Westside in Piney Point Village in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Fritz Schroeder Home
Photographed By James Hulse, March 25, 2021
1. The Fritz Schroeder Home Marker
The first settlers in the Spring Branch area were Jacob and Dorothea Schroeder, who built a log cabin in about 1839 in what is now Hedwig Village. Their son, Friedrich "Fritz" Schroeder (1833-ca. 1903) was born in Germany and immigrated to Texas with his parents. In 1859, Fritz purchased farmland in what is now Smithdale Estates in the City of Piney Point Village. He married Dorathe Bleker in about 1860, prior to serving in the Confederate army. The couple built this home on their farm in about 1865, using timber from the nearby Rummel-Hildebrandt-Bauer sawmill. The house went through several owners over the years, and was renovated in the mid-twentieth century as a country home. In the early 1990s, the property was purchased and developed into Smithdale Estates. At that time, the Schroeder house was donated by the developers, Memorial Builders, to the City of Piney Point Village. It was moved to its present location at 435 Piney Point in 1993, where it is now owned and maintained as a private residence by the Memorial Villages Water Authority. A front porch and spindle railings were added at that time.
The Schroeder home appears to be the oldest remaining residential structure in west Houston. It and the 1864 St. Peter Church, on Long Point Road, represent the only known remaining buildings of the German pioneers who
this page online
Erected 2017 by Harris County Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.
Location. 29° 45.823′ N, 95° 31.051′ W. Marker is in Piney Point Village, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Westside. Marker is on Piney Point Road, 0.1 miles north of Quail Hollow Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 435 Piney Point Road, Houston TX 77024, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. German Settlements North of the Bayou (approx. 0.8 miles away); Early Settlement South of the Bayou (approx. 0.8 miles away); John Taylor's Piney Point League (approx. 0.8 miles away); Jacob Schroeder and Early Spring Branch Community (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Pioneer Spring Branch Community (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Schroeder Family and Hedwig Village (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Rummel-Hildebrandt-Bauer Sawmill (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Rummel-Hildebrandt-Bauer Sawmill (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piney Point Village.
Photographed By James Hulse, March 25, 2021
2. The Fritz Schroeder Home and Marker
Photographed By James Hulse, March 25, 2021
3. The view of the Fritz Schroeder Home from the road
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,072 times since then and 142 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 28, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
