Stinson House Project

The Governor James Hogg Park in Quitman, Texas contains several historic buildings, one of which is the James A. Stinson home. Mr. Stinson was a leader in the county and state and was also the father of Sallie Stinson who married James S Hogg, the first native Texas Governor of the State.

The house was built in 1869 of virgin pine and oak and became a site of interest to a group of Wood County Master Gardener students in the spring of 2007 as a trainee project. Research was done to determine what kind of plants and gardens were likely to be found around homes in the mid 1800s. The yard was cleared of all inappropriate plants, raised beds were built and heirloom plants were obtained.

Then it was decided to involve community children in the project.  School children from the Quitman Elementary School were invited to come and participate in the plantings. First the Wood County Master Gardeners presented a program on butterflies to the 5th and 6th grade student council group from Quitman Elementary School and their sponsor. With the help of the Butterfly Guy from Dallas, an expert on Monarch Butterflies, the students were given a chance to see live butterflies, caterpillars, chrysalis and eggs. After the program, the students planted flowers selected toattract butterflies and hummingbirds inraised beds previously prepared by the Master Gardeners. This a program that the schools in Wood County are looking forward to having each year and it inspired the Quitman Elementary schools to implement the Junior Master Gardener Program for all science classes.  The children were seen throughout the spring and summer visiting the Stinson house with their families and friends to check on "their" flowers.

  

Wood County Master Gardener Association received a "First Place" award in the educational project competition at the Texas Master Gardener State Convention in April 2008 for this project.

More recently the Stinson house has been the location for several community functions as well as Master Gardener activities.  It is open for special events and upon request for touring.  It is gradually being restored and furnished with period furniture that is donated.  It provided the site for one of the monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings, was beautifully decorated for Christmas, and a Master Gardener picnic was enjoyed there.