Huntsville in Walker County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Joshua's Forge

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

1. Joshua's Forge Marker

Inscription. This building is named in honor of the person who was the blacksmith and factotum for the Houston Family until emancipation.

Joshua was considered family, taking "Houston" for his last name after emancipation.
As a blacksmith, he made essential items needed to maintain a farm of this size. The Houston family depended quite a lot on his wisdom, talent and integrity to keep it in good working order.

During his time with the Houstons, he was allowed to continue his studies in reading, writing and mathematics. He became a trusted member of the community. After the Civil War, as a freed man, Joshua used his skills and life-savings to become a prominent business owner and leading promoter of education for the African-American community in Huntsville and Walker Co.

Captions:
Upper Right: Illustration of Blacksmithing
Lower Left: 1898

Visit the Main museum for more information and the Shop for your copy of "From Slave to Statesman".

Erected by Sam Houston Memorial Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Industry & Commerce •

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Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 30° 42.921′ N, 95° 33.202′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Texas, in Walker County. It can be reached from the intersection of Sam Houston Avenue (State Highway 75) and 19th Street. The marker is located on the southwestern section of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1836 Sam Houston Avenue, Huntsville TX 77340, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

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: Woodland, Home of Sam Houston (within shouting distance of this marker); Margaret Moffette Lea Houston (within shouting distance of this marker); Roberts-Farris Log Cabin (within shouting distance of

The Joshua's Forge Marker at the entrance to the workshop image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

2. The Joshua's Forge Marker at the entrance to the workshop

this marker); Law Office (Sam Houston) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Steamboat House (about 300 feet away); Old Main Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Austin Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Austin College Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Also see . . . Houston, Joshua (1822–1902).

Joshua Houston, a servant of Sam Houston and an officeholder after the Civil War, was raised as a slave on Temple Lea's plantation in Marion, Perry County, Alabama. At his death in 1834 Lea left Joshua and his family to his daughter, Margaret Lea, who took them to Texas in 1840, when she married Sam Houston. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on April 10, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The workshop and the Joshua's Forge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

3. The workshop and the Joshua's Forge Marker

Inside view of Joshua's Forge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 21, 2021

4. Inside view of Joshua's Forge

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 319 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 10, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.