Gala affair will benefit Salado Historical Society, Central Texas Area Museum and Robertson Colony-Salado College Foundation

The Ambrose and Cowan families, sixth generation owners of the Robertson Plantation and descendents of E.S.C. Robertson, are hosting a gala to benefit historic preservation in Salado on 7-10 p.m. Dec. 3.

The Gala affair will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres catered by The Range at the Barton House and live music by Pam Bland and Drs. Matt Rogers and Guy Okeson.

Tickets to the Robertson Plantation Gala are $100 each and will benefit three Salado non-profit organizations: the Central Texas Area Museum, the Robertson Colony-Salado College Foundation, and the Salado Historical Society equally.

The host families are opening the entire Robertson home for the Gala event, including the private residence upstairs.  Although the Robertson home is on the Salado Christmas Stroll home tour on December 3-4, only the downstairs rooms will be open for viewing at that time.

Colonel Elijah Sterling Clack (E.S.C.) Robertson was a Texas pioneer, patriot, soldier and jurist and was one of the founders of Salado College.   E.S.C. and his wife Mary Elizabeth Robertson began building their Greek Revival style plantation home in 1856 and completed it in 1860.

In addition to the 22-room mansion, there are slave quarters and a family cemetery on the plantation grounds.

The Gala Evening will raise funds for three local historical philanthropies: the Central Texas Area Museum, the Salado Historical Society and the Robertson Coloney-Salado College Foundation.

The purpose of the Central Texas Area Museum is to tell the history and development of Central Texas, to provide a safe and accessible place to preserve and exhibit these items which tell its history.

Founded in 1973, Robertson Colony-Salado College Foundation is responsible for “carrying on and supporting a public park, public education, charitable, literary, scientific or religious activities; and to convert the property (College Hill) into a historical shrine, and will beautify and maintain same, continuously and permanently, through the years, in memory of the gallant pioneer and worthy men and women of Texas.”

The Museum is open for visiting free of charge Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Museum features an exhibit room in which exhibits are on permanent display.  It also has a reception and meeting hall containing more artifacts and suitable for special events or traveling displays.

As the only entity specifically created to preserve the rich heritage the Village of Salado, the Salado Historical Society is guided by two basic purposes.

• To collect information and exhibits which can help to establish or illustrate the exploration, settlement, and development of the area. To accomplish this, the Historical Society works to preserve and make available to any interested party those records, archives, and other documents that may help to illustrate the history of Salado and the immediate area.

• To work cooperatively with national, state, area, and village officials to preserve the historical integrity of the Village. To accomplish this, the Society seeks to identify and preserve the Village’s historic buildings, monuments, and markers and to ensure that any new construction or renovations within the Village’s historic district conforms to the guidelines established for this district.

Receipt of donations will ensure reservations. Make checks payable to Robertson Plantation Gala, P.O. Box 36, Salado, TX 76571.

For credit card charges or other information, call 254-947-5232.

Because of the construction of I-35 and the access road, entrance to the Robertson Plantation is via the FM 2268 Holland road bridge. Cross the bridge to the west-side access road and turn left (south). Make a quick right turn at the lighted entrance to the Robertson ranch and follow the temporary road to the Robertson Home.