As we are driving, Mister remembers a place we had talked about going last month -- Farmers Branch Historical Park. It's not too far and we are soon walking the grounds. Out front there is a windmill. The history is that Mrs. Judy Byrd donated it to the Historical park which was originally located on Keenan Bridge Road, about 2 miles from the Historical Park and was the last working windmill in Farmers Branch. In is a Dempster No. 12 Annu Oiled and was originally manufactured in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company first opened up it's doors in 1885, and continues to manufacture windmills today. the No. 12 was first introduced in 1922 and is still in production. It's most popular feature was that it is a self oiling, back geared, steel pumping windmill which only required the owner to lubricate the gears once a year, rather than a more frequent oiling that other windmills required. The Dempster windmill must have been an unusual sight on the Byrd property, as the majority of windmills in the area were Aeromotors, which could be purchased through an agent in Fort Worth.Next up is an old schoolhouse and I walk up to try the door. It's locked. The sign outside reads, "The earliest education classes in Farmers Branch may have been held in the Methodist Church with Thomas C. Williams serving as teacher. School classes were taught by Mrs. Mary Ann Ryland West in her home by 1846. the first school building is believed to have been built later that year along Rawhide Creek. Early schools were not completely publicly supported. Citizens joined together to build the building and hire the teacher, but often the teacher was paid from tuition required of the students. It was not until 1876 that the State Constitution provided funds for public or free schools. School terms varied between 7 and 9 months and were positioned between fall harvest and spring planting so that the students could continue to help with the crops and livestock.
This schoolhouse was probably built between 1900 and 1910. In 1915 when this building was replaced by a brick school, this section was moved to Bee Street became a residence. It was moved to the Historical Park in 1985. This schoolhouse is typical of rural schools of the time period. The building has separate boys' and girls' cloakrooms, and a classroom heated by a centrally located wood stove."I really would like to see the inside so at this point Mister and I hunt down the office to find out if this is just a grounds walk or if the places can be viewed from the inside. Joy of joys. For $3 each, we can have a private tour. Sign us up. There is also a little shop in the room and I am pulled in quickly. A couple of items grab my attention. The beginning quilting kit is cute and I could have lots of fun with grands doing something similar. BUT -- this little pencil sharpener has my heart. It must go home with me.
Well, I was so shocked to discover that it was where the crew stayed. Why had that never crossed my mind before? Of course the trips were long and lasted several days. They had to have quarters to stay in. It's amazing how much the caboose actually had inside.
It could hold several beds and a kitchen. Places for food were also important.This was such an eye opening moment for me. I don't think I'll ever look at a caboose the same way again. This 1890s all-wood caboose has original bunks, sink, icebox, hardware, and pot-belly stove.
Next up is the Depot. "This depot is the original Farmers Branch Railroad Depot built in 1877. It was originally built to service the Dallas & Wichita Railroad and was comprised of two waiting rooms and a freight room with exterior decoration typical of the Victorian era. In 1880, the Dallas & Wichita Line was purchased by the Missouri Kansas and Texas Railroad System (MKT), affectionately called the 'Katy' Line, owned by the infamous Jay Gould. By September 30, 1924 the tracks had been electrified and the Dallas-Denton Interurban Line began service on the MKT tracks to Dallas, Denton and the communities of Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Lewisville, and Garza. This use by the Interurban ended in 1931. During its zenith the Depot was the hub of the town and attracted business and merchandise into the area. Some passenger service between Dallas and Denton continued until after World War II. The MKT ceased use of the Depot and sold it in 1958. The Depot was purchased by the City of Farmers Branch in 1982, moved to the Historical Park in 1985 and restored. It was dedicated on this site in 1986."
Just inside the doors, the first thing you see is a stove and the area used to send telegrams. It's so fun to think back to those times. There is also a bench for waiting and a chalkboard that shows the train schedule for the day. What do you think the cubbies were for? Mail? Storage claim tags? It's curious to me.
A large, informative poster on the wall is full of information. I struggled with typing it all out for you or just posting the picture, but it's really hard to read it on the picture without enlarging to the point of distortion, so I'll work through it for all of us. Some of it may duplicate the above information.
