About SFAHF of Tx

Our Mission: To Preserve, Protect, Promote and Share the History of the Santa Fe Railway Communities.

The communities encompass Alta Loma, Arcadia, Algoa, & Hitchcock, Texas. We also collect history on the surrounding areas.

Santa Fe Proud

The Santa Fe in our name comes from the Santa Fe Railroad with our mascot being the SF Railroad mascot Chico. The Santa Fe Area Historical Foundation was started by a group of individuals who were part of a major historical movement in the Bicentennial year (1976). The group chose as their project to save the old Santa Fe Depot in Hitchcock, which had been scheduled for demolition. With much effort and many struggles, they managed to move the depot to Highway 6 for use as a museum.

The museum opened in 1978 as a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation. In 2013, the Foundation was granted a unique opportunity in cooperation with the Santa Fe Independent School District (SFISD) to start a school museum. We now house Santa Fe School memorabilia at our main campus at the Old School Museum; an extensive military collection in a former Camp Wallace building; sports memorabilia in our Old School Gym; band & tribal belle memorabilia in our gym annex; home and Santa Fe Railroad memorabilia in our Depot Museum.

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Who We Are – About SFAHFtx

Won the 2014 & 2022 GHF Sally B Wallace Historic Preservation Award for Adaptive Re-Use of the 1928 SFHS Building in the “Old School Museum” and for Old School Renovation Projects.

A group of Santa Fe Alumni got together to renovate the Old Gym. They raised funds to restore it back to new again after it was nearing demolition. The same group of alumni raised funds and started a three-year project of renovating an old Camp Wallace building. The school purchased it as surplus in 1948 from the government after WW II ended. At the time of purchase, it alleviated school expansion needs. The building now houses our extensive military collection and is a wonderful addition to the Old School Campus.

The Santa Fe Area Historical Foundation is run completely by volunteers who care deeply about preserving our community’s history. We rely on the generosity of donors, affordable annual memberships, grants, fundraisers, and the sale of local history books—made possible thanks to supporters who donated reproduction rights so their stories could continue supporting the Foundation.

SFAHFtx Board & Officers

The Board of Directors shall consist of six (6) members. Officers and Board Members in good standing will be eligible for election / re-election each year in January and may serve as many terms as they are elected.

Officers

President – Shana Rawls

Vice President – Carlos Ponce

Secretary – Diana Chenoweth

Treasurer – Denise Miller

Board of Directors

Dean Butler

Carol Mitchell

Betty Gianoulis

James Fellers

Jake Linkey

John Windham

Left to Right – Dean Butler, Carol Mitchell, Betty Gianoulis, Diana Chenoweth, James Fellers, Carlos Ponce, Jake Linkey, Shana Rawls, Robert Bear (Curator), John Windham. Not pictured – Denise Miller

Founding Members & Officers

Founding Members

First Elected 1973

Jim Hayes
Mrs. Paul Webber
Mrs. Cleve Jo Sumrall
Mrs. Dorothy B Baker
Mrs. Viola Nelson
Robert Webber
Thelma Webber
B. L. Garrett
Riley LeFevers
Nellie LeFevers
Mrs. Maude Locke
R. H. Romine Jr.
Ruby (Romine) Stegall
Mr. B. L. Garrett
Anna Lee Polinard
Mrs. Fulton Sumrall
Fulton F Sumrall
Mrs. Alpha Walker
Mrs. Charles M. Miller
Teresa Cargile
Joy Beyer
Helen K. Backstrom

Henry P. Backstrom
Genevieve Miller
Frances Gresham
Mrs. Barney A Thomas
Robert Ruff
Jim Isiom
Hallow H. Holland
Teresa D. Winters, Jr.
L. G. Winters
Mrs. Barney A. Thomas
Rev. William F. Licht
Jack L. Long
Roselyn Sckittone
Helen Gillis
Jan Heileman
Betty Johnson
Betty Armstrong
Helen Hultquist
Charles Meek
Lucille Sikes
Estelle Sullivan
Jean Thomas

Officers

Mrs. Robert (Thelma) Webber, President
Mrs. B. A. (Jean) Thomas, Vice President
Mrs. Dorothy B Baker, Secretary
Mr. Fulton F. Sumrall, Treasurer
Mrs. Richard (Joy) Beyer, Recorder

Directors

Jack L. Long
R. M. Ruff
J. A. Hayes Jr.
Jack L. Long
Fulton F. Sumrall

Past Presidents

Mrs. Thelma Webber 1973-1975
Mr. Robert Webber 1976
Mrs. Thelma Webber 1976-1978
Mrs. Leslie (Thelma) Winters 1979
Mrs. Thelma Webber 1979-1980
Charles Meek 1980-1986

Melvin Herrell 1987-1988
Charles Meek 1988-1992
Bill Hepler 1992-2001
Ralph Stenzel 2002-2004
Charles Meek 2004-2008
Shana Rawls 2009-2011

Robert Bear 2012-2022
Shana Rawls 2023-2023
Robert Bear 2023-2024
Dean Butler 2024-2026
Shana Rawls 2026

Support SFAHF

Support the preservation of Santa Fe’s rich history by getting involved today. Become a member, purchase a legacy brick, explore our books, or make a donation—every contribution helps keep our community’s story alive for future generations.

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