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Pictured above is a drawing of the original log cabin courthouse of DeWitt County located in Cameron, Texas which was formally between Cuero and Yoakum; Cameron was accepted by the DeWitt County Commissioners Court on June 23, 1846 as the first county seat of DeWitt County.
As part of a year-long celebration recognizing DeWitt County’s 175th Anniversary in 2021, the DeWitt County Historical Commission is sponsoring an essay contest for 7th-grade students.
The contest is open to 7th-grade students who attend a school located in DeWitt County and homeschooled students who live in DeWitt County. Contest guidelines and rules have been sent to the 7th grade English and history teachers in the county schools. Instructions for homeschooled students who wish to participate will be available at the Cuero Municipal Library after September 25th.
Cash prizes will be awarded to three county winners. Winners will be announced on March 2, 2021, Texas Independence Day.
The Commission encourages all 7th graders to enter the contest and learn more about their county and writing about history!
Other activities set to take place during the 175th Anniversary celebration include the signing and reading of a proclamation by DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the DeWitt County Courthouse followed by a reception.
The party doesn’t end in January; the Historical Commission has planned for an eventful 2021 with a weekend-long celebration from March 27-28. Hosted in Cuero, this fun-filled weekend will include Farmer’s Market Days, live reenactments of historical events from the 1800s, ethnic, old-fashioned, and modern music, plus storytelling, and tours of the courthouse and historic homes. A lantern tour of Cuero’s historic district and tales of legends is set for Saturday night.
The Historical Commission is also planning on hosting various art displays from local artists throughout the county, along with libraries exhibiting works from famous DeWitt County authors.
Museums in the county will also get in on the celebration by exhibiting artifacts and historic works from the beginning stages of DeWitt County.
Throughout this year-long celebration, the Historical Commission is encouraging other organizations to take a look at their history and celebrate alongside DeWitt County.
Times, places, and dates will be released in the upcoming months for specific events in connection with the 175th Anniversary celebration; due to the current pandemic, some events may be subject to change.