People drive by it every day and very few people know the history and legacy of one of the most historic trees anywhere around. The tree that sits in front of Howe’s former high school and middle school and now administration building is the direct descendant of the huge pecan tree that shades the south corner of the yard of the Huntsville home that Sam Houston loved so well and resided for 20 years.
Former Howe Superintendent Charles R. Thompson told news reporters years ago that the tree that has provided shade and pecans for several generations was planted in 1934 when he was principal of the high school, which was located at the same site of the 1938 building that sits there now.
Thompson told the reporter that some individuals came through Howe and gave him three pecans of the Houston tree and said they were distributing them to schools around Texas. Blunt Brinkley, the school’s custodian took the three pecans home and planted them in his yard. All three came up and a year later were transplanted to the present site. Of the three, only one of them lived and that is the one that is 81-years-old – one year older than Howe’s football program.
Thompson said at the time that he didn’t give any thought to the fact that they were planting it under the telephone wires. As a result, the tree has been cut back numerous times, including this winter, by utility companies.
The constant trimming, however, has caused its foliage to thicken and spread out, turning it into an excellent shade tree for kids for many years. But now, the kids are gone as the building it stands in front of remains empty.
Each year the tree bears thousands of small pecans which probably would be considered too small as a commercial pecan, but that doesn’t stop people from passing by and picking them up.
For some 50 years after its maturity, Howe students gathered up, shelled and ate every last pecan.
The tree from which the Howe pecan sprang is an immense pecan that was reportedly planted by Sam Houston himself in 1847.
His granddaughter, Mrs. Jennie Morrow Decker of Houston, said that her grandfather was returning from a trip and had a need of a buggy whip to spur his lazy horse. Having no whip, he stopped beside the road and pulled up a small pecan sappling, which served his purpose well.
Arriving at his house, he saw that the roots were still intact, so he planted the sappling in the yard and it grew.
According to the book, “Famous Trees of Texas,” published by the Texas Forest Service, the Houston pecan tree “produces a fruit which is small but quite delicious.” A lot of Howe residents over the years can testify to that statement. Now that everyone knows the story, the question is, who is going to take the pecans from the Sam Houston Jr. tree and try for grandchildren?
Maybe this should be a library project by Howe Community Library Director Becky Hogenson. I think this project has her talents written all over it.
Many thanks to the former Sherman Democrat for their article written many years on this.
On Saturday, September 19, The Beatles, er um, Hard Night’s Day, will invade Howe High School and perform a benefit concert for the Howe Ex-Students Association.
