Anderson County Historical Markers
NUMBER MARKERS IN COUNTY - 144
Have - 132 Need -12
Named for Kenneth L. Anderson who was once vice president of the Republic of Texas. The county seat is Palestine.
We have only briefly driven through a small part of Anderson County as part of a bigger trip. We now have a more focused trip planned for October and although I always look forward to our little road trips and I am excited for this one. Palestine has lots of the beautiful old homes that I love. Palestine also some interesting looking restaurants, the posh looking Red Fire Grille for one, or the down home Bishop's Brisket House for another and it also looks like a fun town to simply walk around and browse, I don't think I'll have trouble finding my county Christmas ornament this time round. I like the look of Thirsty Thursdays at Granny Muffin Wines, and the Starlight Train Ride at Texas State Railroad looks like a lot fun.
I have written to the Anderson County Historical commission for some intel on markers that look like they could cause us difficulty on the road, I hope they answer because the easier the marker hunting goes the more time there will be for other activities.
We have only briefly driven through a small part of Anderson County as part of a bigger trip. We now have a more focused trip planned for October and although I always look forward to our little road trips and I am excited for this one. Palestine has lots of the beautiful old homes that I love. Palestine also some interesting looking restaurants, the posh looking Red Fire Grille for one, or the down home Bishop's Brisket House for another and it also looks like a fun town to simply walk around and browse, I don't think I'll have trouble finding my county Christmas ornament this time round. I like the look of Thirsty Thursdays at Granny Muffin Wines, and the Starlight Train Ride at Texas State Railroad looks like a lot fun.
I have written to the Anderson County Historical commission for some intel on markers that look like they could cause us difficulty on the road, I hope they answer because the easier the marker hunting goes the more time there will be for other activities.
06/05/2018 - It's taken me this long to review our trip from October last year. All in all it was a very successful adventure, we got a lot of the markers in the county, we had some nice meals and it didn't rain until the day we were going home. We stayed at the historical Redlands Hotel, which the owners brought back from the brink of destruction. It has been renovated and is a neat place to stay in the center of town. The owners moved from Houston due to needing to care for some family in the area and wanted to make a positive impact on the town of Palestine. The Redlands hotel was owned by the county at that time and would have cost more to raze than it was worth, so it stood there unused for many years. The Mollards bought the hotel and painstakingly brought it back from ruins, despite the fact that Jean Mollard initially wanted nothing to do with her husband's vision, she is now is very proud of the hotel she operates and will happily do tours to show it off. We also ate at the Redlands Grille the hotel restaurant, we had planned to eat there one night but Steve was so impressed we returned and the next night and did it again. We actually became so comfortable here that we tabled moving on to Nacogdoches for another time and stayed another couple of nights.
Palestine is a town that seems to be trying renew itself, there is an emphasis on trains and railway and tourists do come here for the steam train rides especially around Christmas, there are some cute antique shops. Old Magnolia Coffee Shop, sells gourmet coffee and sandwiches. There is a however a surprising amount of homeless people that up to that time I had not seen in another town of this size. I'm now going to mention an unpleasant and unsettling incident that happened on this trip. I wasn't sure I was going to mention it because this is no way a political site and we met so many nice people here. We were in the Bird's Egg Cafe, an American breakfast and lunch place probably similar to a thousand others in Texas . It was bright and sunny which somehow made what happened just that much more shocking to me. At the table next to us there was three older people sitting and the man was telling a story very loudly and when he described the man in his story he used the N word to talk about him, he used the word loudly several times. There was an African-American man at the next table who acted like he didn't hear what was being said, our waitress was African-American I hope she was out of earshot. It was disturbing to me how comfortable this man was talking the way he did. We paid up quickly and left I wish I had the nerve to say something but it almost felt like it may in someway make things worse. Steve didn't hear what was said as his hearing is not always great in places where there are several people. I'm not naive I know racism exists and can happen anywhere but something about how comfortable this man was in talking the way was is deeply disturbing to me. Now every time I think of this trip this incident comes to mind.