"In 1877, the railroad came to Farmers Branch bringing with it the progress that comes from the ability to transport goods and people from coast to coast. The Dallas & Wichita Railroad, sometimes called the "Dallas & Which-a-way" because of its inconsistent schedules, built a depot near the Intersection of Valley View Lane and Denton Drive. A year later, only 20 miles of track had been laid and the dream of connecting Dallas to its northern neighbors stalled.The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad purchased the Depot and the stretch of rail running through Farmers Branch in 1880, and our Depot operated as an M.K.&T. (also known as the Katy line) stop until 1924 when the tracks were electrified and the Dallas-Denton Interurban Line began commuter services for North Texas passengers. Sadly, the Interurban only lasted eight years and the company folded. The Depot was eventually sold to a local lumber company and was used as an office until it was moved to the Historical Park in 1985.
For the last 32 years, the Depot has proudly stood in the Historical Park as a symbol of the people and the commerce that built Farmers Branch. Thousands of visitors have marveled at the original milled woods and mysterious graffiti on the walls of the freight room, and learned how important the railroad was to the survival of small communities like Farmers Branch.
After many years of sun, Texas weather, and repairs, the Depot was in need of painting and restoration, but what was the original color? Paint samples revealed that the original paint was a greenish color, but were not in good enough condition to be matched. Historical Park staff set out to find the right colors, contacting six area museums with M.K.&T. depots, but none of them could produce empirical evidence of color schemes. The staff also contacted Bob LaPrelle at the Museum of the American Railroad, who (after many weeks) was finally able to track down an old friend that had an original M.K.&T, Standards book - complete with color swatches and detailed instructions for how and where to apply the colors.During the renovation, some old boards were removed exposing the original paint that had been covered for decades - it was an exact match of the new colors! Photographs from the 1920s reveal that the Farmers Branch Depot had dark green trim, called the 'sill course,' that was waist-high just as the standards book said it should. The sill course was added as well as a second 'Farmers Branch' sign to the back of the Depot as the photographs showed.
Things are always changing and being updated at the Historical Park. Even if you've visited before, that doesn't mean you've see it all. come see the Depot with its fresh M.K.&T. colors just as it was more than 100 years ago!"
The back storage room has various items that were of the time period and likely to have been stored or transported through here. The wood walls, including the writing on them, are original as are the slats in the flooring. Very cool.
Next up on our tour is a jump ahead in time. "A Texaco Gas Station was the first such business in the Farmers Branch area in the 1930s. This replica structure at the Historical Park incorporates many of the architectural features of that first gas station. The oblong box shape represented a substantial increase in size over 1920s gas stations, but was still fairly cheap to construct as most were prefabricated and easy to maintain. The exterior is painted in bright company colors to attract customers and establish market recognition. A canopy covers the pump area to provide shade. These features were common at gas stations from the 1930s to the 1970s, until they were replaced by modern gas stations."
"The original station was located on Denton Drive, just south of present day Valley View Lane. Gas stations were the first businesses in America to begin the age of mass marketing that we are all familiar with today. Inside the gas station, you will find a 1936 Cab Over Engine Ford truck that was originally used here in Farmers Branch at the Glad Acres Farm, located just off present day Marsh Lane. The Glad Acres Truck underwent restoration in 1986 and was placed in the Historical Park in 2001." How fun is this??? Mister has pictures of me in it as well, but . . . .
Next door, "The General Store was built in 2012 in honor of JoAnn Elliot Bond, the first President of the Friends of the Farmers Branch Historical Park. The General Store is a new type of exhibit for the Historical Park in that the majority of the items in the store are meant to be 'hands-on.' Most of the items on display are reproductions of items that would have been available in the 1920s. The items are not antiques, as anyone visiting a store today would want an item new and in a package, so would a shopper in the 1920s. The general store is modeled after three stores that were operating in Farmers Branch in the 1920s: The W. Taliaferro & Son General Store, Jim Smith's Country Store, and Corbit's Store." This structure incorporates many of the architectural features from that time period. A shopper could find almost anything needed, from dry goods and groceries, to hardware and farm equipment."I LOVE this so much!!!! In the picture on the right --- see that set of drawers to the far right? And the box next to the bolts of fabric? I'll have more information on those further down.
