Pflugerville in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church
In the early twentieth century, African American workers in the Pflugerville Cotton Industry were not allowed to buy property in town. In 1910, La Rue Noton, a farmer who owned around 1,200 acres west of Pflugerville, set aside an acre and sold lots to the workers for fifty dollars each. The settlement was recorded in county records as Pflugerville’s colored addition. In 1909, Reverend Square Roberts held church services under a brush arbor on the Fritz Pfluger Farm in the colored addition. A few months later, services were held in the schoolhouse. In January 1910, under Reverend Roberts’ leadership, a Baptist church was organized. In the first meeting, Sister Luella Henry suggested the name St. Mary Baptist Church and the motion carried.
During the early years of the newly established church, many pastors led the congregation. In 1914, a lot was purchased that would house the first church building. The building was completed from 1914 to 1916. During Reverend Nelson’s tenure in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the building was moved from the back lot to the front. Due to an increase in attendance, the church was remodeled and expanded. With an active Sunday school program, organization of the Baptist training union and a diversity fellowship with other area churches, St. Mary Missionary Baptist church has forged ties in the community. From humble beginnings and twenty members, this church has grown to over 400 members and has been a beacon of light in the community for over a century.
Erected 2013 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17560.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1910.
Location. 30° 26.707′ N, 97° 37.811′ W. Marker is in Pflugerville, Texas, in Travis County. Marker is on Russell Street north of West Pecan Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1202 Russell Street, Pflugerville TX 78660, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pflugerville Schools (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pflugerville (approx. half a mile away); Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); Bohls House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Fortress Home (approx. 2½ miles away); The Gault Homestead (approx. 3 miles away); Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dessau (approx. 3 miles away); Oertli Dairy (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pflugerville.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2020, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2020, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.