07/21/2026
The Texas Quote of the Day --- about Seguin, Texas --- was written in 1859. "About a mile from the river we entered Seguin. It is the prettiest town in Texas; at least of those we saw. It stands on elevated ground, in a grove of shaggy live-oaks, which have been left untouched, in their natural number and position, the streets straying through them in convenient directions, not always at right angles. How wonderful, that so cheap and rich an ornamentation should not be more common! The hotel is large and good. We were kindly treated, and furnished with clear information, at the store of Mr. Wuppermann, from whom we purchased some supplies. Irish potatoes were sold by him, we noted, at $6 the bushel, for seed. A number of buildings in Seguin are made of concrete — thick walls of gravel and lime, raised a foot at a time, between boards, which hold the mass in place until it is solidified. As the materials are dug from the cellar, it is a very cheap mode of construction, is neat in appearance, and is said to be as durable, while protected by a good roof, as stone or brick. One man may erect a house in this way, calling in mechanics only to roof and finish.
We camped near the San Geronimo creek, at the edge of a live-oak grove, looking across a charming lawn. The rain continuing, we were obliged to spend the following day in camp. With the help of the mule we got together some huge live-oak logs, and made a quasi-permanent fire-place, which kept a-glow all night.
A negro, who was getting wood near us, informed us that he was born in Tennessee, and wished he was back there again — Texas was a miserable place for the likes o' him. There were several houses in the neighborhood, at which we obtained fowls and eggs. At one house a long consultation on the subject resulted favorably, and three negro girls, two boys, and two dogs were set upon the unfortunate pullets. All the whites with whom we talked were well pleased with the country — they had had uniform good health and satisfactory crops. One family had come from a river county in Missouri, and congratulated themselves much upon the change."
---- Frederick Law Olmsted, "A Journey Through Texas," 1859. Frederick, who went on to design New York's Central Park and many other wonderful landscapes that still exist, had visited Texas with his brother John a few years before, in 1853 and 1854.
Shown here: Frederick Law Olmsted just before he made the journey.
