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

Kitchen Garden

Photographed by James Hulse, September 4, 2026

1. Kitchen Garden Marker

Inscription.
In the 1800’s the kitchen garden was a very important part of a household’s subsistence base. The family relied upon a garden for food, medicinal purposes, dyes, house fragrances, and “everlasting” dried flowers. The kitchen garden contained a variety of crops and was generally small in scale, was enclosed and located near the house. The kitchen garden was divided into organized geometric sections for the four growing seasons.

Hand tools or a simple metal hand plow was used to create raised soil furrows for planting. During World War I (1914-1918), President Woodrow Wilson promoted war gardens as a civil and patriotic duty for citizens to assist with the war effort. People were encouraged to plant their own gardens and to produce their own food. Also during World War II (1941-1945) people once again produced, preserved and canned their harvest to help with critical food shortages. County extension services were created to help educate and equip ladies grouped into Home Demonstration Clubs in the proper canning techniques and formulating recipes to conserve food.

This kitchen garden was constructed in 2017 as a service

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project of the Young Men’s Service League of Allen.

Erected by City of Allen and Allen Heritage Guild.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • War, World I • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 2017.

Location. 33° 6.323′ N, 96° 39.928′ W. Marker is in Allen, Texas, in Collin County. It can be reached from Saint Mary Drive east of N Cedar Drive, on the right. The marker is located on the grounds of the Allen Heritage Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 326 St Mary Dr, Allen TX 75002, 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: Chicken Coop (a few steps

Kitchen Garden and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 4, 2026

2. Kitchen Garden and Marker

from this marker); Westel or I-House (a few steps from this marker); Allen Christian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Lynge House (within shouting distance of this marker); Outhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Allen Christian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Bolin House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pavilion (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Allen.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 4, 2026

3. Kitchen Garden and Marker

The Kitchen Garden is next to the Chicken Coop.

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 2 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.