Carrollton

Carrollton's early settlers arrived in the 1840s. These early settlers purchased land from The Peters Colony. These hardy pioneers were rugged individuals with incredible courage to risk it all for their dream of a better life and an even better life for future generations. These people had the determination to withstand the hardships of their treacherous journeys to this untamed frontier - a foreign and wild country.

These several hundred industrious families shared a dream of prosperity. They planted crops, raised cattle and sheep, and built homes and churches.

One story told is about an early settler who came to scout the area before bringing his family to this area. He was so impressed with what he saw that he scooped up a handful of dirt to take back to his family to show them how rich the soil was for farming.

Another story with a different outcome is told about a family arriving from Europe. They were frightened by the sight of the longhorns and returned to Europe. Most settlers were farmers, but teachers, lawyers, preachers, and doctors also came to the area. Farming was the main form of occupation, but many professionals supplemented their income by farming and raising cattle.

The settlers typically married young and had large families. An average cabin might have been only 12 x 14 feet and would hold two parents with seven children.

The 1850 Federal Census for Dallas County and its neighboring counties reveals that most families had migrated from another state before settling in the area. Although these early pioneers seemed to be nomadic, they found their roots in North Texas.

The city of Carrollton is a part of a greater area of land that was once home to the Wichita Indians. This group was divided into several tribes - the most predominant being the Tawakonis, Wacos, Taovayas, and Wichita's proper. They migrated from what is now Kansas and established villages along the Trinity, Red, and Brazos rivers about the same time the French and Spanish were competing to establish a foothold in east Texas in the late 1600s.

The Wichita Indians were short and stockily built, with very dark skin color. Both men and women practiced extensive tattooing on their faces and bodies. They seem to have gotten along well and conducted trade with the French, although they often fought the Spanish. In addition to hunting buffalo, the Wichita tribes were industrious and grew crops such as pumpkins, squash, beans, corn, and maize. They were excellent horsemen and placed a great value on their horses. Women often held places of leadership in the tribes and shared in the work with the men.

The Comanches, who eventually got control of the Red River area, were a constant threat to the Wichita Indians. They also had difficulties with the migration of Anglos into North Texas and eventually removed themselves to a reservation in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) near present day Anadarko, Oklahoma.

By 1853, Trinity Mills was a thriving grain mill, which was typically surrounded by wagons, carts, buggies, horses, and people. The mill produced flour and meal from corn and wheat. People came from miles around to have their corn and wheat ground into meal and flour. The exact location of this two-story rock gristmill is not known, but it is reported to be on the south bank of White Rock Creek, east of present-day Farmers Branch-Carrollton. A large grain elevator was built in 1950 for storage of private and government supplies.

Cotton was king during this period in history, and cotton gins that had been built in the area to accommodate a few settlers began to ship cotton and cotton seed throughout the nation. There were about 13 cotton gins in the Carrollton area at the beginning of 1900. The 1924 cotton crop from the Carrollton area produced 300 bales.

Around 1904, a new industry emerged in Carrolton - manufacturing brick. The Carrollton Pressed Brick Company was located northeast of the Carrollton Town Square, adjacent to the Cotton Belt and Frisco railroads. The best-known structures made from brick produced at this plant are the Belle Allen home on Clint Street, the chimney and fireplace in the Wade H. Perry home, the Gravley Hardware store on the Carrollton Square, the Vandergriff building on the southwest corner of the Carrollton Square, and possibly some stores on the north side of the square. It is also reported that the old high school in Grapevine was made from Carrollton brick. Brick from this plant is easily identified. They have the name CARROLLTON embedded on it and are highly prized by collectors.

In 1890 the first telephone went into operation in Carrollton, and the first commercial electricity became available in 1913 when a private power plant opened.

A new era was beginning for Carrollton with the arrival of railroads and a post office in the late 1800s. Carrollton quickly emerged from an agricultural community to a hub of bustling business and professional activity. The Dallas-Wichita Railroad arrived in Carrollton in 1879. By 1908, there were three railroads using Carrollton as a way station. The Cottonbelt and the Katy Railroads provided passenger service and maintained a depot while the Frisco Railroad only provided freight service. Prior to the 1940s, all significant commerce was by rail. The tracks of all three intersected just north of what is now the Carrollton Town Square. Having three railroads intersect was unique for this part of the country and contributed to Carrollton's early prosperity.

