The Abner Jackson Plantation
Brian, Steve, and I visited the Lake Jackson Plantation today. It's only open the first Saturday of the month and the weather was so nice to go walking around outside. We did have to brave the mosquitoes but we had a good time. Abner Jackson was the largest slave owner in the state with just under 300 slaves. When his slaves were sold off (around 1862) a hefty price was paid for each one. A slave that had a skill (blacksmith) fetched $1600. (That's in "1800s" dollars! That was a lot of money!) Field hands and laborers in prime working age were "worth" about $350-$400 dollars (again, this is all in 1800's money we're talking), and a little girl one year of age was $100. There was even a young slave girl, Mandy, which hit a little close to home being my family "nickname."
This is the "Enchanted Tree." Lake Jackson is the self-proclaimed City of Enchantment. That title supposedly came from this tree. I tend to disagree with that claim as the nearest Starbucks is 45 minutes away! I guess that leaves me a little less "enchanted" with the area.
This is Lake Jackson. Really! It is!!! We didn't even know a real Lake Jackson existed. We always thought maybe it had, but had dried up a long time ago. Low and behold here it is! There are actually railroad tracks underneath the lake. I guess it used to have tracks above the water, but as the water level rose they became submerged. The railroad was used to haul supplies to and from the sugar mill on the plantation.
This is the "Enchanted Tree." Lake Jackson is the self-proclaimed City of Enchantment. That title supposedly came from this tree. I tend to disagree with that claim as the nearest Starbucks is 45 minutes away! I guess that leaves me a little less "enchanted" with the area.
This is Lake Jackson. Really! It is!!! We didn't even know a real Lake Jackson existed. We always thought maybe it had, but had dried up a long time ago. Low and behold here it is! There are actually railroad tracks underneath the lake. I guess it used to have tracks above the water, but as the water level rose they became submerged. The railroad was used to haul supplies to and from the sugar mill on the plantation.