Retreat, Texas Stage Coach Stop
by Dr. Edmond McGee
The community of Retreat, some three miles below Whitehall, has seen much history pass its way. Nearby, the plantation for which it was named was called Groce’s Retreat. Here the Texas Declaration of Independence was written the night of March 1st, 1836, to be ratified the next day across the Brazos at Old Washington. And close by was the home of Caleb Wallace, the last of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred.” But Retreat is famous for yet another reason. It was a way-station on the route of an early stagecoach line.
According to the late Alixe McAlpine, a four room house dating to 1837 was built to service the stage line. The house was built pier and beam, using cedar logs resistant to rot and insects. Heat came courtesy of a large stone fireplace, which probably also served as a cook stove. North of the house, by a shallow hand-dug well, was the horse barn. The well provided water for both horses and humans. West of the house was a small
black smith shop to tend the hooves of the horses.
The master of the stage-stop would unhitch and replace the tired horses which came through with fresh ones. As opposed to the one pair of horses coming in, usually the Retreat stop provided two pair to the stagecoach for the uphill drive to the next stop of Plantersville. From there it was on to Anderson with a stop at Fanthorp
Inn.
In the late eighteen fifties, the railroad came to Navasota marking the end of the stage route, as mail could be carried faster by rail. But echoes of the old retreat house lingered in my family for many years as my great grandfather acquired the house and later gave it to his daughter upon her marriage. Delightful are my memories of the house as a youngster at my grandparent’s. Alas, however, the house succumbed to destruction by fire in February 2001.
Gone but certainly not forgotten is the house which for 164 years stood by the road, witnessing Grimes County history unfold.
Dr. Edmond McGee may be reached at ecmretreat@yahoo.com
The community of Retreat, some three miles below Whitehall, has seen much history pass its way. Nearby, the plantation for which it was named was called Groce’s Retreat. Here the Texas Declaration of Independence was written the night of March 1st, 1836, to be ratified the next day across the Brazos at Old Washington. And close by was the home of Caleb Wallace, the last of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred.” But Retreat is famous for yet another reason. It was a way-station on the route of an early stagecoach line.
According to the late Alixe McAlpine, a four room house dating to 1837 was built to service the stage line. The house was built pier and beam, using cedar logs resistant to rot and insects. Heat came courtesy of a large stone fireplace, which probably also served as a cook stove. North of the house, by a shallow hand-dug well, was the horse barn. The well provided water for both horses and humans. West of the house was a small
black smith shop to tend the hooves of the horses.
The master of the stage-stop would unhitch and replace the tired horses which came through with fresh ones. As opposed to the one pair of horses coming in, usually the Retreat stop provided two pair to the stagecoach for the uphill drive to the next stop of Plantersville. From there it was on to Anderson with a stop at Fanthorp
Inn.
In the late eighteen fifties, the railroad came to Navasota marking the end of the stage route, as mail could be carried faster by rail. But echoes of the old retreat house lingered in my family for many years as my great grandfather acquired the house and later gave it to his daughter upon her marriage. Delightful are my memories of the house as a youngster at my grandparent’s. Alas, however, the house succumbed to destruction by fire in February 2001.
Gone but certainly not forgotten is the house which for 164 years stood by the road, witnessing Grimes County history unfold.
Dr. Edmond McGee may be reached at ecmretreat@yahoo.com