On Sunday, Oct. 28, two one-of-a-kind, hand crafted crosses will
be auctioned during the Annual Fall Festival at Our Lady Refuge
Catholic Church. Last year, two other items made from the anaqua
were the most popular items at the festival. Festival organizers
Kate Campbell and Betty Bauer said the items make it possible to
“own a little piece of Texas history.” The supply of the anaqua
wood remains limited. For more than 175 years since Houston
languished in its shadow, the anaqua tree spread its massive
branches behind Our Lady of Refuge Church, a historic gem for
the town as well as the church members. After years of trying to
keep the tree healthy, the tree died in March, 2011. The
heartbreaking decision to cut the tree down was made for safety
reasons. Until 1976, the tree was considered the largest of its
species on record in the United States, according to the book,
“Famous Trees of Texas.” To preserve its place in history,
parishioners gathered wood from the healthy trunk and larger
limbs. Former Refugi