Background: Over the years, the citizens of Corrigan and surrounding communities had donated artifacts, historical photos, newspaper articles and other memorabilia to the Corrigan Community Service League for safekeeping. In 2012 Corrigan City Manager, Mandy Risinger, was instrumental in acquiring 501(c)(3) exempt status for the Service League; including historic preservation and other items in the organizing documents. Officers were named including President Kelly Smith Shadix, as well as six additional individuals who served as the Service League board. The Service League purchased the historic 1935-era Bergman Grocery Store building from the City of Corrigan to restore it - as close to period correct as possible - for a museum to be called the Corrigan Area Heritage Center. The museum would house the many donated artifacts collected over the years and act as a repository for the future. The Corrigan Area Heritage Center is located in downtown Corrigan, Texas. By August 2014, almost all of the building’s restoration work was completed due to the generous contributions of current and former North Polk County residents, local businesses and a Corrigan-related foundation. The Service League board and many supporters envisioned the Corrigan Area Heritage Center not only as a museum, but also as a learning enhancement and research center for Corrigan-Camden ISD students and others interested in the historical and cultural values, including natural attributes of the town of Corrigan and its more than 15 surrounding communities. Education is important in Corrigan. Modern school buildings clearly dominate the landscape. However, beyond school, no community resources are devoted to the cultural heritage and enrichment of Corrigan residents, especially children. The 1,595-resident town is home to four school buildings that house almost 1,100 students drawn from the 100-square-mile Corrigan-Camden ISD. Despite the school’s designation as a National Blue Ribbon School, its students have no physical cultural community anchor to define the place in which they live or their cultural heritage. There are no active main street or downtown revitalization efforts. There are no YMCA or other after school programs, other than those sponsored by the school. Community activities are typically held at the school. A family must drive at least 25 miles to a different town for entertainment. No sponsored cultural learning activities are provided outside the school, and no venue exists to accommodate them other than school-related. Supporters of the Corrigan Area Heritage Center work to change this scenario; creating a cultural legacy in the form of a museum for the enrichment and enjoyment of generations to come.The Corrigan Area Heritage Center has the potential to educate people of all ages and ethnicities of the historical and cultural values and natural attributes of Corrigan, Texas and its surroundings. Those who will benefit from the existence of the Heritage Center include the people who reside within the boundaries of the Corrigan-Camden school district, students from local colleges - Angelina College and SFASU - who are performing cultural, historical and environmental research, former residents of the area and visitors passing through the town. The vision for the center includes hundreds of visitors each year, along with classes from C-CISD. The center was recently contacted to assist with securing a site for filming of an historical short film by a University of Texas Student. Mutually beneficial partnerships with the CCISD and SFASU will assure the Corrigan Area Heritage Center’s sustainability. It will grow -- expanding collections from all communities within North Polk County -- preserving the "pieces of our past" and giving vision for all the tomorrows.
