Allen in Collin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Drag Scraper

Photographed by James Hulse, September 4, 2026

1. Drag Scraper Marker

Inscription.
This front end loader tool with bolted handles pulled by a mule served various purposes. Men used hand shovels to loosen dirt, sometimes scattered with rock, and scooped the soil into the scraper. The large ‘bucket-type scoop’ carried the dirt to another location for leveling farm land, making roads, or drainage ditches. This implement was especially useful in building the railroad trestles and bridges over Cottonwood and Rowlett Creeks when the Houston & Texas Central Railroad cut through the prairie countryside near Allen in 1872.

*donated by Kerry Johnson

Erected by City of Allen and Allen Heritage Guild.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 33° 6.303′ N, 96° 39.857′ W. Marker is in Allen, Texas, in Collin County. It is on Saint Mary Drive 0.1 miles east of N Cedar Drive, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the grounds of the Allen Heritage Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 460 St Mary Dr, Allen TX 75002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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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: Single Blade Plow with Corn Seed Planter (here, next to this marker); Moline Plow, 6008, 6041A, 5980 (here, next to this marker); Agriculture in Allen (here, next to this marker); Farm Animals (here, next to this marker); The Barn (a few steps from this marker); Corn Sheller (within shouting distance of this marker); Screech Owls (within shouting distance of this marker); Works Progress Administration (WPA) “Outhouse” (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Allen.

Drag Scraper and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 4, 2026

2. Drag Scraper and Marker

Drag Scraper Marker (Middle) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 4, 2026

3. Drag Scraper Marker (Middle)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.