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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Barrett Station Civic League is celebrating 150 |
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years of family and community at its Founders Day event on June 14, |
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2025; and |
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WHEREAS, The namesake of Barrett Station, Harrison Barrett |
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was born in Texas around 1845 to Simon and Eliza Barrett; his |
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parents, who came from Louisiana, had several other children, but |
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during slavery, family members were separated; and |
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WHEREAS, Immediately after emancipation in 1865, Harrison |
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Barrett and his wife, Annie Jones Barrett, made a 30-mile trek to |
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Houston to have a justice of the peace legally formalize their |
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marriage; he spent several years finding his relatives and |
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reuniting them on land east of the San Jacinto River; cutting down |
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lumber on his property, he helped his family build seven houses and |
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start farms; he and his wife were blessed with 12 children; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Barrett established a sawmill, gristmill, and |
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coffee mill, and he granted open access to the fish and crawfish in |
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the spring and gully near his homestead; in 1889, the White owner of |
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the land finally agreed to sell it to him for 50 cents an acre; |
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Barrett's Settlement was one of the largest properties to be |
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acquired by a freedman in Harris County; as the community grew, |
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Mr. Barrett donated land for Shiloh Baptist Church, which also |
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served as a school; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1917, Mr. Barrett passed away; he, his wife, and |
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four other family members are interred in the Journey's End |
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Cemetery near his original homestead; twice rebuilt by descendants, |
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the house still stands today; when the community gained a post |
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office substation in 1947, it became known as Barrett Station; the |
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civic league was established in 1954, and it continues to promote |
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community engagement and the well-being of local citizens, who now |
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number more than 4,000; and |
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WHEREAS, The founder of Barrett Station inspired generations |
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through his resilience, determination, and deep commitment to his |
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loved ones, and it is truly a pleasure to join in marking this |
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milestone of his family's rich history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 2025 Founders Day celebration of |
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the Barrett Station Civic League and extend sincere best wishes to |
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all those participating in this sesquicentennial event; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |