"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver." -Martin Luther (1483-1546) Even at night, I'm still going to stop for a historical marker. This one was interesting. It is located about 5 miles west of Panhandle towards Amarillo. There is a sign about one mile ahead of it indicating that the marker is ahead and there is a small pullout area so that you can be off the roadway. The main central marker reads, "Thomas Cree Homsite. After serving as a teamster in the Civil War (1861-65), Thadium (Thomas) B. Cree worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1888 he and his wife came to the High Plains. They acquired this land and, with no trees for lumber, they built a dugout home. Cree traveled 35 miles at his wife's request to find a sapling and planted it here. He watered it from a nearby lake that he dug from a buffalo wallow. The tree never grew but lived many years despite blizzard, heat, and drought. Gov. John Connally dedicated an historical marker in 1963 to the first tree in the Panhandle." The second marker reads, "The 33rd Anniversary National Convention, Men's Garden Clubs of America, meeting at Amarillo, June 14-17, 1965, formally recognized and paid tribute to the significance of Thomas Cree's Little Tee and to the memory of this heroic early gardenere of these high plains." The third marker reads, "First Tree Texas High Plains. Set front dugout home by Thomas Cree,, 1888. Good luck symbol of settlers through drought, blizzard and heat." Beneath that, a fourth marker, "Cree's Bois D'Arc tree died in the 1970's. County residents planted a new tree here in 1990 as a memorial to the area's early pioneers." [Review 16197 overall - 373 in Texas - 1703 of 2021.] read more

Thomas Cree Homesite Historical Marker - Thomas Cree Homesite Historical Marker - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - TX, Texas

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