History behind the Problem Farm in Vidor, Texas explored.

This news article will explain what the Problem Farm in Vidor, Texas is.

A Vidorian resident named W. R. Price owned what was once the Problem Farmwhich was located on what was formally known as the “Negro Sign Road”. W. R. Price’s “Problem Farm” was notable for having a large white fence. 

 

Here is the reason why W. R. Price named his farm the “Problem Farm”. W. R. Price named his farm the “Problem Farm” because of the several problems he encountered while improving, renovating, and beautifying the property. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth558951/m1/2/zoom/) 

The history of W. R. Price’s Problem Farm begins in 1953. Mr. Chester C. Cady sold his ½ acre property (one-half acre) to W. R. Price on the date January 19, 1953 for an undisclosed amount of money. However the estimated appraisal could have been more than $10,000 dollars. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth587892/m1/2/)

However just 3 days later on the date of January 22, 1953, W. R. Price sold the Problem Farm to Elmer L Corrigan. Yet the Problem Farm was sold back to W. R. Price predictably sometime within the year. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth588992/m1/10/)

 

There was a once a sundown town sign posted in the middle of the town of Vidor at the intersection of I-10 & Wilson Street and the outskirts of the city limits in all directions, there were signs from the 1930s that read, "Niggers read this and run. If you can't read, run anyway. Nigger, don't let the sun set on you in Vidor." This was one of those signs which meant, “Don’t let the sun set on you here.” The sign basically ordered and warned black people to get out before sundown. (Ref: Texas Monthly, Vidor in Black And White, Mimi Swartz, December 1993, https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/vidor-in-black-and-white/)

The Orange Leader newspaper stated there was a sundown sign on one of the roads in Vidor warning black people to be out before sundown. The signed warned black people not to let the sun set on them while they were in Vidor. The Orange Leader newspaper stated, “for years, the road bore a sign.”  
(Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth556725/m1/1/zoom/?resolution=2&lat=5047.600432&lon=859.8934400000007)

Not many people outside of the Vidor area and Orange County know this or are aware of this but Negro Sign Road was actually a 0.4 mile long road which connected horizontally to I 10, the railroad, and old US 90. W. R. Price lived on Wilson Street in Vidor, where the alleged sign was. W. R. Price’s “Problem Farm” was located on what was then known as the “Negro Sign Road”. (Ref: https://livingbluetx.com/2021/08/vidor-sundown-town/)

W. R. Price sold the Problem Farm to Powell William Simmons sometime in the 1960s. The farm was transferred to Jack H. Jefferson after Powell William Simmons had passed away. Jack H. Jefferson sold the farm to Joseph C. McMillian on a general warranty deed for the price of $12,100 in 1979. (Ref: http://ors.co.orange.tx.us:8052/images/PDF0122.PDF)

Joseph C. McMillian sold the property to James E. Lopez sometime during the late 20th century. The east date of when Joseph C. McMillian sold the property to James E. Lopez is currently unknown. James E. Lopez sold the former Problem Farm was sold to the First Baptist Church of Vidor on a general warranty deed in 2010. (Ref: http://ors.co.orange.tx.us:8052/images/PDF0119.PDF)

The First Baptist Church of Vidor currently owns the property where W. R. Price’s “Problem Farm” was once located.  (Ref: https://esearch.orangecad.net/Property/View/R44159)

W. R. Price’s “Problem Farm” was located at 435 Wilson Street, Vidor, Texas, US 77662.