Oops -- didn't realize there was a mirror back there.
The set of drawers I mentioned above contain so many items near and dear to my heart. I not only want the box, but all of the contents as well. I don't care if they are antique or not.
THIS items is original and very cool. The box next to the fabric bolts contains actual dyes.
I could hang in here for hours and would love to see it with all the fun of a school group visiting for the day. Our next destination is an area called 1800s Log Culture Area. Back in time once more.
"The Log Culture Area consists of 2 main areas including a replica 1840s Land Grant Office designed to represent the original Peters Colony Land Grant Office which was located in Farmers Branch in the 1840s. Peters Colony was authorized August 30, 1841 by the Republic of Texas, First Colony Headquarters on Farmers Branch within three forks of Trinity. Peters Colony settled 600 families, including wives, son, and daughters of American Revolutionary soldiers. At one time, the Colony included most of Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton Counties and stretched north to the Red River and south to roughly the middle of present day Ellis County. The first office of Peters colony was located just south of Farmers Branch Creek. This replica log cabin is a typical style, similar to early Texas cabins. There is a distinct difference in the construction techniques of this log cabin and the log house next door. The wood of the Land Grant Office is round, and the style of notching is very basic compared to the dovetail style of its neighbor. In addition, there are differences in the construction of the chimney, roof, and floor.The second structure is known as the Log House. Log structures were a prominent feature of Texas during the 1800s. The Johnson family built the log house and several outbuildings near Pilot Point, Texas in the 1870s (although the buildings are now being interpreted as they were during the 1840s). The Johnson family of northern Denton County was one of the larger families in the area. From Hebron, Texas up to the Red River, certain members of the family were quite prominent. However, little is known about the family members who lived on the farm where our structures were built.
"The Historical Park obtained these structures from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. They were scheduled to be destroyed to make way for Lake Ray Roberts in 1980. With a grant from the Farmers Branch Civic League, the Historical Park was able to hire archaeologists to dismantle the structures, number the logs, and restore them. The logs of the house were cut to fit together in the corners of the house using half-dovetail notching. This is the most common style of notching in Texas log houses and is considered 'a superior type (of notching) identified with fine craftsmanship.' It produces a firm, locked joint and drains water to the exterior. The roof of the house has a shallow pitch along the eaves and over a lean-to, and toward the center climbs at a steeper pitch to meet at the peak.
Inside the home, each floor is taken up with an entire room. The fireplace is only on the lower level. The staircase is located inside the home, but has a door on the lower level. It is typical of the 'second generation' dwellings on the frontier. It differs from a log 'cabin' by being a larger, more permanent structure built with carefully hand-hewn timbers, dovetailed style notched joints, and walls tightly chinked with a mud and fiber mixture. This log house also had the luxury of a wood floor, loft, and windows. Chimneys were commonly constructed of local stones or early brick."
In the picture below, this bed has ropes to hold the mattress in place. Have you heard the saying, "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite?" I know I had, but certainly didn't know it's entire meaning. It is a reminder to tighten the ropes on the bed before sleeping and the 'wrench' used to tighten the ropes could sometimes pinch your fingers on the ropes - hence the "bite" reference. The bedbug IS the wrench.
"The barn segments, called pens or cribs, were used for various types of storage. The single crib would commonly house tools or a blacksmith's forge for making or repairing tools and household items. Together, these structures represent a typical homestead of the 1840s and '50s, when Farmers Branch was settled."
Moving on, "The cornerstone of the Historical Park, the Gilbert House remains in its original location, built amidst a grove of stately post oak trees. Built in 1856, it is the oldest structure still on its original foundation in Dallas County.
The house consists of two-foot-thick limestone walls, chestnut plank floor and native Texas furniture. It is architecturally referred to as a dogtrot style home, recognized by a large open hallway through the middle of the house. In 1988, the Gilbert House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places and Landmarks."
