week. They tossed, scattered and planted wild flower seeds hopefully see a fruition of color.
The students and the Linden Heritage Foundation are trying to beautify an area of Linden City Park that will commemorate an important part of the town’s past. A monument here will tell the story of the brickwork that was done before the Civil War to build the county’s courthouse. This courthouse today is the longest continually active one in the state.
The bricks were formed and fired here with the labor of enslaved persons, according to Sam Higdon, president of the Linden Heritage Foundation which is leading this project with the help of the city.
The tossing of wildflower seeds was another in the first steps to improve the selected site for the monument and to create excitement for the historic signage. This site is on the north side of the senior citizens center and is part of a bluff which angles down to a creek that has passed the courthouse and now heads into the city park.
The person standing on this site at the Senior Citizens Center on South Kaufman Street can now look to the north and see the two water towers off in the distance at the town’s center.
This view wasn’t available until two years ago when the jungle-like slope area was cleared of trees and brush and an application of hydro-mulch was sprayed to help the grass grow and prevent erosion.
These projects are the first steps in the erection of this historic signage. The heritage foundation has documentation that brick from this site were also used for the construction of the 1856 Cass County Jail, the 1858 Cass County jailer’s house, and the first floor of the Sarah and Uriah Squires’ home later named the Old Wright Patman Homestead. These were built as well as the 1859-61 Cass County Courthouse, according to Heritage board member Joe Lovelace.
“The history of the area will tell of the stream bed now lined which flows east from Main St to Kaufman and toward Centerhill Road.
Referred to as ‘Ten Yard Branch’ in early records, it was important to early settlers from 1848 as a source of fresh water,” Lovelace said.
The Linden Heritage Foundation is nonprofit public charity formed in 2015, to promote historical sites for economic development.
President is Sam Higdon, with Gail Dorgan vice-president for preservation and education. Sandra Westbrook Scoog is vice-president for marketing and development. Natalie R. Gorman is vice-president for information technologies. Pat Rountree is chief financial officer and Mary Dowd is secretary. John Knapp, Jack Crawford, Barbara Teachey, Wanda Burns, Jack Crawford, Joseph and Terri deNatale and Anna Barber are directors. Joe B. Lovelace is past president.
Sue M. Lazara, Sam Higdon, Joe B. Lovelace and James S. Jacob were heritage founders at its beginning in 2015. The foundation’s first project was the saving and lighting of the town’s 1934 water tower. Now the foundation is helping to renovate the towns’ volunteer fire department building.
The work of the foundation is made possible by generous support of the people. Annual membership is $15 for students, $35 for individuals, $100 for sustainers and $100 for businesses. Distinguished donor levels are sponsor $250, patron $500 and benefactor $1,000.
Checks may be mailed to P. O. Box 146, Linden, TX 74463. To join online, go to the foundation website and click “Join Now” button.