History of FoHNI
Historic Nacogdoches was established on March 10, 1993. In January 2009 the organization became the Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc. and brought together the resources and dedicated members of three previous organizations: The Friends of the Durst-Taylor House, The Friends of the Sterne-Hoya House, and Historic Nacogdoches. Together we have been able to become more active in promoting the town's unique heritage. We support the Sterne-Hoya Gift Shop, special events at the Durst-Taylor House, the Heritage Statue Walk, and an annual tour of homes which is our major fundraiser.
Over the years FoHNI had had several notable accomplishments:
- provided funding for digitization of historic city records (2014)
- helped secure historic overlay zoning for downtown Nacogdoches in 1999
- erected statues of Antonia Gil Y'Barbo (1997), Sam Houston & Chief Bowles (2004), and Thomas J. Rusk (1999), Karle Wilson Baker (2012), Diedrich Rulfs (2013), the Country Doctor (2010), Running to the Fight (2017)
- in 1993 supported the successful City submission of a TxDOT ISTEA (1991) grant to repair the brick of Fredonia Street in the downtown area
- in 1998 published two booklets given to each elementary school in the county: The Spanish in East Texas authored by Dr. Francis E. Abernethy & The Caddo Indians by Leabeth Abt
- celebrated the contribution of the New Orleans Greys to the Texas Revolution with a reenactment of their encampment and banquet in 2001
- in 1994 supported the successful City submission of a TxDOT ISTEA (1991) grant to install lighting along El Camino Real (US 21/Main Street) from Lanana Creek to Banita Creek
- contributed $5,000 to the restoration of Zion Hill Baptist Church in 2004
- in 1994 coordinated the construction of the gazebo in Eugenie Sterne park by members of the International Timber Framers Guild
- published the Nacogdoches Statue Trail brochure in 2005
- helped sponsor a United Nacogdoches Summit in October 1998 with 10 other groups which brought in noted preservationist Donovan D. Rypkema as the keynote speaker
- in 2005 produced a video to acquaint visitors with early Nacogdoches history and sites they might like to visit which was narrated by Dr. Archie McDonald and is on display at the CVB
- in 1992 hosted a 165th anniversary celebration of the Fredonia Rebellion 1826-1827
Members must be at least 18 years of age and required to pay an annual membership of $25.00 for individuals and $40.00 for couples. We encourage anyone with a strong interest in our local history to become involved at our events and consider serving on the board. The board has four officers and ten members who serve three-year terms.