Museum dedication holds special surprise

By Mike Reddell
Bay City Tribune

Published September 20, 2009

Matagorda County Museum Association presented not one but two historic events to the community Thursday.

And one was an extremely pleasant surprise for someone who has worked diligently to advance the awareness and preservation of Matagorda County History.

Dedication ceremonies Thursday afternoon recognized the addition of Bay City's old post office building, which houses the museum today, to the National Register of Historic Places.

That, in itself, had to be a satisfying event for local historian Mary Belle Ingram.

She long has been active in efforts to get state and federal historical recognition for sites throughout the county

She was totally surprised when the association renamed the museum's annex to the Mary Belle Ingram Museum Annex.

Considering the amount of time Ingram has spent in that annex researching the museum's rich vein of historical literature, maps and photographs, the association couldn't have found a better way to honor her.

The addition of the 1918 Bay City Post Office Building to the county's growing list of National Register sites is a tremendous accomplishment for the city and county.

It is an exhaustive process to earn that distinction - a nationwide one at that.

Thursday was a great day for the community and for one special historian who has shown her love for local history over the decades.

This editorial was written by Bay City Tribune Publisher Mike Reddell on behalf of the Tribune's editorial board.