Photo by Korey Langford

West Columbia Elementary School 4th grader Landon Stewart, left, was presented a gift bag containing chocolate candy and a $25 gift card recently from Columbia Historical Museum board member Pat Weeks. Landon’s essay on “How West Columbia Was Important in Texas History” was voted the best of those essays submitted by local elementary school students. West Columbia was the first capitol of the Republic of Texas in 1836-37 when the town was known simply as Columbia.