Cologne historical marker dedication set for Sunday
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The dedication of the Cologne historical marker will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Cologne Cemetery.
Following the dedication ceremony, a reception will be the home of James Clifton, across U.S. Highway 59 from the cemetery.
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The dedication of the Cologne historical marker will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Cologne Cemetery.
Following the dedication ceremony, a reception will be the home of James Clifton, across U.S. Highway 59 from the cemetery.
There is limited parking on Lott Road. The Flores family will allow people to park in their yard. Watch for signs.
Parking is not allowed alongside U.S. Highway 59.
COLOGNE - Cologne cemetery holds years of history of slavery and of refuge, but also a dream which now will have a historical marker in acknowledgment of the community that was formed, Cologne.
"There's now documentation to share the story of Cologne and its early settlers," said James Clifton, third generation Cologne resident.
Established by former slaves, Joseph Smith and George Washington, to provide safety and refuge from the violence after the Civil War, the two purchased 510 acres of land.
"It's a very unique story," Clifton said.
Freed slaves then purchased land from the two, and within time established what first became known as the Colony.
Within time the Colony became a full-fledged town establishing a school, a post office, a rail depot and the Cologne Cemetery, said Raymond Starr, chair for the Goliad County Historical Commission, said.
"It had the only integrated rail depot wait areas in Texas," Starr said.
The Colony then also changed names from Perdido, Centerville, and Ira until the city became known as Cologne.
Clifton said the name may have came from the odor the hog slaughter houses secreted into the town.
"It's a story of very courageous African Americans creating something for themselves, building a middle-class community," Starr said.
Some descendants of the first settlers of Cologne remain in the area, but many have moved to the city.
"A lot of people have family and ancestors who grew up in Cologne," Starr said.
Clifton said that those who remain in Cologne do so because of their love for the land.
Although a small number of descendants remain in Cologne, they continue to keep up the cemetery and visit.
"It still has that feeling about people caring about each other," Clifton said. "It's still a community."
The dedication of the historical marker is scheduled to have one of the descendants of the original settlers speak, Dennison Lott.
He is a descendant of original settlers, Henry and Martha Lott.
"In our history, the history of blacks and Mexicans, it has not been filled in fully," Starr said.
Clifton added that it is part of history that all of Victoria can celebrate, and even the state of Texas.
"It's all about understanding people, it's about understanding diversity," Clifton said.
Starr said the historical marker was placed in the cemetery because of the significance.
"When you look at the list of the original founders and you look at the cemetery, you can see their names," Starr said.
Many of the original settlers of Cologne came from Victoria, Starr said.
