“Where did the Applewhite family’s dreams fade?” you might ask. The Applewhite House Ruins stand as a poignant reminder of a family’s legacy. It whispers tales of early Texas life.
The Applewhite House Ruins 1852-1930s offer a glimpse into the past. This is where Thomas and Elizabeth Applewhite built their lives. They arrived in Texas in 1853. They brought their family and eight slaves.
Thomas Applewhite was born in North Carolina in 1791. He was a sergeant in the War of 1812. In 1842, he married Elizabeth Oglesby. She was born in 1820.
The Applewhites purchased 214 acres of farmland in 1854. By 1860, they owned nine slaves. Some slaves even adopted the Applewhite name.
Local stories say the Applewhite homestead served as a stop for stagecoaches. These coaches traveled along an alternate route. It was part of the Chihuahua Road. This road stretched from Indianola to San Antonio.
Thomas Applewhite died in 1864. Elizabeth died in 1898. Both are buried in La Vernia in Concrete Cemetery.
After the Civil War, many African Americans who had been slaves established homes nearby. They stayed in the area for generations. They were descendants of the Applewhite’s slaves.
Sadly, much of the original stone Applewhite House was destroyed. This happened during highway construction in the 1950s. Only the ruins remain today.
The Applewhite House is not the only Applewhite-related place. The city planned the Applewhite Reservoir in the 1970s. It sought a supplemental water supply. Construction started in 1989 but was halted in 1991 by a public vote.
Archaeologists surveyed the reservoir area. They discovered 78 archeological sites. One important location was the Richard Beene Site. This site revealed 10,000 years of human occupation.
Richard Beene discovered a well-preserved campsite layer. This saved the archeological site. Bulldozers had already moved millions of cubic feet of dirt.
The Richard Beene Site is a significant archaeological find. It shows how nomadic people adapted to the environment. They returned seasonally for food and resources.
Today, the Land Heritage Institute manages part of the former Applewhite land. This includes the Richard Beene Site. It serves as a living land museum.
The Applewhite story is a reminder of Texas’ complex past. It involves pioneers, agriculture, and cultural heritage. As you stand here, consider the lives that shaped this land. The echoes of the Applewhite family resonate through time. Their legacy remains etched in these stones.