The Polly Texas Pioneer Association reported a year of expanded preservation, volunteer engagement and community partnerships in 2025, highlighting progress at several historic sites tied to the former Hill Country settlement of Polly, Texas.
According to the association, volunteer efforts in 2025 focused heavily on Polly’s Chapel, one of the organization’s primary historic properties.
An annual cleanup day brought community members together to maintain the chapel and its surrounding grounds.
The work supported the development of a prayer garden and walking path for historical tours, along with the installation of memorial benches.
All benches have been sponsored by donors, and memorial plaques are expected to be installed ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony later this year.
The chapel also served as the centerpiece for the group’s annual Hill Country Homecoming, held in early May.
The event drew local leaders, history enthusiasts and community members, with proceeds from an auction supporting the association’s operating costs and ongoing chapel maintenance.
The chapel remains available for public rental for weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies.
Preservation efforts also continued at Polly’s Cemetery, an active burial site located on historic Polly land.
The association said maintenance work throughout the year included the installation of a new fence and gate to protect the grounds and honor those interred there.
Polly’s Schoolhouse, a historic one-room schoolhouse, saw continued restoration and volunteer support in 2025.
A second annual cleanup day held in October refreshed the property ahead of the association’s annual Schoolhouse Open House. Improvements included new fencing and the installation of an electric gate.
The open house featured speakers with personal and civic connections to the site, including Flo Hopkins, who attended the school in 1942, and Bandera County commissioners Troy Konvicka and Jordan “Jody” Rutherford.
The event marked a culmination of the year’s restoration efforts and emphasized the role of preservation in maintaining local history.
Beyond site restoration, the association expanded its collaborative efforts in 2025. PTPA supported the “A Tejano Son of Texas” exhibit in Bandera, which highlights the life of J.P. “Polly” Rodriguez and connects Hill Country Tejano history to the Smithsonian’s “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” traveling exhibit.
The association said plans are underway for continued restoration projects, expanded outreach and additional community events in 2026.
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