Chamber Hears Presentation On Germany Community

Florarean Overshown (L) and Odessa Walker gave a presentation on the German community to members of the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

CROCKETT - Kicking off February and Black History Month, members of the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce were treated to a presentation about the Germany community, located 10 miles east of Crockett on SH 21.

Houston County Historical Commission members Florarean Overshown and Odessa Walker gave the presentation and explained the community was settled by families of former slaves following the Civil War. They said the community received its name from the homeland of a German immigrant family who first came to the area in the 1830s. The ladies traced their lineage back to the original freedmen, including George Smith, John Burt, and Lewis Hall, who obtained pre-emption land grants in the area in the 1870s and 1880s. Hall was Walker’s grandfather.

“My grandfather was very instrumental in a lot of the things that were spearheaded in the community. With some help, he acquired approximately 2000 acres of land. He then separated the land and gave it to members of my family. He helped establish many of the prime farm land because he knew a lot about agriculture,” she said.

Soon, a close-knit community was formed according to Walker. Although the Germany community did not have its own post office and never was incorporated formally, the citizens of the Germany community organized the New Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and a public school. The ladies said that the church still serves a loyal congregation and that many people still return home for services on a weekly or monthly basis.

“The citizens of this community have not forgotten their heritage. Some of them drive back twice a month form Dallas, Houston and out of state to the New Pleasant Hill Church. We are a family - the Germany community,” Walker concluded.

Prior to the presentation, Chamber Executive Director Sheila Thomas welcomed guests and recognized the platinum members of the chamber: Citizens National Bank, Crockett Insurance Services, East Texas Medical Center, Elastotech Southwest and First Community Bank of East Texas.

“The annual awards banquet is Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. Invitations have been mailed and sent out. If you don’t get your invitation just give us a call and RSVP and we’ll have your tickets for you. We do need volunteers for that evening so you can either get with Jacque (Fleming) or contact the chamber. The theme this year is ’Denim and Diamonds,’” Thomas said.

In other chamber matters:

• It was announced that the Carson & Barnes Circus will be in town Thursday, March 29. Volunteers are needed;

• Henson Family Dealerships was announced as business of the month;

• the Mid-Morning Coffee will be held on Feb. 23 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Spring Creek Country Club;

• businesses joining the chamber this month are First United Methodist Church of Crockett; Lone Star Scrap; Security Finance; and GETCAP Head Start; and

• Ambassador of the Fourth Quarter (2011) was Shirley Michka. Her ambassador team was also selected as Ambassador Team of the fourth quarter.

Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at wjohnson@messenger-news.com