Dr. Gilbert was one the earliest physicians in the Dallas County and a founding member of the Dallas Medical Association. According to his diary, hardly a day went by without someone coming by for treatment or sending for him to make a house call. A single day visit cost $2.50 but the price went up to $3.50 for a night call. He charged $15.00 to $25.00 to deliver a baby. He was also responsible for mixing his own prescriptions. The dogtrot area of the house is where he saw his patients and sometimes even boarded them there for extended care. It was enclosed on both ends and the original exterior walls still show here.
Medicine was not the only thing that occupied Dr. Gilbert's time. he was also a farmer, having purchased 307 acres on which he raised corn, cotton, and wheat. Livestock on the farm included sheep, horses, hogs, and cattle. There was a vegetable garden and the Gilberts would frequently supplement their diet by gathering wild blackberries, mustang grapes and robbing "bee trees." In addition, the Gilbert's boarded travelers for a mall fee. The Gilberts did not take in all travelers, however. In a diary entry on June 2, 1872 he wrote "about 1 o'clock p.m. Bird Lorance and sister, Dr. Williams and a Miss Combs called to get dinner and rest a while. I gave them no dinner and no countenance and they soon left."
And look at this sweet gem -
Our next spot on the tour is an 1885 Queen Anne Victorian Cottage originally built at 501 West Broadway in Gainesville, TX and is architecturally typical of small cottages built during the late Victorian era in Texas. By 1907, it was occupied by the Basinger family and their descendants who lived in the home until it was moved to the Historical Park in April 1992. It was restored to its 1885 appearance, dedicated, and opened for tours in 1997.Queen Anne style of architecture is easily recognized with crossed gables, turrets, or cupolas, wrap-around porches and porticos. It is identified as a cottage by its smaller size. During the Victorian period in Texas, roughly 1870-1905, the architecture tended to be ornate. The use of multiple textures and patterns was meant to break the monotony of sameness and create a feeling of expanded height and size.
Queen Anne was the most popular type of late Victorian domestic architecture and is perhaps the most inaccurately named of such styles. After all, Queen Anne's reign dates from 1702-1714, but it is the last decades of Queen Victoria's reign from 1850-1900 that are generally known as "Victorian." The Queen Anne style was introduced to the United States in the Centennial celebrations of 1876 and quickly spread throughout the country. Americans copied some of the concepts, but added their own flair.
Farmers Branch was a rural farming community in the 1880s and 1890s. It is unlikely that a Queen Anne Victorian Cottage was built here, however, it is representative of homes built in more commercial towns across North Texas during the 1880s, like Gainesville. Farmers Branch residents were probably familiar with Victorian homes, as many were built in nearby Carrollton and Dallas.
Victorians enjoyed the elegant and conspicuous display of wealth through bold colors and designs on walls and ceilings. The papers in the cottage were manufactured in the way that the original wallpapers in the house would have been produced - by a hand screening process. The wallpapers that hang in the Basinger's home currently are more grand than what the Basinger's originally had. Remnants of the original wallpaper are kept in collections storage, but are more muted and less fanciful in design than those on the walls.
Many pieces of furniture selected for this Victorian Cottage are of Eastlake "inspired" style characterized by straight lines and geometric incised designs. This style gets it's name from Charles Eastlake (1836-1906), an English architect and writer who had great impact on the trends of the time.
These rooms are simply magnificent to me. So much color.
As I peek ahead to the dining room, back in the previous room our guide shows Mister a wonderful toy that the children loved - a zoetrope. Look it up --- fascinating.
Now back to where I was.
And finally the kitchen. WOW.
I can only imagine how hot it got in this room. Goodness.
And, finally, we are back where we started. At the schoolhouse, only now we get a peek inside.
That's it. What a wonderful and incredibly informative tour. It was at least two hours and so detailed. If you are in the area, I highly suggest this activity. Now for food -- Cane Rosso and pizza followed by drinks. First brewery stop is at A stop at up with a stop at Steam Theory Brewing. We follow that up with Celestial Beerworks.
And a final ending of dinner at Sonny Bryan's Original BBQ. I have so enjoyed my time with my sweet man and we did what we set out to do ---- kept our minds busy. See ya around.
No comments:
Post a Comment