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•««»»»•»»»♦• »# 9* ^4 •«9999994 ^944% 999949494494 999* 94 494444 9994 99 94 944 (9944994^449*44 9 4 »9 % • 4 9 4 4 4 94 4 44 ^4 99499944«« I I94 9 t ^ ^ I i * I » i » I » 4949t44 4*• *4*99944449444944494%4499499949 99*99999%44449444994994^99i99f9494449999999494999994499 99%9i94 9 99 9999 4 4 9 9999• •99 9 t 9 49 9944494 9 9 4999% 4 99999994*94999449999t9ktt9 44 4949%ttt999444444 49 4 49 9944494444 994999944 449999999944*9949994949499999* 4444 9 9 949499 44i4 9 9 4444999 94 9 44*4444%49\tl• 8MM8»Mie844»d»4MI8«»88888**«88»«44 4 4 4 44 9* 4 4 4 » 4 9 »9 *9 * * 4 4 4 * 9 44*44 I 44««4SECTION V••••••**•,,, I*,.,««,I,I. • •««,• I I ».• ••• ••‘•••(•KIM* **lt;•••*••«••••••• •••••••«,lt;11,1 „ a* • I 444#«« * I 49949449499 4999*•49944499»9449494*%4 9 99944 9 • 44 949 94 4% 4 49 94 4949499 94 494*4I 9 499 4 4 94 9 44494% * 49999944449444%49*419449999%4494**%*%999 9 9 9 9 4 4 4% * 4 4 9 9%994444%44 4 4 9 4*44444 •• l»4« I * 4 4 ^#4•••4 4 4 4 9i 9444 4 44 9 4 4••I4lt;4|444444»444»*|lt; •44l*444*444«|4*4|444 • 4 I f 4 * M 444« 4 4 1444 4444 44 I 444«4*4« « % 4 144 I 4444%44%4^%449994*9499999% «•9444444*494949*9*94 i 9%9494*49*994499*^9944 4*99*4449*444*4*444449*9*494*4%4949444994lt;444444»444«|«|• 41 * « •t* 9 4 , t * * %* *114 4• 4 I » «• 4 I » «4^44444444I444I|* •4*4l»««4444«*4l«4»4lll4««««4«444*|44*«l**«4*»4I4*4*»4444|M^4»44444*«II*I4*«»4****994999%4*49i4tt^4*»»4\999449*99494*44 ^••I44««|4»MMI44«44|».4I»I*I*4*****4• *•« •i 4 4 • « • • •100 Years of Grand Prairie History^^^^*444***494|4*«4*«44I|||4444444III44444444*44 4l444444^444|4444*44^4l|8^*4llt44*^*4^44444W944444|4^49448V44^44« ^^^9 4 l44l4lt**^Y44|444|^««*««««|«4««»»»«««^^4^4 ♦ ♦♦♦♦«♦««♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦♦♦iUUiV.4^^48881f4848 881 t 9444 44*«48l^9tt44lt8r4^f%#98t44l4t4%V44«8 •4l**l44%l4lt4« •««4t4**tt4444tt4^4^^^^88t4t49S^944t44C4|44#44* 444 ••*4 9999^4444^4^8r449*8tl88I 99* 4*44t4999*t*9***9*444 9 % 4 88*484 I I M 8 88^84»«M84l 8^ff#8#«4 * 4 88 ^ 4*4%» 44 **48«888 18 844 888* **48488 88#♦*8*884 448M 1 « • « i« *• .I8*»##l*88 I 4 8 484«*«8f 8841 4 8**^«*8*8 8 84|«44884M44^««• 4 88***8884 ••8^88r*8 1 8488 884 »**484« | 8I*4*#4«|«48I*4Yl**8844 I 88 r8*8***8884l 484**44^8i 84*4l • 48*« 88**#**8 I 4%84*8 8l48«44l884 44*8llt«**484141* *8118*814«8888 **«*4 94 **9 4 4 » 9 48 I ^***«*4«4 81^44(8i88fr44l8l844#«»444«lt8|4i 4 •4 * • *44 * 44 4 4 • 4 4 84884*8 M 4 I I 4844 4«*4 4 44 •«*« * *^ s I * t 8448 4J 44 8 » » 484444#* 4 * 4 4 • 4** 94 4 * 884444444 * * I * 488 * *«4 « • I • I * t1*4***4*148444 |48*4|444*##44*4*«*s«M84 I I 44***«48*8***| 8#«4(Continued from Pi^e 4)was robbed by Raymond Hamilton and Clydr* Barrow, A few minutes prior to the robbery Mr. Spears had sent almost all the catsh receipts to the main office in Fort Worth which left only small change fo f.c robber’s efforts, Interurban service continued until T ,;ccmber 24, 1934, at which time the Texas Motor Coache,* replaced the services of the former company.Tne Texa:. and Pacific Railway received a large volume of Dusineds from 1915 until the latter part of the 1920’s; however, during the depression and until 1941 this business suffered a decade of below normal business.In January, 1921, L. P. Robertson and W, A, Robertson began the first notor bus service bet\veen Dallas and Grand Prairie. Their partially home-nade bus could accomodate thirty-five passengers. This bus accomodated travelers from Grand Prairie to Arcadia Park, Cockrell Hill, and Dallas. About two months after this business began the bus was involved in a collision with a wagon, which brought to an end the Robertson brothers business venture.Few Grand Prairie residents owned automobiles before 1920_. However, improvement of the automobile ahd road facilities stimulated