Freedom Tree Dedicated on Juneteenth
Written by Lisa Glenn

Stand upon a piece of land and think back upon all you can know or learn about its history, as far back as the writings go, and you will have covered a period of time comparable to the blinking of an eye,” so wrote Edward C. Hutcheson, a Palmer Plantation descendent, in his book, “The Freedom Tree.” On Thursday June 19th this tree was dedicated by the City of Missouri City at a special ceremony hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, under the direction of Mr. Doug Carter, in Lake Olympia where it is located and in what one day will be Freedom Tree Park.

The dedication of the Freedom Tree was the kick-off event for the city’s weekend long Juneteenth celebration. Councilman Jerry Wyatt was the Master of Ceremonies for the event, introducing fellow Councilman Don Smith and other members of the Juneteenth Committee which included Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Tim O’Connor, Craig Amos, Michael Mouton, Derrick Woods, Tony Sherman, Fletchie Washington, Charles Swindell and Pamela Poole. . Also attending the ceremony to unveil the city’s historical marker for the Freedom Tree were Councilman Buddy Jimmerson and Councilwoman Eunice Reiter as well as State Representative Dora Olivo and City Manager James Thurmond. Parks Board Chairman Chris Breaux introduced members of this citizen volunteer committee who serve in an advisory capacity and who were present at the ceremony Paula Ledet, Mike Gaskin, Loveless Mitchell and Pat Sullivan.

Michael Merritt of the Texas Forest Service, also on deck for the unveiling of the tree’s commemorative plaque, in 1999 estimated this magnificent natural treasure to be over 200 years old, based on its 76-inch diameter. In the spring of 2002 The Freedom Tree was accepted into the National Register of Historic Trees because of its long and historically significant status. Q.V. Proud’s Lisa Glenn, who wrote the historical paper for the National Register application, presented a feeling historical overview.

To truly appreciate the Freedom Tree in all it’s glory, we must look back in time…as far back as the January of 1860 when Edward Palmer purchased 640 acres for $6000 in what was known as the David Bright League, one of Stephen F. Austin’s original “three hundred,” which further takes us back to the time between 1824 and 1827. During October of that same year 1860, Palmer was elected Judge of the Seventh Judicial District of Texas. The election was certified by then Governor Sam Houston. Judge Palmer and his wife Martha known as “Pat,” had three children. In January of 1862 Judge Palmer’s life on earth ended and less than three years later he was followed by his wife, thus leaving ownership of the Oyster Creek lands to then 14-year old Bettie Palmer.

On June 19th, 1865, from Galveston the Northern General Granger issued a proclamation that declared slaves free and so in his book Hutchison describes it as a poem and as a prayer, which was read at the tree’s dedication on Juneteenth of this year.

“Standing on the edge of the bottomland and fronting the prairie to the East, this great and rugged old oak has seen more than a century go by. Indeed its branches were heavy and its spread commanding when the War Between the States drew to is painful close. Beneath its boughs the slaves were freed on the Ft. Bend County lands of the Palmer Plantation and another step was taken in the endless quest for Freedom. As it has been the center or heartbeat of the lands upon which it stands, so it has been a part of the people whose lives it has touched. Beneath it- children played, and grew up, and grew old and saw their children and grandchildren take their place. It has lent is sturdy grace to the passing of time and its strength to the flow of change, and if its branches weep mossy tears, its great limbs reach firmly outward and upward. It is hopefully, not so much a symbol of the past, as a reflection of the future.”

As one little boy said, “Mom, aren’t we all a color.” May the Freedom Tree truly stand proud as a symbol of the freedoms we hold as Americans and that the letters “U.S.” not only stand for these United States yet also for “us,” together as people in the life goal our forefathers set forth of “liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”