Denton Record-Chronicle from Denton, Texas • Page 71

Sunday, February 3, 1957 O.N, 0 II 0, I HORSE AND BUGGY SQUARE wis a U'pn th ,1 nd fb a Whe 5, this drawn bll 88 ies aM wagons are seen drawn up to store was lanen at tlie turn of the century, Shown trnntc Hickory looking east, and Locust. Horse- fronts and "parked" around the square. GIVES WAY TO MOTORIZED THOROUGHFARE 0815 ld ir thisc )usiv car-lined street nals have been added. The hitching post has been re- slms the same spot, Hickory looking east, and placed by the parking meter. Locust.

New buildings, paved streets and traffic sia- DENTON SHOWS STEADY CLIMB Tiie population of the Cily ol Denton has climbed steadily through the years, until today there arc an estimated 23.8CO residents here. The estimate comes from the authoritative Editor Publisher Nichols Sees Bright Future For Dentou Denlon should gel the cream of Texas' growth in the near future, Marvin C. Nichols: water consulting engineer told the Record- Chronicle. "My grandfather was very nearly there when they opened up shop," the former Dcnton resident said, "I have seen the city experience an orderly and steady growth. The next 100 years will bring developments beyond, our fondest expectations." Denton will have adequate water supply, believes the man in a position to know.

"The city will have lo be on the alert to develop in advance ol ils needs, but due diligence is exercised, there is no reason why Denton should not have enough water to meet its growing needs." Nichols, son ol Mrs. Cora Nichols of 306 Carroll, is consulting engineer for Denton and most of the other major cities and water districts states. in Texas and nearby WERE FARMERS Nichols was born in Hoanoke. His mother, who wilt he 81 this spring, was born at Rarionville. Her father was James Williams Curtis, a second lieutenant in the Civil War.

He brought his family, including his wife, his mother, and brother, a sisler and two' children, from Mississippi in 1870 and settled on a farm at Bartonvillc. The Curliscs later, moved to Dcnton. Curtis died here in 1923 and his wife died in 1027. Nichols was graduated from Denlon High School in 1914 and from the University of Texas in 1918. He took a graduate degree in engineering from the University of Illinois.

CITY R.VGlNEEit His early jobs included working for Ihe county at Lockhart, and at Tiockwnll and for Ihe city at Amarillo, where he was cily engineer. He went (o Fort Worth in 1927 as an associate in Ihe. firm of Hawlcy and Frecsc. lie laler became a partner. When Maj.

John B. Hawlcy retired in 1933, Nichols and S. IV. Frccse continued their partnership with the firm name of Frccsc and Nichols. They nre water consulting engineers tor 22 cities and 11 water and conservation district.

They have a Houston office in the firm name of Frccsc. Nichols and Turner, in which N. P. Turner is a partner. Nichols also is a partner in the Turnpike Engineers- as design and supervising engineers tor Ihe Forl World-Dallas toll road under construction.

Nichols and his wife live in Fort Worth. They have two sons. James n. and Robert both partners In the firm, and seven grandchildren. MARVIN' C.

NICHOLS Market Guide, used'by advertising agencies and marketing ex- perls Ihroughout the nation. From the handful of stalwart jioncci-s who came hero in 1857 to establish a new town and a new county seat, the population increased slowly through the Civil War and Reconstruction years to reacli a total of 3C1 in Ihe first "cdcral census listing the City of Denlon. Those were the days of rural when most of. the coun- residents lived on forms and ranches. Only one out of every 20 lived in (lie county seat.

The county population in the 1870 census showed a population of 7,251, a big jump over ils 1850 listing of 641. During the next decade the county population increased to 18,143, a gain of 10,892 that has never been bettered by (lie county in any 10-year period. The City of Denlon accounted for 883 of this gain, bringing the city's lolal lo 1,191. The 1880-30 decade saw the coining of (he railroads lo Denton. The cily more Hum doubled in population with a total of 2,558.

Population increases in the rural areas slowed down. At the beginning of the Twen- Century the county popula- iion. was 28,318, of which 4,187 lived in ihe county scat. Wilh Ihe location of two colleges in Denton, the cily population continued to climb steadily until il reached 11,192 in 1940. Then in 1950 census the figure jumped lo 21,345 when all college students were counted as residents.

Since the last federal census was taken six years ago, the increase of approximately 7,500 residents in the city indicates a sweeping new growth" for Dcnton. Another railroad, expansion of local industries, increased college enrollments, new businesses, and the growing popularity of Denton as a home town for workers in nearby big cities account for much of Hie increase. The- county, as a whole, lost population during the 1920-30 decade in a state-wide trend when farmers from East, North and Central Texas moved into West Texas and the Panhandle. But Denlon County was one of the few of the older counties that reversed the trend and began picking up population gains until in 1950 il had exceeded previous' marks. Phone System Now Has 8,300 City Listings Growth of telephone service and Ihe Texas Telephone Co.

goes in hand with the progress and growth of Denton. In 1916, when Ihe then budding Texas Telephone Co. merged with an independent Dfnlpn company there were only Ssu lisitngs in directory. Kow 14 years there arc over 8,300 phone subscribers a jump ot 10.2 per cent. At the time of the 1916 merger, the TTC only had a six-position switchboard all that was needed lo handle the 850 phones.

But Ihe number of phones in Dcnton became more numerous as the town grew. In 1928. there were 1.519 listings in Ihe Denton directory. This number jumped to in 1940 and lo 4.629 in J952. In 1952, Ihe TTC had expanded its service facilities in Dcntoa to a 14-posilion local switchboard and cignt-posilion toll board.

