Conroe Founder’s Day to Celebrate Isaac Conroe

CONROE, TX -- The Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day is Tuesday, February 19 starting at 4:00pm at Conroe Founders Plaza Park, 205 Metcalf. This is a free event with elected officials, period costumed docents from the 1800’s, pine seeds to be handed out, and descendants of Isaac Conroe who was born in February 1835, and died at the age of 62 in August 1897. Isaac Conroe was the seed that planted the city and the pine trees are representative of him as founder.

As the event begins, the Conroe High School ROTC will perform a presentation of the flags, with Anita Stevens, one of the docents in period costume will sing the National Anthem. Conroe City Council members will assist with the pledges and the City of Conroe proclamation. Our local, state, and federal elected officials will be on hand to share the celebration of Isaac Conroe, born 191 years earlier.

The first Founder’s Day was celebrated August 2nd, 2018, at the historical Isaac Conroe Homestead, now the City of Conroe Transportation Services, at 202 Ave A. in Conroe. After three August events it was decided to move the event to February the month Isaac Conroe was born versus the day he died. This year the event will be held at Founders Plaza Park as it aligns with the theme and it will offer the opportunity to continue the growth in the park for the namesake of Isaac Conroe, the founder of the City.

As part of the festivities, one person will be honored as the Conroe Citizen of the Year based on contributions from the community and agreed upon by affirmative acclimation by the Isaac Conroe Board of Directors. There will also be a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to an individual who has made significant improvement to the lifestyle of the residents of Conroe.

Isaac Conroe is the founding father of the City of Conroe. Isaac Conroe coerced the railroad to make a stop in the town, and it was named the "Isaac Conroe Switch". He later built a sawmill and the famous white wooden house on 202 Avenue A, which is considered the birthplace of Conroe. This house served as his family's residence, the first Courthouse, the first Post office, and the first Postmaster was Isaac Conroe.

Docents who will be present at the Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day include Elaine Collings, Anita Stevens, Charlotte Belin, and Caimy Harbison.

Special appreciation and thanks to our sponsors Bank of Montgomery, the City of Conroe, Crown Cork and Seal, Debbie Glenn of The Red Brick Tavern, Conroe Fire Department, The Blossom Shop, our talented vocalists-Sophia VonKoschembuler and Anita Stevens, I Love Conroe, and the local historical societies. The Board members of the Conroe Founders Day nonprofit appreciate their support!

Isaac Conroe Obituary from 1897

Captain Isaac Conroe of Conroe first came to his inheritance of the sunshine and shadow of life in Long Branch, New Jersey. February 1835, and after a brief but severe illness, the Recording Angel wrote finished at the end of his loyal service to the Master on Monday, August 2, 1897, at 3:30 p.m. At the end of four years’ service in the United States Army he cast his lot in Texas settling first at Lynchburg, later at Houston, where he is so well known and esteemed; and nineteen years ago, where to the pine woods the sound of the locomotive was strange, but where now flourishes the brave little town that bears his name and of which a month since he was appointed postmaster. Always large-hearted, and public spirited, there is not a church, school, or enterprise of any kind there that has not received his substantial aid and encouragement. Living ever for the betterment of the race he has indeed been “father” to the town as well as his home circle. The world is better for his having lived in it and his “footprints in the sands of time” may well encourage those whom he has left behind to live up to the very highest standard of humanity. Life was not all success, but time and space will not admit the record of how bravely difficulties were met and overcome, nor the firmness and courage with which life’s battles were fought. Every business house in Conroe closed its doors in respect to his memory and the entire population at this sawmill, some 200 or so town people, followed the beloved man as far as the train in Conroe that transported him to Houston. No one person throughout Montgomery County could be more universally mourned. He was laid to rest in Glenwood beside his loved wife, who preceded him a year prior. A son, Mr. William Munger Conroe, two daughters, Mrs. Hart and Miss Effie Conroe, and a granddaughter, little Marguerite Hart, mourn a father forever just, wise, and loving.

Learn more about Conroe Founder’s Day by following the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/conroefoundersday, or the website: https://conroefoundersday.org. The Montgomery County Memorial Library has a book available “Captain Isaac Conroe by Kristin F. Smith.

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