With the coming of the railroads, Carrollton developed into a sizable shipping center, particularly for cattle. A depot was established in Carrollton, and daily mail was then available by rail. In 1922 the Texas Interurban Railway, an electric train, began passenger service in Carrollton for transport between Dallas and Denton. The first locomotive to the area was in 1923.

Since the ability to read and write was not necessary for farming at that time, a large number of farmers were illiterate, but they wanted a good education for their children. With this focus on education, the Carrollton community was intent on providing educational facilities. Various private schools were established with the cooperative efforts of several families who furnished a meeting place and paid for a teacher's salary and schoolroom equipment.

The first school was started in 1856 in the Union Baptist Church, where Perry Cemetery is located today.

Around 1871, in a log cabin with a dirt floor and Mrs. Lou Skinner as the teacher, school was held for about 25 pupils who came on horseback or on foot. The cabin was located on what is now Denton Drive near the area of Jeanette Way. This cabin was moved in 1873 to the present-day intersection of Josey Lane and Country Club Road with John Larkin as the teacher.

Although there had been schools in Carrollton prior to 1890, the first building that was officially dedicated as a schoolhouse was erected circa 1890. Located near the present-day intersection of Josey Lane and Country Club Drive, it was called Carrollton Academy.

On September 1, 1902, a new two-story frame schoolhouse admitted its first students. It was on the northeast corner of College Avenue (now Belt Line Road) and Erie Street at the foot of the hill and offered first through tenth grades. Although it was a public school, tuition was still charged, as there were no school property taxes at that time.

In 1900 George Myers and his brother J.S. filed a plat for property on what would become the east and south sides of the Carrollton Town Square. Then in 1901, they filed a plat for property to the west, and the town square began to take shape. By 1913 the town square was the center of a thriving community. The Carrollton Mercantile Company, besides being a dry goods and general store, offered hearses for funerals - your choice of black or gray, with matching horses owned by Arch Fyke.

With the convenience of being located near the railroads, Carrollton Town Square developed where it did because of its abundant water supply. A creek ran through the middle of the square. Eventually a pump was installed, and water was piped to stores and a few homes. The water works and a hand-pushed fire hose cart were concealed in the bottom of the bandstand that was erected in the middle of the town square where the current-day gazebo now stands.

Due to the efficient water supply in the area, Carrollton's first ice wagon delivery business began in 1904 or 1905. There was one delivery of ice each week except when the weather grew hotter - then two deliveries a week were made. Ice tea was usually a Sunday treat along with homemade ice cream. Before ice was available, a family built shelving or boxes made of wood or brick for submerging in a spring or creek so the milk and butter would stay cool and fresh. If a spring or creek was not close, wet cloths were wrapped around the milk pails and butter dishes and placed into the windows so the breeze would keep the dampened cloths cool.

Perishable fruits and vegetables were canned, preserved, or pickled, and meat was cured with smoke or salt and kept hanging in a smokehouse.

The gazebo in the middle of current-day Carrollton Town Square was built in 1921. Concerts by the town band, speeches by political candidates, and Saturday dances provided entertainment on the square.

The first theater in Carrollton was an outdoor, makeshift screen stretched across the side of the George F. Myers Grocery Store. The Plaza Theater was built in 1949 and still stands today. This theater served patrons from a 10-mile radius until the 1970's.

On June 14, 1913, Carrollton voted to incorporate as a general law city. The vote was 52 for and 23 against. The first city officers were elected on July 19, 1913, with William Forrest Vinson elected as Carrollton's first Mayor. For reasons now unknown, Vinson declined the office. Junius Tribble (J.T.) Rhoton qualified and served as Mayor through 1915.

The City of Carrollton received a deed from J.R. McFarland in 1933. This property is located on the southeast corner of College Avenue (now Belt Line Road) and Denton Drive. This became the site for Carrollton's first City Hall and fire station.

By the mid-1920s, Carrollton had held its first bond election and organized a volunteer fire department. During the next two decades, Carrollton's first official police force was hired. Carrollton's first city charter was adopted in 1961, providing for a home-rule form of government under a manager and city council.

Governor John Connally attended Carrollton's 50th anniversary ceremony in 1963 and dedicated a new library and recreation center.