Ingenuity in Elkhart LbNA #37320 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | BarefootLucy  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Dec 29, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Elkhart |
| County: | Anderson |
| State: | Texas |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | jb kokopelli |
|---|---|
| Last found: | May 3, 2008 |
| Status: | FFFF |
| Last edited: | Dec 29, 2007 |
CONFIRMED MISSING. RETIRING 03/16/09.
Good ol' Texas ingenuity - you gotta love it! You just can't stand in the way of a self-respecting Texan, even a transplanted one, and expect them to lay down.
The site of this box is the birthplace of the town of Elkhart and the location of the first Protestant church in Texas, and therein was the rub. You see, when this church was established, Texas was under Mexican rule and it was illegal to start a Protestant church.
Illinois preacher Daniel Parker had some unique beliefs that weren't shared by any of the mainstream Baptist denominations, so he headed to Texas in hopes of gathering a following for his own brand of Baptist faith; however, once in Texas Parker realized that in starting his new church he would be breaking the law and so returned to Illinois. Upon his return, he enrolled the congregation in Illinois, deeming it Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church. A few months after the establishment of the church, the entire congregation (made up almost entirely of Parker's extended family) moved to Texas and after a few tentative settlements, the church set up shop in the area that was to become Elkhart. Even Mexican law has loopholes, and Protestant churches could meet in land under Mexican rule as long as they weren't started there. Go figure.
However, Mexican law was the least of the family's worries and Indians soon became a constant concern. It was members of Daniel Parker's family that established Fort Parker, where the legendary Indian raid occurred during which Cynthia Ann Parker and four others were stolen away.
Through the Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church, the town of Elkhart rose up and eventually became an agricultural center. The town is a small but thriving East Texas community, and it appears the church still has meetings once a month.
http://www.inetwork-plus.com/palestine/elkhart_tx_history.htm
So - for the box:
If you approach Elkhart from Palestine, you will take Highway 287 south out of Palestine for about 10 miles to Elkhart. You will reach Highway 294 and turn south on it, then turn onto Main Street, which runs in front of Elkhart State Bank. You will be on Highway 861 at that point. Continue on Highway 861 approximately 3.5 miles and look on your left for the location. The brown highway sign will point you to the Old Pilgrim Church.
Once you arrive, take a look around and explore the replica of the original church building. Check out some of the gravestones in the cemetery, where the first burial was in 1843. Finally, read the historical markers. While standing in front of the marker by the flag, look to your left for a large cedar tree. Do you see a gap in the tree? Look inside that gap for the box.
*********************
Please rehide well and let me know the status. barefootlucy@gmail.com
NOTE: This box was planted at dusk, so its location may be slightly adjusted when I can check it again in daylight!
Good ol' Texas ingenuity - you gotta love it! You just can't stand in the way of a self-respecting Texan, even a transplanted one, and expect them to lay down.
The site of this box is the birthplace of the town of Elkhart and the location of the first Protestant church in Texas, and therein was the rub. You see, when this church was established, Texas was under Mexican rule and it was illegal to start a Protestant church.
Illinois preacher Daniel Parker had some unique beliefs that weren't shared by any of the mainstream Baptist denominations, so he headed to Texas in hopes of gathering a following for his own brand of Baptist faith; however, once in Texas Parker realized that in starting his new church he would be breaking the law and so returned to Illinois. Upon his return, he enrolled the congregation in Illinois, deeming it Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church. A few months after the establishment of the church, the entire congregation (made up almost entirely of Parker's extended family) moved to Texas and after a few tentative settlements, the church set up shop in the area that was to become Elkhart. Even Mexican law has loopholes, and Protestant churches could meet in land under Mexican rule as long as they weren't started there. Go figure.
However, Mexican law was the least of the family's worries and Indians soon became a constant concern. It was members of Daniel Parker's family that established Fort Parker, where the legendary Indian raid occurred during which Cynthia Ann Parker and four others were stolen away.
Through the Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church, the town of Elkhart rose up and eventually became an agricultural center. The town is a small but thriving East Texas community, and it appears the church still has meetings once a month.
http://www.inetwork-plus.com/palestine/elkhart_tx_history.htm
So - for the box:
If you approach Elkhart from Palestine, you will take Highway 287 south out of Palestine for about 10 miles to Elkhart. You will reach Highway 294 and turn south on it, then turn onto Main Street, which runs in front of Elkhart State Bank. You will be on Highway 861 at that point. Continue on Highway 861 approximately 3.5 miles and look on your left for the location. The brown highway sign will point you to the Old Pilgrim Church.
Once you arrive, take a look around and explore the replica of the original church building. Check out some of the gravestones in the cemetery, where the first burial was in 1843. Finally, read the historical markers. While standing in front of the marker by the flag, look to your left for a large cedar tree. Do you see a gap in the tree? Look inside that gap for the box.
*********************
Please rehide well and let me know the status. barefootlucy@gmail.com
NOTE: This box was planted at dusk, so its location may be slightly adjusted when I can check it again in daylight!