Friendswood in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Fig Preserving Plant

1924

Photographed By Jim Evans, October 6, 2016

1. Fig Preserving Plant Marker

Inscription. Figs, the life's blood of Friendswood 1910 to circa 1956, were preserved and shipped from this Fig Preserving Plant. This business, opened in 1924 at this site by Quaker Cecil Brown, (son of the founder) was neither the first nor the last local preserving plant; however it had the most impact on the community. Even in the Great Depression, it provided a marked for the farmers' figs and some cash in the famlies' pockets.

Cecil Brown sold his plant to J.R. May in 1958, after 34 years in the fig business. Friendswood had one of the first fig preserving plants on the Gulf Coast, the J.C. Carpenter plant opened in 1910 near Clear Creek on present-day E. Castlewood and it had the last of the eighteen Gulf Coast plants, the J.R. May plant, which closed in 1968.

Erected 2012 by Friendswood Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 29° 31.808′ N, 95° 12.099′ W. Marker is in Friendswood, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is at the intersection of South Friendswood Drive (County Route 518) and Magnolia, on the right when traveling north on South Friendswood Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood TX 77546, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cecil and Frances Brown House (within shouting distance of this marker); First Business (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Friendswood Postal Service (about 700 feet away); Quaker Academy (approx. 0.2 miles away); Oldest Structure Remaining (approx. 0.2 miles away); Friendswood (approx. ¼ mile away); First Home and First Family (approx. ¼ mile away); Friends Church Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Friendswood.

More about this marker. The Fig Preserving Plant was torn down in 2016

Also see . . .
1. From The Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on October 6, 2016, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
2. The History of Friendswood. (Submitted on October 6, 2016, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)

Fig Preserving Plant image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jim Evans

2. Fig Preserving Plant

This picture was from the marker

Store that replaced the plant image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jim Evans

3. Store that replaced the plant

The Fig Preserving Plant was torn down in 2016 and replaced with this. The marker is near the street just off to the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2016, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 556 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2016, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.