Community Involvement & Outreach
We are OUT and ALL ABOUT our Community!
PCHGA believes in the power of community engagement. Our organization is designed to involve local communites through our Old Red Review Newsletter and community involvement using various avenues. Look how involved we are. Drop us an email to see how YOU can help US or how WE can help YOU!
PCHGA Volunteers Set Up Booth at Community Garage Sale
PCHGA volunteers, Linda of Carthage, Diana of Tatum, and Carolyn (not shown) manned the PCHGA booth at the Annual Carthage Community Garage Sale on October 18, 2005.
They succeeded in selling many tickets to win a multi-colored comfy quilt donated by local quilter Suzi Evers.
Also, buyers gobbled up our book, Panola County, Texas Moonshiners, Bootleggers, and the Law. They are available on our website to purchase online, or they can be purchased at the 1891 Jail Library & Museum on Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 - 3:00, for $15.00.
PCHGA also promoted this special event:
On December 6, 2005, Carthage's own three-term Texas State Historian, professor and prolific author Bill O'Neal will present a program at the Leila Belle LaGrone Annex at 3:00 p.m. entitled "Tragedy at a Texas Courthouse." That courthouse was in Carthage, Texas! No reservation or fee is necessary. Come and hear this story of robbery, greed, and vigilante justice.
PCHGA Attends ETGS ETGS 23rd Annual Family Hisory Conference
Donna Marler, member/volunteer, and Cindy Parker, PCHGA president, represented PCHGA at the East Texas Genealogical Society 23rd Annual Family History Conference on October 11, 2025, in Tyler, Texas.
PCHGA also promoted this special event:
On December 6, 2005, Carthage's own three-term Texas State Historian, professor, and prolific author Bill O'Neal will present a program at the Leila Belle LaGrone Annex at 3:00 p.m. entitled, "Tragedy at a Texas Courthouse." That courthouse was in Carthage, Texas! No reservation or fee is necessary. Come and hear this story of robbery, greed, and vigilante justice.
PANOLA COUNTY TEXAS MOONSHINERS, BOOTLEGGERS, AND THE LAW
Our first publication is at press and can be purchased beginning October 14, 2025.
The Panola County Historical and Genealogical Association project, Panola County Texas Moonshiners Bootleggers and The Law, was extracted from The Panola Watchman newspaper articles, the Gary School project Loblolly, and from analog and digital files available to PCHGA in Carthage, Panola County, Texas.
Call 903-693-3388 or email pchgaoldjail@gmail.com to get yours. You can also drop by the 1891 Jail Tuesday - Thursday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m..
OCTOBER 17, 2025 FREE FAMILY HISTORY PROGRAMS FROM WACO-McLENNON GENEALOGY LIBRARY
Join us FREE to watch via the Internet your choice of one or all five programs offered by PCHGA in the Leila Belle LaGrone Annex at 210 N. Shelby St. in Carthage. Most programs are geared to the beginner, so if that is you, now is the time to get started.
9:00 a.m. From Names to Narratives
10:00 a.m. Family Trees Get Smart
11:00 a.m. All in the Family; Using Collaborative Research
11:50 a.m. Lunch on your own
12:50 p.m. Stories of your Lives: Beginning your Family History
2:25 p.m. Research Road Trips: Fun for You and the Family
Attend one or all!
Call 903-693-3388 or email pchgaoldjail@gmail.com.
POTLATCH FALL FESTIVAL 2025
Potlatch, Panola County's Fall Festival, attracts thousands of visitors for food, entertainment, displays, and vendors for the whole family. PCHGA hosted a booth selling books, handmade items from vintage artifacts, Panola County trivets, and more. All proceeds supported our Matching Funds initiative.
Annual Piney Woods Quilt Festival 2025
PCHGA will have plenty of handmade items and more for sale at the 2025 Quilt Show April 11 & 12, 2025. Our member volunteers work tirelessly to support PCHGA. The quilts were donateed by Busy Bee Quilting Club. All funds help our genealogical and historical endeavors. PLEASE COME OUT! It's an extraordinary event attracting people from all over East Texas.
Honoring Veterans on Nov. 11
Carthage Halloween on the Square 2024
Nicky Parker (far right) enjoys interacting with the children and their parents on the Square as he hands out candy to the kids and information about PCHGA to the parents.
Nicky is a member volunteer who volunteers for the Old Jail.
Panola County Potlatch Festival Booth 2024
To raise funds, PCHGA member volunteers cut and painted wooden pumpkins to sell at the fall Potlatch Festival.
Tickets were sold to win one of three beautiful stadium quilts created and donated by Busy Bee Quilting Club. Each quilt represented one of the three Indepentent School Districts in Panola County, Beckville (blue), Gary (orange), and Carthage (red).
Piney Woods Annual Quilt Festival 2024
The Panola County Historical and Genealogical Association
participated in the Piney Woods Annual Quilt Show. PCHGA volunteers handmade "Wagon Dolls" to sell as a fund raiser. (While crossing the frontier, dolls for children were made from scraps of fabric and whatever else was available and became know as "Wagon Dolls" or "Wagon Train Dolls.") The quilt in the background is a pictorial representation of Panola County.
East Texas Genealogy Society Summitt 2024
The Panola County Historical and Genealogical Association
participated in the East Texas Genealogy Society Summit in Tyler, Texas in October 2024. The booth was manned by member volunteers Donna Marler and Cindy Parker.
Access valuable educational resources through Panola County Historical & Genealogical Association. We provide information and tools to empower individuals and families in our community to learn more about our rich heritage.
Honoring Our Veterans at the Memorial
Panola County honors its Veterans at the Veterans Memorial. It is well attended by young and old.
Continuing Education
In May 2024, members Cindy Parker (left) and Susan Calomino (right) completed a course on Non Profit Management made available at the Panola County Chamber of Commerce.
Within the Panola County Historical & Genealogical Association, we believe in the power of community engagement and lifelong learning for all.
Reaching Our Youth
In September 2024, PCHGA member volunteer Donna Marler presented a program on the history of the Fairplay Community to the Fairplay 4-H Club youth.
At PCHGA, we believe in the power of community engagement. Our programs are designed to uplift local communities through education and resources. We have a heart to serve.
Students Tour the Veterans Museum
The Panola County Veterans Museum is frequetly visited by students and othe roups. Veteran's Service Oficer William Morris will provide an informative tour.
To schedule a tour, use the form below.