Pleasant Retreat Plantation House, South side of Mavasota River, four miles northwest of Groesbeck, Groesbeck, Limestone County, TX

Significance: Pleasant Retreat was built for Logan Stroud (1814-1911), a Georgian who came to the Republic of Texas in 1837 with his father, Ethan Stroud (1788-1846). They acquired plantations in several counties, and in 1842 Logan Stroud settled in the upper part of Robertson County that was cut out as Limestone County in 1846. He settled on the south side of the Navasota River near Bur Oak Springs and developed a cotton plantation and cattle ranch that extended at one time over about 5,000 acres. The place also produced corn, wheat, oats, hogs, and sheep. By the time of the Civil War, Logan Stroud was the largest slave labor holder in the county, owning more than 100 slaves.

The Emancipation Proclamation was read in Limestone County from the portico of Pleasant Retreat, on Saturday, June 19, 1865. (Not so late a date in Texas because General Kirby Smith did not surrender the Trans-Mississippi Department until May 26, 1865.) The holiday "June 19" popularly called Juneteenth because a special day of celebration for the black population of Texas. Its observance has spread to other states.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1722
Survey number: HABS TX-3492
Building/structure dates: 1855 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1944 Demolished