Seven Pines Plaque

Did you ever hear of a place called Seven Pines that played a key role in shaping a Texas county? Seven Pines, located right here, started as the homestead of Benjamin Franklin Hardin. He arrived in this area in 1826 with his family. They settled in the Atascosito District, part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Texas. In 1834, Franklin Hardin became the district surveyor. A true Texan patriot, Hardin joined the Liberty Volunteers. He fought in the Battle of Concepcion, the Siege of Bexar in 1835, and the pivotal Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. In 1839, he and his wife, Cynthia O’Brien, built their first home at Seven Pines. The homesite remained in the Hardin family for generations. Around 1845, they briefly moved to a farm north of Liberty. They returned to Seven Pines in 1856 and built a new house. A significant event occurred in 1858 while Franklin Hardin served in the Seventh Texas Legislature. Hardin County was created and named in honor of his family, a testament to their influence in the region. After Franklin and Cynthia Hardin passed away, Seven Pines was inherited by their descendants. In 1914, Geraldine Davis Humphreys became the owner. Sadly, the 1856 house was destroyed by fire just a year later. Geraldine Humphreys, who died in 1961, willed Seven Pines to the Humphreys Foundation. The foundation then generously donated the property to the city of Liberty in 1969. Shortly after, in 1969-1970, the Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center was built on the site, marking a new chapter in the history of Seven Pines. This Seven Pines Plaque serves as a lasting reminder of the Hardin family’s legacy and the rich history of this area.