Katy’s Heritage Society to Resume Tours, Welcomes New Leadership

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

November 8, 2020

By Natalie Cook Clark

For over four decades, the Katy Heritage Society has maintained and honored the town’s rich history The local non-profit group welcomes new members as they celebrate new leadership and make plans to continue work during the pandemic.

Photo credit: ChanBurton Photography

41 Years of Katy Service

For 41 years the Katy Heritage Society has been dedicated to preserving and protecting Katy’s past by acquiring and maintaining historic structures and working to protect local landmarks.

“If you have never been to Katy Heritage Park in historic Katy, Texas, it is a must see for anyone interested in learning a bit about Katy history,” says Adrienne Joy Davitz, president-elect for the Katy Heritage Society.

The Katy Heritage Park is located at 5990 George Bush Drive off of Avenue D. Although many locations operated by the society have been closed due to the pandemic, the park remains open. Public tours of the historic homes will resume soon.

“I’ll get the homes open by the first weekend of February,” says Davitz. “That’s my goal.”

Free Public Tours Hope to Resume Soon

Free public tours will soon be available on the first weekend of every month. Docents will be available to guide guests and answer questions the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the first Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Guests can tour the historic homes and buildings to see what life was like for Katy residents in the early 1900s. Access to the homes is free and open to the public.

Check their website to confirm operating hours.

The Katy Heritage Society also operates the Train Depot located on First Street, which welcomes visitors Wednesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Depot holds many railroad relics and historical exhibits.

The Depot is also home to a time capsule that was placed in 2008, and will be opened in 100 years.

Photo credit: ChanBurton Photography

Despite the pandemic, the Katy Heritage Society Board has continued to work on various projects.

“We are getting new roofs on the Stockdick and Wright Homes as well all new HVAC systems in Stockdick and Featherston,” says Pat Williamson, Katy Heritage Society Secretary. “The funding has come from City HOT (Hotel Occupancy Tax) Funds in the form of grants for which we made an application and have been given.”

New Leadership Starts in January

This month, a new leadership board was nominated and elected. They start their new positions in January.

Davitz takes over as president from Rosanne Lopez. Davitz is a lifelong, multi-generational Katy resident and current board member of the group. She is a former Katy ISD teacher and has volunteered for many non-profit organizations over the years.

Davitz’s strong relationships with members of the community, as well as the City of Katy, ties into the goals of growth and maintaining the Katy Heritage Parks. She is the current chairman of the Katy Heritage Park Board and looks forward to continuing to serve city residents who have been here a lifetime or just a few months.

Other new officers include:

Vice President - Linda Mikeska

Secretary - Marilyn Frishman

Treasurer - Myra Jones

Parliamentarian - Diane Walker

Volunteers Needed The Katy Heritage Society is always looking for volunteers to be docents at Katy Heritage Park the first weekend of each month. Volunteers work three-hour shifts, help open and lock the historic homes, assist visitors, and learn about Katy’s history. For more info, email katyheritagesociety1979@gmail.com.

Society Seeks Community Support, Membership The Katy Heritage Society depends upon public donations and annual memberships to continue its work. Visit their website to make a donation or learn more about becoming a member. Membership is open to all Katy residents.