this means of conveyance to such an extent, that by 192,5, Grand Prairie had employed a motor policeman in order to curtail the traffic violations of both local and transit drivers. From 1925 until 1941 traffic hazards became one of the major problems for the town of Grand Prairie. This problem was the result of three heavily traveled arteries paralleling one another through the town. Highway 80 transverscd the center of the town; one block south of this highway was the Texas and Pacific railroad line; and adjoining the railroad line to the south was Jefferson Avenue.The federal census of Grand Prairie for the years 1920 to 1940 was; 1920, 1263: 1930, 1529; and 1940, 1595. A comparison of the census years showed that from 1920 to 1930 there was an increase in population of 266, while from 1930 to 1940 there was an increase of only sixty-six.The School Tax Office of Grand Prairie revealed that the municipality increased from nine city blocks in 1915 to 126 city blocks in 1940, with the greater portion of this increase being eastward.Following the close of World War I, Grand Prairie had a silo factory, a wheel and body factory, and a cracker factory. The Home Oil Company was formed in May, 1919, with the intent of developing an oil field in this vicinity. Officers of the oil company included J, E. Payne, president; W. G. Liggett, first vice-president; S. A, Mcllhenny, secretary: J. F, Waggoner, treasurer; and N. T, Keith and J, B. Kittreil, trustees. After drilling wells north and south Of Grand prairie and finding no oil, the Home Oil Company was dissolved.Throughout the period of 1915 to 1940 Dalworth, a community located one mile west of Grand Prairie, made an. attempt to rival Grand Prairie as a potential city. This rivalry sometimes resulted in the communities being uncooperative; however, in the spring of 1923 some of the civic groups began to consolidate their efforts. At the close of the 1915-1940 period Dalworth was still unincorporated. Dalworth’s principal enterprises before 1920 were the Ben-retailed three sizes of farm tractors, the Centinental Tire and Rubber Company employedresigned from the faculty of SouthernMet^dist University, to be the chemist of the company, to Decem^r, 1920, this company purchased the Dixie Drug Tire and Rubber Association in Grand Prairie.In the latter part of 1919 an Industry of business was located a short distance north of the present 1953 site of Hensley Field The company was successful in obtaining the financial support community. Their product was to be called the Texmoblle” a twenty-seven horsepower vehicle which would sell for $350.’ The company erected two production building units, each about five-hundred feet long. This enterprise was too short livedwelfare of the community, because, in August, 1920, the company passed into the hands of receiver-'’’‘® '“‘S (^^53) the buildings erected by the Little Motor KarCompany were being used bv the American Body Company*hi 1920 the Dallas Body Company leased the silo buiUlinc and began making automobile tops-and bodies; however this company was absorbed by the Universal Body and Manufactur-Ctecember, 1920, One of the more progressive establishments in Grand prairie was the Turner Hardware and Furniture Company, owned by G. H. Turner and L.'O Turner In 1920 L. O. Turner was the only undertaker in Grand prairie. Some other business establishments in Grand prairie ^ring 1920 were the S. S. Tullos Drug Store, Grand Prairie Drug Store, Grand prairie Cash Grocery, Business MeuyS Credit and Collecting Association, Oitv Drug, Hall Brothers Gro^ry, American Mercantile Company of Grand Prairie, Shaw Tailor Shop, and the Home Bakery.