Now on to the markers. Firstly I need to thank David Franklin from the Anderson County Historical Commission because he took the time to answer all my many questions despite at one stage being overseas and out of state on another. Beulah Baptist Church is a new 2017 marker but I do not think it is up yet. Site of Lincoln High School was being repaired and was not up while we were in Palestine. The Texas Historical Atlas lists Gilmore's Chapel I believe this is actual a duplicate entry and is really the same marker as the one entitled Early Settlement of Northwestern Anderson County. Swanson Cemetery has two markers, a 27 x 42 aluminum subject marker is at the train station, the actual cemetery is small distant away from this marker and has been blocked off, it was pouring down on the day we were there so we couldn't really take a great look. There is also a Texas Historical Cemetery Medallion at the cemetery. John Starr house is visible from the road but I'm unsure the medallion that is supposed to be on the house is visible. Pine Lodge Club house was inaccessible when we went passed it. Link Family Cemetery is on private property we will try and ask the land owner for permission to capture the marker, same with William T. Sadler marker. We did not locate the C.S. A. Iron Works marker. We also failed to locate the Christoper Columbus Rogers grave marker, I did read somewhere that this one is missing.
Palestine is a town that seems to be trying renew itself, there is an emphasis on trains and railway and tourists do come here for the steam train rides especially around Christmas, there are some cute antique shops. Old Magnolia Coffee Shop, sells gourmet coffee and sandwiches. There is a however a surprising amount of homeless people that up to that time I had not seen in another town of this size. I'm now going to mention an unpleasant and unsettling incident that happened on this trip. I wasn't sure I was going to mention it because this is no way a political site and we met so many nice people here. We were in the Bird's Egg Cafe, an American breakfast and lunch place probably similar to a thousand others in Texas . It was bright and sunny which somehow made what happened just that much more shocking to me. At the table next to us there was three older people sitting and the man was telling a story very loudly and when he described the man in his story he used the N word to talk about him, he used the word loudly several times. There was an African-American man at the next table who acted like he didn't hear what was being said, our waitress was African-American I hope she was out of earshot. It was disturbing to me how comfortable this man was talking the way he did. We paid up quickly and left I wish I had the nerve to say something but it almost felt like it may in someway make things worse. Steve didn't hear what was said as his hearing is not always great in places where there are several people. I'm not naive I know racism exists and can happen anywhere but something about how comfortable this man was in talking the way was is deeply disturbing to me. Now every time I think of this trip this incident comes to mind.
Now on to the markers. Firstly I need to thank David Franklin from the Anderson County Historical Commission because he took the time to answer all my many questions despite at one stage being overseas and out of state on another. Beulah Baptist Church is a new 2017 marker but I do not think it is up yet. Site of Lincoln High School was being repaired and was not up while we were in Palestine. The Texas Historical Atlas lists Gilmore's Chapel I believe this is actual a duplicate entry and is really the same marker as the one entitled Early Settlement of Northwestern Anderson County. Swanson Cemetery has two markers, a 27 x 42 aluminum subject marker is at the train station, the actual cemetery is small distant away from this marker and has been blocked off, it was pouring down on the day we were there so we couldn't really take a great look. There is also a Texas Historical Cemetery Medallion at the cemetery. John Starr house is visible from the road but I'm unsure the medallion that is supposed to be on the house is visible. Pine Lodge Club house was inaccessible when we went passed it. Link Family Cemetery is on private property we will try and ask the land owner for permission to capture the marker, same with William T. Sadler marker. We did not locate the C.S. A. Iron Works marker. We also failed to locate the Christoper Columbus Rogers grave marker, I did read somewhere that this one is missing.
Alonzo Marion Story
Anderson Campground
Anderson County
Anderson County Courthouse
Anderson County In the Civil War
Anderson County Poor Farm
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Bell Cemetery
Bethel Cemetery
Bethel Church and Cemetery
Beulah Baptist Church
Campbell Cemetery
Captain Steven L. Bennett
Captain William Kimbro
Christopher Columbus Rogers
Christopher Columbus Rogers
Col. G. R. Howard House
Col. Homer Garrison Jr.
