Texas Historical Marker #08332
First Baptist Church. Organized Dec. 20, 1846, as New Year's Creek Church, at a school house in Allcorn area. Founders were Judge R. E. B. Baylor, W. W. Buster, and Hosea Garrett. Rev. A. D. Fisher was chosen as the church's first pastor in 1847. In 1848, the year Texas Baptist Convention was formed, Baylor University's first president, Rev. Henry L. Graves, became the pastor of this church. Church moved to Brenham, 1853, and name was changed. A large sanctuary built in 1892 was destroyed by fire Dec. 10, 1952. Church rebuilt, and fellowship hall was added by June 1954. #8332
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08333
First Christian Church of Brenham. Organized with 18 members in 1877, this congregation grew out of the early missionary efforts of A. J. Bush and W. J. Jones. Many prominent Washington County settlers were among its earliest members. The fellowship worshiped at various locations until this sanctuary was completed in 1898. Constructed by noted local builder Alex Griffin, the Gothic revival church building features round arched and lancet windows and an elaborate tower. #8333
306 Cottonwood, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08334
First Methodist Church. Brenham's first church; was established year Brenham founded, 1844. Early member R. B. Wells wrote and published "Christian Advocate", church magazine of Texas Methodists here in 1846. By 1868 church had reached such stature that the Texas Methodist Conference met here. Group built Giddings Memorial Church in 1879 to honor J. D. Giddings, early settler who organized church. In 1939 merged with Fourth Street Methodist Church, German Methodist group which began in 1872 as New Mission Field. German group established Blinn College in 1883. #8334
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08335
First Public High School in Brenham. Established in Independent School District No. 1, in 1875. First free public high school in Texas to be set up under Landmark School Law of 1875. Nine grades were offered, with scientific or classical courses of study in high school. German was available for all grades. This building was erected in 1883, with 15-inch brick walls, cedar beams, and plaster mixed with cow hair. Windows and doors have marble arches and sills. #8335
606 E. Alamo, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08336
Gantt-Jones House. One of the homes in the early Union Hill settlement, this Greek Revival residence was built about 1860 for Dr. William Henry Gantt (d. 1867), a physician and scientist who later taught at Galveston Medical College. The second owner, 1865-1890, was Henry B. ("Jo-He") Jones, the inventor of a multi-purpose medicinal ointment. The family of Louis Prenzler lived here from 1908 to 1973. The structure was then purchased and restored by Mr. and Mrs. George L. Temple. #8336
?, Burton, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08337
Germania Mutual Aid Association. In 1894 Bartlett, Texas, merchant L. A. Niebuhr presented Waco attorney E. W. Hander with a plan to establish a farm mutual aid association to provide farmers insurance against losses due to fire, lightning, and storms. Hander initially dismissed Niebuhr's plan but in 1896 he agreed to draw up a constitution for the association. The organization of the Germania Mutual Aid Association took place in a schoolhouse in Perry, Texas, on August 31, 1896, with 34 members. Businessman Otto Rau was chosen president; Hander, vice president; and Niebuhr, secretary. By early 1897 the association consisted of 116 members and seven local chapters. Niebuhr moved to Brenham and established the association's office in a building on his property in 1898. The association, which had grown to 160 local chapters insuring 9,349 members by 1926, erected a new office building in 1927. Insurance coverage for hail hazards was added in 1934, gas explosions in 1938, theft in 1867, and vandalism in 1970. Stock companies were organized in 1979 and 1983 to write liability and life insurance. The association's name was changed to Germania Farm Mutual Aid Association in 1960 and Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association in 1982. By the end of 1994 the association's membership stood at 144,918. #8337
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08338
Former Bank Building of Giddings & Giddings. A private firm; Brenham's first bank, founded 1866 by lawyer-brothers J. D. and D. C. Giddings. This building was erected 1872 for bank, with Brenham Chapter No. 5, Royal Arch Masons, owning third floor. Bank closed in 1945. #8338
116 S. Park, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08339
Giddings-Stone House. This house was completed in 1870 for prominent Brenham banker, lawyer, and landowner Jabez Giddings (1814-1878) (for whom Giddings, Texas, is named) and his wife Ann (1822-1902). It was later owned by their daughter, Mary Louise, and her husband, Heber Stone, the son of Galveston Mayor Dewitt Stone. It is a late example of the Greek revival style and features a center passage plan and a five-bay, two-story porch with Doric columns. Late 19th-century modifications include metal balusters on the second floor, a side porch with smaller columns, and servants wing at the rear. #8339
204 E. Stone St., Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08340
Giddings-Wilkin House. Jabez Deming Giddings (1814-1878) of Pennsylvania bought this land in 1837. A lawyer, businessman, and civic leader, he built this residence of hand-hewn cypress boards before his marriage in 1843 to Ann Tarver (1822-1907). An unusual rooftop reservoir held rainwater. Remodeled about 1870, the house was sold in 1871 to John B. Wilkin (1827-1913), whose family occupied it until 1942. Scheduled for demolition in 1972, it was bought and restored by the Heritage Society of Washington County. #8340
805 Crockett, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08341
