Texas Historical Marker #11964
Site of Crosby's Landing. Thomas Phillip Crosby (1799-1860) came to Texas from New York in 1830. After surveying sections of land along the Colorado River in 1830, he settled on this tract along the Brazos River with an eye toward building a landing for lower Brazos River plantation owners. He knew that a site on the water itself was crucial to the success of the business venture he had in mind. Wounded in the Battle of Velasco (1832), Thomas returned home to establish his docks, shipping and receiving goods for local landowners from such places as Galveston and New Orleans. Mary Austin Holley referred to Crosby's Landing in an 1835 journal entry written during the first of her three visits to Texas. When Stephen F. Austin died in 1836 his body was carried by the steamboat Yellowstone to Crosby's Landing and delivered to his brother-in-law's Peach Point plantation for burial. Though he already was providing postal service, Crosby's post office was officially approved by the Republic of Texas government in 1836. Also on the landing site were a general store and, by virtue of the post office location, a voting precinct and tax collection place. Thomas Phillip Crosby was elected sheriff of Brazoria County in 1860, but died before taking office. After his death, Crosby's son and grandson in turn served as postmaster. Among those served by Crosby's landing were Peach Point plantation, the Jack plantation, and the Abner Jackson plantation. The Crosby family also operated one of four ferries that crossed the Brazos in Brazoria County, connecting plantations on both sides of the river. Although most of the 1,000 acres owned by Thomas Phillip Crosby were sold over the years, the Crosby's landing site remained in the Crosby family at the turn of the 21st century. (2000) #11964
4810 CR 400, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11766
Site of San Luis. Located on an island owned by Stephen F. Austin in 1832, the town of San Luis was established by the early 1830s. In 1836 the Follett family opened a boardinghouse and established a ferry service between Galveston and Brazoria County. Developers such as George L. Hammeken laid off town lots and planned for a major rail and canal connection to local plantations for shipping cotton and other local products. By 1840 San Luis was a thriving community with a population of 2,000. There were plans to build a bridge to the mainland, and a plat filed with the county clerk in 1841 outlined a city with more than fifty blocks. Storms, harbor sanding and a depressed economy made San Luis a short-lived community. By the end of the 20th century, most of the original townsite was under water due to shoreline erosion. (2000) #11766
14001 CR 257, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09610
Velasco Methodist Church. Methodist circuit riding ministers were conducting worship services in the Velasco area as early as the 1830s. After the original townsite was destroyed in the hurricane of 1875, a new one developed further inland. Led by the Rev. John L. Sullivan, Velasco Methodist church was formally organized in 1893. A brick sanctuary, erected in 1894, served the congregation until it was destroyed in the 1900 hurricane. A new sanctuary was completed in 1904. Rebuilding again after hurricane damage in 1932, the church has continued to serve the people of Brazoria County. (1988) #9610
320 Ave. A, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09609
Velasco Lodge No. 757, A. F. & A. M.. A part of Brazoria County history for more than a century, Velasco Lodge No. 757, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was granted a charger from the Grand Lodge of Texas on December 8, 1893. R. E. Murrell served as first Worshipful Master. The members' first lodge hall, located near the mouth of the Brazos River in the Velasco townsite, was severely damaged in the disastrous hurricane which struck the Texas Gulf Coast in 1900. The Masons met in a number of locations in the vicinity for many years, including a lumberyard building owned by J. T. Dingle and the Velasco schoolhouse. The lodge rented the Velasco Hotel's Powerhouse building from E. D. Dorchester from 1911 to 1922, when the Freeport Sulphur Company donated land in downtown Freeport. A two-story hall was built at the corner of Broad Street and Park Avenue, which served the lodge until a new facility was built at this site in 1979. Velasco Lodge has been involved in many civic and philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a public library in 1898, the leveling of cornerstones on public buildings, and the support of educational activities. (1994) #9609
1211 Ave. O, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09608
Velasco Cemetery. In 1891 Brazos Investment Company dedicated these 2.5 acres as the only public cemetery in the county, except for an early slave graveyard, Clute. The deed calls for usage without charge for plots. Earliest grave marker 1893. Maintained by Velasco Cemetery Association. (1967) #9608
?, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09606
Four Miles Southeast to the Original Town of Velasco. Landing place of the "Lively" first vessel bringing immigrants to Austin's colony in 1821. There the Battle of Velasco, between Texas colonists and Mexican troops, was fought June 26, 1832. A treaty of peace between Texas and Mexico was signed there May 14, 1836, by Presidents David G. Burnet and Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna but was never ratified by Mexico. #9606
?, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09604
Site of Town of Old Velasco. One of oldest Texas towns. Port of entry for over 25,000 settlers, 1821-1835. Scene of first armed conflict leading to Texas Revolution, 1832. In mid-1800s, resort place for wealthy plantation families. Declined after the Civil War and 1875 hurricane. This school is named for Velasco. (1969) #9604
?, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09596
Stringfellow Ranch. Born at Old Brazoria, Robert Edward Lee Stringfellow (1866-1951) began his career on a cattle ranch at the age of 14. Soon he acquired his own herd. He opened a Velasco meat market in 1890 and provided beef for workers building jetties at the mouth of the Brazos River. Stringfellow's ranch holdings here in southern Brazoria County increased to 20,000 acres. A philanthropist and civic leader, Stringfellow was an early builder and investor in Freeport townsite. After he was injured in the 1932 hurricane, his wife Nannie (Maddox) (d. 1971) operated the ranch and Freeport interests. (1980) #9596
?, Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09563
Freeport National Bank (Freeport Sulphur Company Building). The Freeport Sulphur Company was instrumental in the founding and early development of the city of Freeport and the region. It was incorporated on July 12, 1912, and then organized the Freeport Townsite Company with the purpose of developing a city on the west bank of the Brazos River. The city was designed to be free of wharf and dock charges to facilitate the importation of goods and supplies into the town, especially to the sulphur mines at Bryan Mound, and to expedite the exportation of sulphur to national and international markets. In 1913 the Freeport National Bank constructed a one-story edifice with a built-in vault on land acquired from the Freeport Townsite Company. In 1918 the Freeport Sulphur Company purchased adjoining property, erected a new two-story building and added a second floor to the bank structure. The Freeport National Bank remained in business until 1955, when the Freeport Sulphur Company bought the property and maintained offices here until 1973. This Classical Revival structure with brick corbelling, a flat roof, multiple bays, and flat arched windows reflects popular commercial building trends of the early 20th century. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1997 #9563
226 W. Park Ave., Freeport, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09543
William Jarvis Cannan. (December 23, 1808 - September 24, 1881) A Republic of Texas soldier during War for Independence. Born in Edgefield, S. C.; came to Texas in 1835. Entering army, he fought in famed victory of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. He received headright and bounty lands in Brazoria, San Patricio, Coleman, and Limestone counties. He had 11 children by his two marriages: first, to Martha Jane Lonis (who died in 1851), then to Mrs. Permelia Rowena Wilcox. Recorded - 1970 #9543
?, Freeport, TX, United States