Concord Baptist Church and Cemetery
Crawford Cemetery
C.S.A. Iron Works
Denson Springs Cemetery
Dickerson Parker
Don Hastings
Dr. Bonner Frizzell
Early Settlement of Northwestern Anderson County
Eilenberger's Bakery
Elkhart Garden of Memories Cemetery
Elkhart Myrtle Springs Cemetery
Female Department of the Masonic Institute
Fields Chapel Methodist Church and Cemetery
First Baptist Church of Elkhart
First Baptist Church of Palestine
First Christian Church Palestine Texas
First Grave of Cynthia Ann Parker
First Methodist Church of Palestine
First Presbyterian Church
First United Methodist Church of Elkhart
Fort Houston
Fort Houston
Fort Houston Cemetery
Frankston City Park
Frankston Railroad Depot
Frederick Douglass Elementary School
Freeman Farm
Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell
Grace Methodist Church
Green Bay A.M.E. Church
Green Bay High School
Harmony Baptist Church
Henry Fields
Hodges - Darsey House
Home of Congressman and Mrs. Alexander W. Gregg
Hopewell Cemetery
I & GN Hospital and Nurses' Quarters
Jemison Quarters Cemetery
John and Laura Miller House
John H. Reagan
John H. Reagan
John H. Reagan Monument
John Starr House
Judge John Byler Mallard
Judge William Alexander
Judson Baptist Church
Judson Cemetery
Kolstad Jewelers
Link Family Cemetery
Lone Pine Baptist Church
Magnolia Cemetery
Mary Kate Hunter (November 8, 1866 - April 15, 1945)
McClure - McReynolds - Fowler Home
Micham Main
Miles Bennett
Mount Prairie Cemetery
Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church
Mount Vernon United Methodist Church
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
Murdoch McDonald
Muse Cemetery
N. A. Banks Elementary School
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Northeast Texas Christian Theological and Industrial College
Old Montalba
Old Pilgrim Church
Olive Branch Cemetery
Osjetea Briggs
Palestine Carnegie Library
Palestine Fire Department
Palestine High School
Palestine Lodge No. 31, A.F. & A. M.
Palestine Post Office and Federal Building
Palestine Salt Works C. S. A.
Paul L. Rutledge, Sr.
Pennybacker - Campbell - Wommack House
Pilgrim Hill Baptist Church
Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church
Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church
Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
Pine Lodge Club House
Providence Church and Cemetery
Purvey Lee (P. L.) Chism
Rev. Daniel Parker
Robert (Bob) Knight
Roy B. Wallace
Sacred Heart Church
"Slocum Massacre"
Seven Oaks (Mallard - Alexander House)
Site of Four Pines School
Site of Henry High School
Site of Knox Glass Company Plant
Site of Lincoln High School
Site of McKnight Plaza
Site of Old Magnolia
Site of Palestine Service Men's Club, World War II
Site of St. Mary's Academy
Site of the Kickapoo Battlefield
Site of the McClean Massacre
Site of Woodhouse School
South Union Missionary Baptist Church
Stafford - Tucker Cemetery
Starr Cemetery
St. Philips Episcopal Church of Palestine
Swanson Cemetery
Swanson Cemetery
Tennessee Colony
Tennessee Colony Cemetery
Tennessee Colony Order of the Eastern Star No. 102
Texas Fruit Palace, Anderson County
Texas State Railroad
The Bowers Mansion
The I&GN Railroad in Palestine
The Link House
The Pinery Settlement
Timothy Stephen Smith
Tyre Masonic Lodge No. 198
Westwood United Methodist Church
William and Caroline Broyles House
William Freeman
William T. Sadler
Wilson Cemetery
Anderson Campground
Anderson County
Anderson County Courthouse
Anderson County In the Civil War
Anderson County Poor Farm
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Bell Cemetery
Bethel Cemetery
Bethel Church and Cemetery
Beulah Baptist Church
Campbell Cemetery
Captain Steven L. Bennett
Captain William Kimbro
Christopher Columbus Rogers
Christopher Columbus Rogers
Col. G. R. Howard House
Col. Homer Garrison Jr.