Glenblythe Plantation, Home of Thomas Affleck. In the 19th century, one of the world's foremost researcher-writers on agriculture and horticulture lived 1858-1868 on his 3,500-acre plantation (2 mi. S) of here, developing famous "central Texas nurseries" and experimental fields for new plant varieties. On this property gained recognition as one of earliest promoters and developers of conservation farming. Born 1812 in Scotland; came to the United States in 1832, soon starting in Mississippi one of the South's finest nurseries; gained wide fame as scientist and writer on agriculture. Before moving here, landscaped State Capitol grounds for both Louisiana and Texas. Surrounded Glenblythe mansion and guest houses (2 mi. S) with ornamental gardens and greenhouses, vegetable garden, orchard, a church, hospital, day nursery, store, homes, workshop, stock pens, flour and lumber mills. During Civil War (1861-1865) built ambulances, wagons; fed Waul's Legion in training camp near here. After the war, was key figure in rehabilitation of farming in Texas; made a trip to Europe to recruit settlers. Died 1868, and was buried near his home. Writings, especially "Affleck's Southern Rural Almanac," were influential for years. His "Report on Agricultural Grasses" was a Senate Executive Document of 1879. #8341
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08342
Greenvine Gas Discovery. Apparently the first use in Texas of natural gas for fuel occurred in 1979 near here. William Seidel, a farmer, grist mill and cotton gin owner, and merchant, trying to dig a water well, struck gas at approximate depth of 106 feet. The gas was piped to a farmhouse nearby. Production of gas and oil has spread to 210 Texas counties; 27 pipeline companies export gas. Annual rate of production is about 8 trillion cubic feet. Texas has 42.3 per cent of the proven gas reserves in America, and it has a 19,895-foot well, believed to be world's deepest. #8342
?, Greenvine, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08343
Greenvine Baptist Church. Ebenezer German Baptist Church was organized in 1861 following a revival preached by Frank Kiefer (1833-1909), a German immigrant and convert to the Baptist faith. Commonly known as Greenvine Baptist Church, the congregation first met in a log cabin owned by Michael Moller. The Rev. F. J. Gleiss (1826-1912), a former Methodist minister and fellow German immigrant, succeeded Kiefer as pastor in 1868. This site was purchased in 1870, and a sanctuary was built in 1879. Services were conducted in the German language until replaced by English in 1947. #8343
?, Greenvine, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08344
Greenvine Schools. Public education in the rural community of Greenvine began in 1880, when the Greenvine School was established near this site. The students, predominantly German in descent and Lutheran and Baptist in faith, began attending classes taught in German at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church parsonage. Classes later were relocated to a site near the Greenvine Baptist Church Cemetery and finally to a building 70 feet south of this site. A school for local African American children known as the Waller Chapel School (1.75 mi. SE) was established in 1895. Classes were held in a wood-frame building that also served as a house of worship for the Waller Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation. In 1949, after schools in the Greenvine, Latium, and Burton communities were consolidated, the Greenvine schools closed. Local students began attending the Burton Rural High School, which offered 12 grades of instruction. The last Greenvine schoolhouse was relocated to the new school site. The Waller Chapel Schoolhouse continued to be used for church services until 1965. #8344
?, Greenvine, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08345
Jacob Haller House. Victorian architecture, with fine wood details. Hand-hewn local cedar was used in framing. Clapboard siding is of cypress. Built 1853 by Chappell Hill's first Postmaster; later the home of "country doctor" W. R. Campbell. #8345
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08346
Hasskarl House-"Far View". Impressive views led Dr. Walter F. Hasskarl (1885-1965) to buy this site. Noted Houston architect Alfred C. Finn designed and local contractor J. R. Nix built this house in 1925. It presents a blend of Prairie School influence (horizontal composition and broad eaves) and the classical style (arched loggia, terrace, and screenwork). Dr. Hasskarl served as Washington County Health Officer for 51 years. The house remained in the Hasskarl family until 1992. #8346
1804 S. Park St., Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08347
Permelia Haynie Home. Victorian house built on land deeded Permelia Haynie (Mrs. John Haynie) by sister and her husband. Framework is of hand-hewn cedar with square nails and wooden pegs. After 1900 storm and later, bay window, kitchen, and other rooms were added. #8347
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08348
William Jones Elliott Heard. Born in Tennessee in 1803; died at Chappell Hill August 8, 1874; captain of Company F, 1st Regiment of Texas; volunteer at San Jacinto. Erected by the State of Texas #8348
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08349
James Holt, Texas Ranger. Texas pioneer. Born in Georgia, he came to Texas about 1836. Was issued this 1,280-acre grant on Mill Creek by Republic of Texas Oct. 4, 1838. Was appointed postmaster of Vine Grove, 1851. His wife Mary became postmaster upon his death. #8349
?, Burton, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08350
Hood's Texas Brigade, C.S.A.. Co. I, Fifth Texas Infantry Regt., Army of Northern Virginia, was raised here Aug. 1861, as "The Texas Aides" by Capt. J. B. Robertson. Unit fought in many battles of Civil War--Gaines Mill, Second Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg, Chickamauga and the Wilderness. Robertson became brigadier general and succeeded Hood as Commander Oct. 1862. Replaced by Brigadier General John Gregg, Jan. 1864. Col. R. M. Powell later held post until end of the war. The brigade surrendered at Appomatox, April 12, 1865, with 12% enlistees surviving. "Defeat could not dim their record." #8350
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08351
Site of Home of General Sam Houston. Site of the home of General Sam Houston and family; Original house built in 1837 by Thomas Barron; first occupied by the Houstons in 1854; torn down and rebuilt in 1897 by James Dallas. #8351
?, Powell, TX, United States
