Stafford Historical Society marks 35 years; society seeks volunteers and preservation work

The Stafford Historical Society presented a 15-minute history update to the Stafford City Council on June 18 marking its 35th anniversary and describing the group's activities and work to preserve local history.

The presenter, Sadie Williams, told the council the society began with community members including Margaret Havens, Alma Birdwell, Barbara Hudspeth and John Farrow, and that early activities included a holiday lighting ceremony, participation in Fourth of July parades and publication of a hardbound history of Stafford after four years of research. Williams said the society maintains display cases and portraits of past mayors at City Hall and has worked with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office on cold-case research.

Williams described recent efforts to obtain Texas Historical Commission markers for local sites (including the school district, hardware, Holy Family Church and New Hope Baptist Church) and noted the society does not receive city funding and instead relies on fundraising such as cookbook sales, garage sales and book sales. She said the society has compiled burial information for Stafford Cemetery (an Excel spreadsheet) and estimated approximately 391 burials recorded to date; she said the society has worked with private organizations and volunteers to locate grave markers where plates had deteriorated or been lost.

Council members commended the society's work and discussed potential assistance: council members and staff thanked the group for its research, offered help publicizing the society's books and recommended planning a plaque-placement event at City Hall once a corrected mayoral plaque is finalized. Williams said the society would like to help with cemetery cleanup events but that such plans would require council approval. The exchange was framed as recognition and community discussion; no city funding or formal action was taken.