Denton Record-Chronicle from Denton, Texas • Page 23

GARZA BORN ON KAIL TRACKS Community Has Grown Into Resort Town of Lake Dallas The pounding of steel on steel by railroad section hands who laid the track that wouM carry M-K-T trains from LewlsviMc to Denton struck the chord that resulted in establishment of the little town of Garza in the early mo's. Upon the rolling plains, now cut by Highway 77 with its speeding cars and trucks, frame stores, eave to eave slowly stretched out along the railroad track as the population Increased, and the merchants saw a settlement become a community. Civic leaders then probably never realized that tho community they were striving to build into a progressive little town would one day bo a favorite North Texas resort. Lead Way to Lake Today the frame and brick buildings that line the McKinney highway lead the way to Lake Dallas for thousands of fishermen and vacationers every year. From lake, the got its new name.

No highways or roads led to the nearby cities in those oarly days, only wagon tracks and paths cut by horses' hoofs. The doctor's office, the drug store, three restaurants, a meat market and a few mercantile houses provided for nil the needs of the settlers. Tho bank in Gai'za suffered two failures and a robbery and finally closed. The vault of that first hank is now being used in Denton's Applo Hnnst; and the words "Graza State Bank" are still printed in gold on the vault door. Remember Baggy Days Oldtimers of the community, John Carter', who lives in a house overlooking the town, and J.

A. Stockard, father of County Gerald Stockard of Denton, probably are a Jittle amused at the whirring automobiles that roar into town now, for they remember the time when the only traffic congestion was a buggy drawn by a "too slow" horse, and the crowds that stood in front of John Morris's cafe. Ncwnnmni-A tanking nt the business of Lake Dallas today can scarcely visualize Garza as the early merchants such as Lun Cnl- vcrt snw it. One of the most colorful early figures In Lake Dallas was capt J. Swlsher, a Civil Wai- veteran, who thrilled every child in town with his talcs of war and his uniform which he wore on the slightest provocation, hailing the Rebel team for which he fought.

Then there wore such men as Pinkard nnd Sanflors, E. H. Corrt- walls, John Wright, one of the first oo st ma stern, K. H. Myers and John L.

Morris. These men helped build a town from a rambling block of wooden buildings to a little brick city around a square. Today all that remains of that square Is a grassy Jot bounded on three sides by a few scattered buildings, but the people feel a fierce pride in their still growing town and Its population of 556- A. S. Sargent, one of the later businessmen, came to Garza in the 1890's.

He was a blacksmith for three years, shoeing the horses lor doctors, merchants and travelers. Later he entered the mercantile business and kept variety store for more than 23 years. He is owner of the Sargent store, now rented W. Hunter, Lrfike DaUas's present postmaster and merchant. Miss Claudia Sargent of Puebkij eldest daughter of the merchant, was appointed postmistress of Luke Dallas nfter the death of Dr.

D. G. Taylor in 1931 and held the position for 15 years. No community could grow without the healing knowledge of a doctor. Dr.

C. W. Gotcher was one of the first doctors in town and was followed in the profession by his two sons, C. and Sam. It was in the town of Garza that Ir.

Sam Gotcher perfected his drug to combat Jung disease. Today in a foundation in Chicago, the research nnd study of the drug is being carried on. Dr. C. Gotcher, III, is practicing mecli- GARZA FIRST NAME OF LAKE PALLAS Settlers of Lake Dallas have many of the story of how the town got its original name of Garza, but the one most often told concerns a Mexican called Garcia.

The oid Mexican rail cutter supposed to have set up a little hut city for tho IB or 17 men working for him near the site of the present town. He was the crew chief and people Jiving nearby started calling the settlement Garcia's Place, Years helped to shorten tho name to Garza's Place, Garza's and finally to the written of Garza. Today the old settlers like to refer to Lake Dallas as Garza despite the fact that Congress- maw Glen WiHiair.R, with tho holp of such Garza business- mrti as Dr. D. G.

Taylor, S. R. Swuiitmon, druggist, P. H. Fyn-cll and Council Messin- Katy depot agent, was able to have the name changed J.nice Dallas in 1929, after tho big lake was built In tho vicinity.

cine In Lake Dallas Almost every town has its boom years and 1920 was the first such year for Garza. Highway 77 was constiiicted and Garza's business houses were filled with buyers. New stores opened, but merchandise became scarce. Second Boom In 1924 Again In 1924 the town felt the busy crowded rush of a boom town This time it lasted for three yearn. Dallas bought 14,787.5 acres from Denton county on which to construct a take to provide the city with more water.

In September, the construction of the IC-mile lake began and It was completed in the fall of 1927. Stores were hastily built and houses appeared in the vicinity almost overnight. At one time during the building of the lake, there wore 11 grocery stores In Garza. The lake at first did not affect (Jic- town as much as the highway did, for a highway meant people could reach nearby cities with greater case. Trade started to increase in the larger towns, and merchants at Garza felt a great decline in their business.

It wasn't long, huwever, until people from the cities realized the beauty of the lake as a vacation spot and place to hold family reunions. Name Changed In 1929 In 1929 the lawn's name was of- fically changed to Lake Dallas. Two minutes after midnight of that day a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Borchardt.

He was called Lake Dallas after the town in which he was born. The brick school house that now stands in sight of the lake was not the first school house in the town. Many years before a log cabin was used for the seat of learning and as the town hall; then a frame building was erected, to be replaced by a stone building on the site of the present school house. Inscribed on the cornerstone of the present structure are tho names of such leading citizens as J. A.