Concord Baptist Church and Cemetery
Crawford Cemetery
C.S.A. Iron Works
Denson Springs Cemetery
Dickerson Parker
Don Hastings
Dr. Bonner Frizzell
Early Settlement of Northwestern Anderson County
Eilenberger's Bakery
Elkhart Garden of Memories Cemetery
Elkhart Myrtle Springs Cemetery
Female Department of the Masonic Institute
Fields Chapel Methodist Church and Cemetery
First Baptist Church of Elkhart
First Baptist Church of Palestine
First Christian Church Palestine Texas
First Grave of Cynthia Ann Parker
First Methodist Church of Palestine
First Presbyterian Church
First United Methodist Church of Elkhart
Fort Houston
Fort Houston
Fort Houston Cemetery
Frankston City Park
Frankston Railroad Depot
Frederick Douglass Elementary School
Freeman Farm
Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell
Grace Methodist Church
Green Bay A.M.E. Church
Green Bay High School
Harmony Baptist Church
Henry Fields
Hodges - Darsey House
Home of Congressman and Mrs. Alexander W. Gregg
Hopewell Cemetery
I & GN Hospital and Nurses' Quarters
Jemison Quarters Cemetery
John and Laura Miller House
John H. Reagan
John H. Reagan
John H. Reagan Monument
John Starr House
Judge John Byler Mallard
Judge William Alexander
Judson Baptist Church
Judson Cemetery
Kolstad Jewelers
Link Family Cemetery
Lone Pine Baptist Church
Magnolia Cemetery
Mary Kate Hunter (November 8, 1866 - April 15, 1945)
McClure - McReynolds - Fowler Home
Micham Main
Miles Bennett
Mount Prairie Cemetery
Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church
Mount Vernon United Methodist Church
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
Murdoch McDonald
Muse Cemetery
N. A. Banks Elementary School
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Northeast Texas Christian Theological and Industrial College
Old Montalba
Old Pilgrim Church
Olive Branch Cemetery
Osjetea Briggs
Palestine Carnegie Library
Palestine Fire Department
Palestine High School
Palestine Lodge No. 31, A.F. & A. M.
Palestine Post Office and Federal Building
Palestine Salt Works C. S. A.
Paul L. Rutledge, Sr.
Pennybacker - Campbell - Wommack House
Pilgrim Hill Baptist Church
Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church
Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church
Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
Pine Lodge Club House
Providence Church and Cemetery
Purvey Lee (P. L.) Chism
Rev. Daniel Parker
Robert (Bob) Knight
Roy B. Wallace
Sacred Heart Church
"Slocum Massacre"
Seven Oaks (Mallard - Alexander House)
Site of Four Pines School
Site of Henry High School
Site of Knox Glass Company Plant
Site of Lincoln High School
Site of McKnight Plaza
Site of Old Magnolia
Site of Palestine Service Men's Club, World War II
Site of St. Mary's Academy
Site of the Kickapoo Battlefield
Site of the McClean Massacre
Site of Woodhouse School
South Union Missionary Baptist Church
Stafford - Tucker Cemetery
Starr Cemetery
St. Philips Episcopal Church of Palestine
Swanson Cemetery
Swanson Cemetery
Tennessee Colony
Tennessee Colony Cemetery
Tennessee Colony Order of the Eastern Star No. 102
Texas Fruit Palace, Anderson County
Texas State Railroad
The Bowers Mansion
The I&GN Railroad in Palestine
The Link House
The Pinery Settlement
Timothy Stephen Smith
Tyre Masonic Lodge No. 198
Westwood United Methodist Church
William and Caroline Broyles House
William Freeman
William T. Sadler
Wilson Cemetery