Garland in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Roach Feed & Seed Co.

Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 10, 2020

1. Roach Feed & Seed Co. Marker

Inscription.

Roach Feed and Seed Co.. . , In 1920, Garland businessman W. H. Roach and his son Haskell, recently graduated from Baylor University, acquired the retail grocery operation of M. D. Williams' mercantile store and began business on the south side of the town's square as Roach Grocery Co. , Later, they sold the retail grocery business and opened a feed, seed and wholesale grocery company supplying small grocery stores in the area. A few years later, leasing land on the Santa Fe Railroad right-of-way, the Roaches erected a tin-covered building to house their Roach Feed and Grocer Co. The new store opened on June 16, 1933, and eventually became known as "A Texas Legend." , After his father's death during World War II, Haskell "Hack" Roach eliminated the grocery inventory, and the business became Roach Feed and Seed Co. During this period, he also joined Earl McDaniel Sr. in purchasing a local grain operation, and formed Roach and McDaniel Grain Co. One of its early customers was a young business, the Frito Company of Dallas, which grew to become an iconic American food corporation known worldwide. McDaniel's son Earl "Jack" McDaniel Jr., joined Roach Feed and Seed as a store employee in 1949. The two companies continued to operate separately until 1952, when Jack McDaniel purchased his father's interest in the grain company and became Roach's partner in that enterprise. After the grain operation was sold in the late 1950s, the younger McDaniel continued as Roach's partner in the feed store. , Garland's rapid growth and burgeoning housing developments in the decades after World War II brought demand for lawn, gardening, and pet supplies, so the company evolved further. "Hack" Roach continued working at the store until the age of 91. He dies on Dec. 5, 1991, at the age of 93. , Guided by successive, but overlapping, generations from two families, Roach Feed and Seed has continually reshaped itself to serve the needs of a changing customer base. Its staff represents more than 125 years of service to the Garland community.

In 1920, Garland businessman W. H. Roach and his son Haskell, recently graduated from Baylor University, acquired the retail grocery operation of M. D. Williams' mercantile store and began business on the south side of the town's square as Roach Grocery Co.

Later, they sold the retail grocery business and opened a feed, seed and wholesale grocery company supplying small grocery stores in the area. A few years later, leasing land on the Santa Fe Railroad right-of-way, the Roaches erected a tin-covered building to house their Roach Feed & Grocer Co. The new store opened on June 16, 1933, and eventually became known as "A Texas Legend."

After his father's death during World War II, Haskell "Hack" Roach eliminated the grocery inventory, and the business became Roach Feed & Seed Co. During this period, he also joined Earl McDaniel Sr. in purchasing a local grain operation, and formed Roach & McDaniel Grain Co. One of its early customers was a young business, the Frito Company of Dallas, which grew to become an iconic American food corporation known worldwide. McDaniel's son Earl "Jack" McDaniel Jr., joined Roach Feed & Seed as a store employee in 1949. The two companies continued to operate separately until 1952, when Jack McDaniel purchased his father's interest in the grain company and became Roach's partner

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in that enterprise. After the grain operation was sold in the late 1950s, the younger McDaniel continued as Roach's partner in the feed store.

Garland's rapid growth and burgeoning housing developments in the decades after World War II brought demand for lawn, gardening, and pet supplies, so the company evolved further. "Hack" Roach continued working at the store until the age of 91. He dies on Dec. 5, 1991, at the age of 93.

Guided by successive, but overlapping, generations from two families, Roach Feed & Seed has continually reshaped itself to serve the needs of a changing customer base. Its staff represents more than 125 years of service to the Garland community.

Erected 2013 by Garland Landmark Society. (Marker Number 20087-Copy.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 32° 54.767′ N, 96° 38.167′ W. Marker is in Garland, Texas, in Dallas County. It is on Main Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 Main Street, Garland TX 75040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Garland (within shouting distance of this marker); Bankhead Highway in Garland (within shouting distance

Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 10, 2020

2. Roach Feed & Seed Co. Marker

of this marker); A. J. Head Service Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Santa Fe Railroad Depot (approx. ¼ mile away); Railroads in Garland (approx. ¼ mile away); Manuel and Maria Valle Family (approx. ¼ mile away); First Christian Church of Garland (approx. ¼ mile away); First Methodist Church of Garland (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Garland.

Additional commentary.
1. Not Installed Yet?
Marker #20087 from the Texas Historical Commission, according to the Atlas, is a 27” x 42” cast aluminum plate mounted on a post which is a standard THC design. The pictured marker is not it. The THC marker is dated 2018. Sometimes it takes a few years for the marker to get delivered and installed. The THC marker does not appear in the most recent Google Street View imagery dated August, 2022.

— Submitted April 4, 2024, by Gregory Moore of Splendora, Texas.

Roach Feed & Seed Co. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 10, 2020

3. Roach Feed & Seed Co.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,253 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 10, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the actual cast metal marker No. 20087 with this title and text. Please use the Add-A-Marker button to add it as a new entry. Then if this sign is no longer on the wall, mark this entry "Permanently Removed" • Can you help?