Westbrook, Charles A., Plantation

Charles Alexander Westbrook (1838-1895) came to Texas from Mississippi in 1859. He settled first at Washington-on-the-Brazos, where he married Mary Virginia Whitsitt. They eventually were the parents of thirteen children. After his service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, Westbrook moved his family to McLennan County and established a large cotton plantation along Cow Bayou. He built a large family home here in the 1870s. Constructed of locally quarried stone, the three-story structure featured six fireplaces and square Doric columns. Although the house was significantly altered in the 20th Century, it is a reminder of the once-thriving Westbrook Cotton Plantation. The stage road from Waco to San Antonio traversed the Westbrook property, and the family often hosted travelers in their home. The plantation also included a number of outbuildings. Charles Westbrook served as County Commissioner from 1876 to 1878. One of the first schools in the area was established on his plantation. When the railroad was built through the area in 1881, the resulting town (1.5 mi. NW) was named for the Westbrooks' daughter, Lorena.

Westbrook, Charles A., Plantation is a historical marker in Lorena, McLennan County, dedicated in 1990. It is one of 198 historical markers documented in McLennan County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 224 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.3552, -97.1748 near Lorena. The nearest cataloged historic site is Lorena Cemetery (historical marker), about 2.8 miles away. Others within a short drive include H. J. and Cora Hudson House, Lorena United Methodist Church, The, and Cox.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5309000809. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.