•******• **•* **••••«•«48^4 *8444^1* *4444***4*44lr444«*4 *4 94li I4«/*888I44I48**44*44|^||4 •48MMII4* *9 949t%9944888*884*44 8^4•94,t9t%499%*444999^*4 *99 118*8**88*4 *444M88.gave a good summary of the types of enterprises In Grand Prairie and their particular business or service. The businesses listed were; American Body Company, specialized in woodwork and automobile painting and the manufacture of paints and sold lumber, hardware, oils, and.glass; Grand prairie Automobile Company, specialized in general automobile overhauling, high class painting, top repairing, and upholstering; Continental Tire and Rubber Company, manufactured tires and tubes; Home Bakery Company, supplied Grand Prairie and nearby towns with fresh bread, cakes, and pies; and the Grand Prairie Mattress Company, which renovated old mattresses and manufactured new mattresses.In April, 1922, the Atlas Wood Products Company purchased ; the plant and equipment of the Universal Body Manufacturing •Company, and began the manufacture of step-ladders, extension ladders, ironing boards, churn dashers, kiddie cars, and swings.About 1920 B, B. Bowen established the Airdrome” in Grand Prairie, which was the town’s first movie establishment. Since it had no roof it resembled a drlve-in” theater with seats. The theater was In operation three nights a week with serial movies being shown on Thursday nights. Mr. Bowen advertised his shows by walking in the street blowing horn to attract the- attention of potential customers. In 1926 J. S. Walker purchased the Airdrome” and establishedhli#i * IJrfa ti\ rVTV^Tnfl^ ‘ * A I rHfOTTlti * 'aThe June 24, 1921 issue of THE GRAND PRAIRIE TEXANthe Texas Theater. He continued to operate the Airdrome when the-weather permitted.A. B. Jolley, Dallas County Agricultural Agent from 1919 until atier tne second world war, stated mat in me iv.iu-.s the community of Grand Prairie, one of the leaders of the county in sponsoring fairs and livestock shows, was the livestock center of the county. The Grand Prairie farmers raised such livestock as dairy cattle, beef cattle, poultry, and hogs. Their principal crops included cotton, corn, and small grains. These farmers readily accepted the technical advice of the* county agent in regard to improved methods of agriculture and participated interracing, sowing clover, contour farming, and contour pastures. The boys and girls from the communilio.*' of Grand Prairie and Florence Hill were a great strength to the 4-H Clubs of this county.The Grand Prairie Poultry Association was formed in IX-~ cember, 1920, for the purpose of the culture of more and better poultry. The first officers of this organization were K.E. Hall, president and Miss Ruth Hale, secretary. Poultry culling demonstrations were supervised by A. B. JtilU-y The Poultry Club reorganized in 1923 and became the Grand Prairie-Dalworth Poultry Association.In 1921 the Grand Prairie Stock and Poultry Show was founded. This show was the result of a realization of the business men that Their interests were very similar to those of the farmers, and stock and poultry raisers of this county. The object of this show was to encourage the breeding of pure bred livestock and to encourage the fawners to plant pure seeds. The business men contributed to this project to such an extent that the officials of the show awarded eighty-eight cash awards as well as prizes of mcrchandi.sc, which had been donated by the businessmen. The Grand(Continued on 10)TERRORS OF GRAND PRAIRIE, , , Quartet of motorcyclists in the early 1920*s. Charlie Sikes, Floyd Cox, and Emmet Turck, The fourth man Is not id en liable.M ATCH Cl) 1)1 AMOM) SETSRi ses FOR YOl R\ll\l \\\l(ll
Newspaper Details
Grand Prairie News Texan
Grand Prairie, Texas, US
Sun, May 26, 1963
Page 22
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
TX, USA 19 Jul 2018
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