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GARLAND, TEXAS
Dallas
County, North
Central Texas
32°54'26"N 96°38'7"W (32.907325, -96.635197)
Off Hwy 75 and State Hwys 66 & 78
15 miles NE of Downtown Dallas
Population: 239,928 Est. (2019)
226,876 (2010) 215,768 (2000) 180,650 (1990)
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The 1897 IOOF
Building in Garland
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, January 2008 |
Named after Augustus
H. Garland, U. S. Attorney General under Grover Cleveland.
History in a Pecan Shell
A timeline of Garland’s significant historic events:
1887: Garland was formed to settle a dispute between rival
towns - Duck Creek and Embree. Duck Creek was on the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas Railroad, and Embree was on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe. They had fought over the post office for several years, but Congressman
Joseph Abbott submitted a bill to Congress to open the post office
between the two rivals.
1888: A high school, called Garland College is built.
1890: Garland population reaches 478.
1891: The town incorporates.
1892: The Masons, and Odd Fellows, had formed a lodge or hall
by this year.
1899: Fire destroys 28 of 30 businesses. The town rebuilt on
a town square.
1904: The population reaches 819.
1915: Texas Power and Light installed four electric lights
around the square.
1920s: Population reaches 1,400 and the city finances a water
well and tower.
May 9, 1927, a tornado kills 17, including former mayor S.
E. Nicholson who had the Nicholson Memorial Library named in his honor.
1937: Dallas Radio Station KRLD constructs a tower in Garland.
1940: Population reaches 2,233.
1948: Central Park, the first park in Garland, is purchased
by the city.
1950: Population reaches 10,571.
1990: Population reaches 180,650, making it Dallas
County's second largest city.
Garland Attractions
Landmark Museum - In the former Santa Fe Depot |
Garland Texas
Landmarks
Photos courtesy
Mike
Price, January 2008 |
1897 IOOF Sign
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, January 2008 |
C.M.
Brown 1917 Building
Photo
courtesy Mike
Price, January 2008 |
Garland Municipal
Building
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, January 2008 |
Garland Municipal
Building
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, January 2008 |
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Quonset Hut
in Garland
Photo
courtesy Mike
Price, January 2008
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Historical Marker
(One Main St., S side of town square) :
Bankhead Highway
in Garland
The early 20th
century development of the automobile led to major changes in road
systems throughout the U.S. The 1916 Federal Aid Road Act, which supplied
matching funds to states for the upgrade of roads, was sponsored by
Alabama Senator John H. Bankhead and required that states establish
a highway department in order to receive federal disbursements; the
act led to the creation of the Texas Highway Department in 1917.
The Bankhead Highway, America's Second east-to-west transcontinental
highway, was soon routed from Washington D.C. to San Diego. The Bankhead
Highway's route through Texas included the major cities of Texarkana,
Dallas, Fort
Worth and El
Paso, and passed through the Dallas
County town of Garland. In 1919 Texas Bankhead Highway Association
Secretary Arthur P. Dyer noted that Garland was the only town on the
Texas route which had voluntarily organized and gone to work without
asking for outside help. The people of Garland took advantage of the
highway's potential for economic impact. Auto repair shops, restaurants
and service stations were built along Main Street – the Highway's
route through Garland – which was soon paved and curbed.
Although the Bankhead Highway was officially designated as Texas Highway
1 in 1917, it also retained the official Bankhead name until 1926,
when it became part of U.S. Highway 67. However, the old name
remained attached to the Garland segment until the early 1950s. The
road's importance diminished beginning in the 1950s, as most drivers
opted to use the wider, safer and faster new Interstate system, but
the Bankhead Highway is remembered for its significant place in the
history of scores of Texas towns such as Garland.
(2009) |
People
Pitchfork Smith
by Mike Cox
When your last name's Smith-no matter your looks or accomplishments-attaining
widespread recognition is challenging. But a common surname can be
overcome with a colorful personality and striking nickname.
It certainly worked for Pitchfork Smith. See
full article |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and contemporary/vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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