Historical Marker
Daniel Memorial Orphanage
Fairfield, Freestone County · Texas
Erected 2010
The plaque says the dormitories were barracks from nearby Camp Fannin. The Handbook of Texas places that camp ten miles northeast of Tyler, well outside Freestone County. It was an infantry replacement training center on more than 14,000 acres, named for James Walker Fannin Jr., begun in December 1942 and dedicated on September 6, 1943, with room for 18,680 troops at its peak. All except the cantonment was declared surplus on January 19, 1946. Some buildings went to Tyler Junior College in 1947, and the base became a tuberculosis sanatorium the following year.
What the plaque says
Daniel Memorial Orphanage DANIEL MEMORIAL ORPHANAGE PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN AND LIFELONG FREESTONE COUNTY RESIDENT JENNINGS BRYAN DANIEL (1896-1977), ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY, CREATED A FACILITY EAST OF FAIRFIELD FOR HOMELESS AND UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN, WHERE BOTH THEIR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS COULD BE MET. DANIEL PLANNED THE FACILITY ON A 1,140-ACRE TRACT WHICH CONTAINED SCENIC HILLS, VALLEYS AND MEADOWS AND WAS BISECTED BY TWO RUNNING CREEKS. A CHARTER WAS GRANTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR DANIEL MEMORIAL ORPHANAGE IN SEPTEMBER 1947. DANIEL PURCHASED FORMER BARRACKS FROM NEARBY CAMP FANNIN TO SERVE AS DORMITORIES AND DINING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE, AND AN ARMY CHAPEL IN OKLAHOMA WAS LATER ACQUIRED AND REASSEMBLED AT THE SITE. ALTHOUGH THE HOME DID NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 1948, THE DANIEL FAMILY GENEROUSLY ACCEPTED A FEW CHILDREN INTO THEIR HOME IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ORPHANAGE'S COMPLETION. THE HOME FLOURISHED, AND BY ITS SECOND ANNIVERSARY IN 1950, THERE WERE 65 RESIDENTS. TWO MANDATORY POLICIES REQUIRED BY J.B. DANIEL INCLUDED REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE BY THE CHILDREN, AND A NON-ADOPTION POLICY TO PREVENT THE SEPARATION OF SIBLINGS. ALTHOUGH THE CHILDREN WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHORES SUCH AS TENDING LIVESTOCK, MOWING THE GROUNDS, AND HELPING IN THE KITCHEN, THEY HAD PLENTY OF TIME FOR ACTIVITIES LIKE SWIMMING, BASEBALL AND SUMMER CAMPS; THE CHILDREN ALSO ATTENDED THE FAIRFIELD SCHOOLS. THE DANIEL FAMILY CONTINUED ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOME UNTIL 1968, WHEN J.B. DANIEL RESIGNED HIS BOARD PRESIDENCY DUE TO FAILING HEALTH. THE ENTIRE FACILITY WAS DEEDED TO THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD IN 1970, AND CONTINUES IN OPERATION TODAY AS THE PLEASANT HILL CHILDREN'S HOME. (2010)
Where it stands
31.65833, -95.89534 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Butler Soldiers' Homes, C.S.A. — 1.9 mi
- St. Paul Shiloh High School — 14 mi
- Dew Cemetery — 15 mi
- Colonel Wm. L. Moody — 15 mi