Stockard G. C. Tuv-bunville, S. E. Sweatmon, J.

Carlile, D. A. McMuth J. E. Bridges and A.

D. Gates. Mrs. Morris Bradley, president of the P-TA and Red Cross chairman in llic community, was the first woman nvor elected to Lake Dallas school Her mother was Mra. Claire A.

Taylor, wife of the town's fourth physician, and principal and teacher of the school. Present members of the hoard are Morris Bradley, Gene Mayberry and Klhler Hundley. Today Lake Dallas has only a few stores. One of the old stores AT THE DENTON (X)UNTY FAIR Starting Sept. 24 $18.95 You'll be ready for that big day when the Denton County Fair begins--Tuesday--in this sporty McGregor leisure coat--you'll choose a McGregor'for that fine ctistome tailoring thai gives perfect, fit--perfect wear every time.

Here's a combination to please--solid blue with blue check --when you take your case. Let's give our full supiwrt by attendance to this Denton's Centennial Fair of 19.16--the first, county fair held since 19.11. The dates arc September 25 thru 28--plan to go-You'll have a grand time and will see many old friends and meet many new ones too! Store, reraaina' on fh'e south the square, Ann a plumbing establishment owned by Ray Harper haa taken the palce of the old bank building. There Is a lumber yard and a grocery and market operated by W. L.

Hunter. Mrs. A a Williams la In charge of the telephone office, and Mrs. Avis Fitislmmon Is itatlon master. Little camp cities along the lake shores and the lisa hatchery one of the largest In the United States coupled wjth the modern Hundley Boat Works, give the eommu- town.

Ponder Continued from Page 3 though there few citlcens then and only one business, tt general store. A one-ness oj spirit was embodied in these citizens, although the name Gerald has since been changed to Ponder and the population has Increased, the community spirit has remained unchanged 'bi-ough the years. The Soils (Continued Prom One) Pi-tigram is be.lng carried out In the county lom elfort'to preserve the Will against tmpr'opet waU'r draln- according to County G. R. Farmers Ifave corrected soil tq a great ox- tent by and tiummer cover crop plantings.

Atutriqh Winter peas and hairy vetch are planted In the fall to "protect tho soil during the winter- the spring these Plants are plowed under to build the soil ana hold moisture in tho ground. The principal summer lo- ftuincs include clovor and cowpeas. I elevation county ranges from approximately 500 feet to nearly 1,000 feet above sea level. The lowest level is where the Elm Fork of the Trinity River leaves tho county near tho soulh- er.storn corner; the highest in In tho northwestern part on the divide between Clear and Denton Creek. The general slope of; (to County Is tqward tho southeast.

Denton county Is drainri) by the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. The main tributaries of the fork are Clear. i and Denton Creeks. Lake Dallas, located on Elm Fork of the Trinity River In the southeastern portion of the county la one of the largest bodies of water In North Texas. The lake Is 16 miles long, three fellies wide, rind has an average dppth of 18 feet- It has a surface area of "11,000 acres, A portion of tho municipal water supply of Dallas comeii from this artificial laek.

Tho Lake Dallas Dam Is tho only large dam in Dtnton county. Ti)c lake and surrounding urea provide fishing, boatlnqr, nnd and dove hunting. Several other largo reservoirs are planned for the near future. Weather conditions In Denton county nro not far from Ideal. A growing season of soven ami a half months and an average annual rainfall of 33 inches, well distributed, give tho county a favorable setting for both subsistence and commercial crop production.

This is a land of sunshine with 165 clear days, 120 cloudy or partly cloudy, and only 70 rainy days. -uENTOH (TterJ Chisholm Trail (Continued from Page 1) houses in the county, Chi sum held many old time square dances ai the ranch. Entertainment for cowpunchers arid their girls from by towns were given often. one of these da'nccs a sudden ralh came up and since the creeks became impassable, the girls could not get so the dance lasted for three days and nights. A bachelor, Chlsum had hlu niece, Sallle Roberts, who was known as "Jingle Bob Queen" hostess for th parlies and always as mlstrlaa of his home.

It was she to whom Chlsum left well over a million dollars, and who died only a few years ago. Souvenirs of the great cattle (ting liavo vanished almost as completely as the Chlsholm t.rali. There Is a set of horns at the Ed Forrester ranch, which was taken from a 23-year-old steer calved about 1876 from tho Chlsum herd and bought pm ChlsUm by L. S. Forrester.

This steer was by L. S. i the last of the orlflMl The foUer to nant of the old TnJJ trtocctcd the of Jtut wed oH W. C. pbtee near boi io kr tkat ruU tbe near Bcllvar were (racr.

of trail. WUI inuiAAU, pioneer, Ing tiem, und A. W. Jami- wn, W. Oak.

ibowii Ueai by her father when (tie WM clillii Living In Dtnton todar ari aeTnral erf tbe Chi- uin family. Mn. Will WllHasu, 516 W. Oak, and W. Wright, 403 M-jvintji.

arr of Mr. Bailie i i ujn Robirtj, the (ampus "Jlngie Bob Queen." The wife of Jim Chindni, Johira broth- et, Is burled In the Bolftfar cemetery and wa? thfe aW.t.ot W. W. Wright and Will WlllUms. The longest elephant tusk of which there is authtHUc record is 1) feet, five and a half inches long, and 18 Inches In circumference.

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