Hitchcock in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Stringfellow Orchards
Photographed By Russell Ross, June 10, 2007
1. Stringfellow Orchards Marker
The date of death on the marker is wrong for Mr. Stringfellow. He actually died in 1912.
Erected 1992 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11570.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 29° 20.941′ N, 95° 1.062′ W. Marker is in Hitchcock, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is on State Highway 6 west of Main Street (State Highway 519), on the right when traveling west. Located 30 miles SE of Houston and 14 miles NW of Galveston Island. Coined the “Promised Land” by the Galveston Daily Newspaper in March of 2006, it is a little off the beat and path. Only five minutes South from I-45 (South) and Delaney Road. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. City of Hitchcock (approx. one mile away); Galilee Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); U.S. Naval Air Station (approx. 1.7 miles away); Camp Wallace (approx. 1.7 miles away); Frank Bell Jr. (approx. 3.1 miles away); Hitchcock Depot (approx. 3.3 miles away); La Marque (approx. 3.3 miles away); Settlement Community (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hitchcock.
More about this marker. Located in the center of town, Stringfellow Orchards is a beautiful place to see. The home sits on 9.5 acres and the drive is lined with big oaks and tall pine trees.
Regarding Stringfellow Orchards. Mr. Stringfellow was the first to plant Satsuma oranges (Citrus unshiu marcovitch) from Japan on the Gulf Coast. He started the citrus industry on the Gulf Coast. During the 1880s & 1890s African-American men were making fifty cents per day in the area. Mr. Stringfellow was paying his African American workers one dollar per day. He had the most successful orchard in the area. This allowed him to pay well and retain the top talent. He was
Photographed By Jim Evans, February 9, 2012
2. Stringfellow Orchards Marker
Also see . . . Galveston County sites on the National Register of Historic Places. (Submitted on May 6, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
Additional commentary.
1. Stringfellow Orchards
The property was in very bad shape when we found it. As you can see from the photos we have come a very long way. This property has now been saved and we encourage others to be involved in your local preservation organizations. A once forgotten treasure is now the center of community activities.
Mr. Stringfellow was a very successful man during his lifetime. Leslie Stringfellow (1866–1886) was the only son of Henry & Alice Stringfellow. After Leslie’s death in 1886, Alice was so grieved that she refused to get out of bed. She eventually tried having seances to contact Leslie. Mr. & Mrs. Stringfellow would meet every night in the upstairs parlor at 7 pm for the seances. They collected over 4000 letters of what they said were communications with their son. I believe Mr. Stringfellow wrote these letters to help his wife deal with the grief of losing their only child. I do not believe he ever told his wife the truth. When he died communication with Leslie stopped. Mr. & Mrs. Stringfellow were well educated people. They came from very wealthy
Photographed By Gregory Walker, April 11, 2010
3. Marker at entrance to Stringfellow Orchards.
— Submitted January 19, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas.
2. Economic impact on African American community
Stringfellow Orchards was a very successful business in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Because of this success, Mr. Stringfellow was able to pay his workers one dollar a day (when the going wages were only fifty cents per day). This allowed these men the opportunity to better take care of their families. It also allowed them the opportunity to buy land. In his book, The New Horticulture (1896) Mr. Stringfellow mentions the name of one of these men, Frank Bell. The Bell family of Texas City is very well known in the area. Frank Bell, Jr. (1893–1963) was a very successful businessman in the area.
The connection between Stringfellow Orchards and the Bell family was a great discovery. It shows that after slavery there were some people that were willing to pay fair wages to Black workers. Just as poverty cycles over and over, if given the opportunity to break the poverty cycle, some will make the most of it. Frank Bell used his extra money to buy land for his family and encourage his children to go further. The impact of which is still being felt by the community today.
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, January 27, 2006
4. Stringfellow home before restoration
The home and property was purchased in December of 2005. The grounds were all overgrown and the house was almost beyond repair. This is a photo taken after the trees and brush were cleared around the house.
3. An Outstanding Effort!
I have had the opportunity to visit Stringfellow Orchards during one of the community Juneteenth celebrations held there. The owners, Doris and Sam Collins, have done an amazing job of restoring this property and implementing a vision that is a benefit to the entire community. I look forward to celebrating Juneteenth and other historically-significant occassions at Stringfellow. Further, I would love to see the horticultural history of Stringfellow continued through education and demonstration of innovative and natural gardening practices.
— Submitted January 20, 2008, by S. Gillins of Galveston, Texas.
4. If Walls Could Talk
Just saw the house featured on If Walls Could Talk. What good folks the Collins' are for bringing this special piece of history back to life. Very neat!
— Submitted July 16, 2009, by Amy Vance of Friendswood, Texas.
5. Beautiful property
Stringfellow Orchards is Beautiful. You should make every effort to come out and see it. The sunsets are amazing through the large oaks. Sam Collins
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, June 18, 2006
5. After restoration
This photo was taken less than five months after the previous picture. The Stringfellow home had returned to its former glory. This was the day after the first community event at the property. On the day before this was taken, over 600 people from around the Galveston County area celebrated Juneteenth on the grounds. The re-birth of Stringfellow Orchards was here.
— Submitted July 28, 2009, by Megan Carpenter of Santa Fe, Texas.
Photographed By Jim Evans, February 9, 2012
6. Stringfellow Orchards Marker
Photographed By Russell Ross, June 16, 2007
7. The beautiful driveway, taken from upstairs window
The local community comes out to enjoy a day at Stringfellow Orchards. The once forgotten property is now home to one of the best Juneteenth celebrations in the state of Texas. Many other events are planned to share the property with the community.
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, September 16, 2006
8. Author Stephen Chism on the porch
Stephen Chism makes a visit to Stringfellow Orchards. Stephen wrote a book about the Stringfellow family and was in town for a private event at the property. He signed books for members of the Menard Society.
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, September 16, 2006
9. Menard Society members listening to Stephen Chism
This photo was taken from inside the two front doors looking south down the drive. An amazing view.
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, June 10, 2007
10. Another view of the home
Photographed By Samuel Collins III, February 9, 2007
11. Old Stringfellow Barn
Tucked behind the large oak trees on the property is this jewel. Before the invention of the automobile, this barn housed the 19th century popular means of transportation, better known as the horse. It has stood the test of time, over 100 years old and still counting. Once the center of attention on a daily basis, now the barn sits as a constant reminder of the superior carpentry of those that came before us.
Photographed By Jim Evans, May 23, 2013
12. Stringfellow Orchards -- a Nostalgic Pastoral Scene
Photographed By Jim Evans, May 23, 2013
13. A Current Picture of the Stringfellow Orchards Barn
Photographed By Kat Joel, June 15, 2014
14. History comes to life during the 9th Annual Juneteenth Family Day 2014
Photographed By Samuel Collins III
15. Stringfellow Orchards National Register Plaque
Stringfellow Orchards was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 27, 2013.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. This page has been viewed 6,579 times since then and 136 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on January 18, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 2. submitted on May 6, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 3. submitted on September 19, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. 4, 5. submitted on January 18, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 6. submitted on February 12, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on January 18, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 11. submitted on February 14, 2008, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 12, 13. submitted on May 26, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 14. submitted on September 15, 2014, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 15. submitted on September 21, 2014, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
