Anyone who knows me knows of my passion for Texas. One of my favorite things to do is explore Texas. I have been in a love affair with my adopted state since I was barely 18 years old when the US Navy saw fit to send me to Kingsville from New Hampshire. I have crisscrossed this state at least a dozen times and I never tire of it. I am continually amazed by its geography, flora and fauna and her people. And as for its history…well…my friend Scott Rylander said it better than anyone has ever said it. He said, “Texas doesn’t so much have a history--it tells a great story.” He’s right. The history of Texas is a great story.
The story of the Texas Revolution is an interesting story on so many levels. I see it as a tapestry of colorful people, places and improbable events. These were very real people in every sense of the word. They were just as human as you or me. They were afraid of what the future held in store. They knew what it was like to be hungry, to bleed and to take a stand. History is full of little weird anomalies that make you wonder about what was going through this person or that person’s head at a critical moment in time. Those same thoughts struck me recently as I stood under a solitary gigantic oak tree in the now defunct Texas settlement of New Kentucky.
There is nothing left of this community. Unless you know of its history and location you’d never know it ever existed. Just a few miles west of present day Tomball, TX on FM 2920 there is a tiny park tucked in just off the road. You need to be looking for it if you want to find it. It is New Kentucky Park. What is historically significant about this place is that it is the site of the ‘Which Way Tree’ and a well.
I pride myself on knowing a good bit about Texas. I’m a voracious reader of Texas books and materials but I can honestly say I was surprised that I had never heard the story before or if I had, I’d mysteriously forgotten it. I’d like to share the story with you now. It’s really not a long story…just a quirk in history but for me fascinating.
As for the 'Which
Way Tree'... During the TX revolution after the Alamo fell, the government and
the army fled to the east as part of what we know as the 'Runaway Scrape.' Sam
Houston was trying to keep his army together and one step ahead of Santa Ana.
The road from Washington-on-the-Brazos forked at the settlement of New
Kentucky. Sam Houston's army stopped there around midday April 16, 1836. One
road led east to the Trinity and the Sabine rivers. The other road led to Harrisburg (you know it as Houston today). On that site
was a gigantic oak tree with limbs pointing to each of the 2 roads. Houston and
his men camped under the tree enjoying the protection from the elements offered
by its expansive canopy. As Houston pondered his options and strategy, at some
point, Sam supposedly looked at the tree and decided to go in the direction of
the limb pointing toward Harrisburg. That road led the ragtag little army five
days later to victory at San Jacinto and the Republic of Texas was born. The
gigantic oak still stands there today in that tiny park. There is also a well
that Sam and his men supposedly drew their water.
As I stood there under that tree, I couldn't help but be moved knowing
that Sam Houston stood in that same spot just over 173 yrs ago. I could
easily visualize him standing there weighing his options and struggling with a making
a decision. As I said those folks were just as human as the rest of us. That unmarked
tree is the 'Which Way Tree. It helped Sam Houston determine which way to go. Maybe
a minor quirk in our history but something fun to ponder. I can't speak for you but some days I wish I had a 'Which Way Tree' to help me make up my mind.
The only more
significant tree in Texas is ‘Treaty Oak’ in Austin.
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