Published: June 08, 2009 04:33 pm      

Program to focus on El Camino Real

A history professor from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches will be discussing his work on mapping the El Camino Real Friday in Crockett.

The work of Dr. Jeff Williams, has been ongoing for the past five years.

“He has traversed all parts of it,” said Houston County Historical Commission Chairperson Maxine Ray Moore. “He will be speaking about that and the history of it.”

The El Camino Real stretches from Natchitoches, La. through East Texas all the way to the Mexican border; and was the route the Spanish established to supply missions along the route.

Dr. Williams presentation will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Crockett, located at 701 E. Goliad.

Moore said anyone who wants to attend is welcome.

Friday’s events also will mark the birthday of Houston County, Moore said.

“We (Houston County) were established on June 12,” Moore said, “as the first county in the Republic of Texas.

“There is just so much history around Crockett and Houston County. There are many people who fought in the Texas Revolution who are buried here.”

The program Friday also will pay tribute to Eliza Bishop, former chair of the Houston County Historical Commission, Moore said.

“She won’t be able to be with us,” Moore said, “but we are going to take that time to honor her.”

In Houston County, the El Camino Real runs diagonally across the county from southwest to northeast. Through work with SFA and with the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, Moore said in the future the El Camino Real can be used as a tourist attraction and an educational resource for children.

“That road is a big part of Texas history,” Moore said.