Even with Ihe service being giv en wilh the larger swilchboards. the TTC went a slep further aiirt installed a riial system that went i.itc Et noon. March 2a. 1952, when Mark Hannah, then mayor of Dcnton. made Ihe fir.M call.

But TTC officials say Ihe present service in Denton stili isn't enough and they are planning the installation of subscriber distance dialing a method where a person in Denton can dial a person in Dallas without the aid of operator. "It wii! eventually come to Denton," Harry West, manager of Ihe Denton TTC office, said. "But, it isn't even far enough along for us lo even give an approximate year, but Dcnton will have it someday." Denton Census Totals Denlon Census Tofals: Population of Denlon and Denlon County, as recorded by Ihe U.S. Census Bureau: Year 1850 18GO 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1020 1930 1940 Cilv 361 1,194 2,558 4,187 4,732 7,620 9,587 Comity 641 5,031 7,251 18,143 21,289 28,318 31,258 35,355 32,822 33,658 41,243 1956 (Estimate) 'Estimates from Editor Publisher Market Guide January 1, 195(3. 1884 Post Shows Pilot Point Trade Old newspapers recall the pnsl superintendent; Cumberland as perhaps no other one thing.

An antique coffee grinder may lie made into a lamp base, but an old newspaper reflects ils day without change, modernization or editing. An early copy of Ihe Pilot Point Post gives a picture of the city in 1884. Notices and ads on Page 1 list churches, drug stores, blacksmiths, merchants and professional men. Church notices listed the Christian Church, A. M.

Douglas, pastor and J. K. P. Russell, Sunday School superintendent; the il. E.

Church, Soiilli, liev. W. G. Connor, pastor, and A. M.

Ragland, superintendent; Baptist Church, Rev. .1. B. Cole, pastor, and Ed Smith, Candidate Sterling Spoke To Rotary Club Ross Sterling of Houston, candidate for Texas governor in J93G, addressed the Denlon Kiwanis Club at a July meeting. He was Introduced by A.

C. Oivslcy, program chairman. Presbyterian Church, Rev, IX It. Graton, pastor C. W.

pcrintcndent; and Davidson, su- Prcsbytcrian Church, Rev. J. W. McClure pastor. Merchants included King Bro- Ihcr.

dry Hawkins lumber; Hill i Shortridge, a "pay- as-you-go" grocery, and W. S. McShan, dry goods. Other advertisers were Pilot Point Bank, Asa Holt, president; J. W.

Blankinship, lawyer will "criminal practice Lank-ford Wiley, physicians and surgeons; prs. Wbitlcn and -De Bow, physicians and druggists; Di G. B. Kibler. dentist; Autroy and Schatfo, blacksmith; James C.

Dy er, boot and shoemaker; S. Darwin, insurance; Fowlks Company, practical brick makers; W. A. Kendall aid land agal, and W. J.

Pearce livery, feed and sale stable, wagon yard and "bus line lo and from depot to all parts of Ihe cily." 'Tbe April 4, 188-1, copy of the paper is owned by Jim Erwin of Denton. TO SCHOOLS, CHURCHES Huglieys Gave Fortune Away Pleasant memories of a child- lieod in Denlon Count)' brought Mrs, Annie Young llughcy hack Ocnton (o make her home after icr husband died. "lie wanted me to come back 'lore (o be among old friends," said Mrs. llughcy. Her husband, M.

B. llughcy, and Mrs. Hughny gave more than a million dollars to schools in Texas and made substantial gifts to churches. But Mrs. tlujjhcy, modestly, locsn't care to discuss details of gifts.

FROM LITTLE EI.JI Mrs. llughcy. the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James T.

Young, irew up in Little Elm. She moved .0 Longvieiv after her marriage, where her husband, was a road contractor and owned considerable oil properly. A $250,000 gift to Southern Methodist University's Birdwcll Library is recognized in She "Annie Young llughcy Room." "My name is in gold Idlers there," she said. "The room is used by young preachers for study." The Ilughcys also gave $250,000 to Austin College in Sherman. Methodist and other Methodist churches here.

Mrs. Hughey bnili a little chapel at Zion Cemetery, where her early Little Klin sel- tlers, and her mother arc buried. The chapel, seating about 100 comfortably, was dedicated in October. Her father, a native of Scotland, returned lo Scotland, where he died in 1954 at the age of so. Airs, ilnghcy is active in (he Gay Nineties Club of Little Elm residents.

Denton's Vital Statistics Born: Present Age: Size at Birth: Present Size: Location: Jan. 10, 1857 too 100 Acres 8.71 Square Miles 3t.lt Degrees North Latitude. 97.8 Degrees West Longitude, in Cross Timbers of Texas. Height: Climate: 600 Feet Elevation Annual mean temperature 04; 1330 and in 1954; lowest, -3 in highest. 113 in 1013, 1930 and 1949.

Growing season, 227 days, with first killing frost average on Nov. 27. Average yearly 9 and last on rainfall, 32.62 inches. Highest annual rainfall, 4D.9 inches Population At age 100: 1920. Lowest.

in 1956 FLOWS SOUGHT GOOD HEALTH Blindness Afflicted Family Of Hospital Land Donor Tn AIDED CHURCHES addition Mrs. llughcy lias given scholarships to TSCW "for tirls not able to go to college unless they arc helped." and has contributed generously to the First Dauce Drew 60 Couples Approximately CO couples attended a 1Q3C Halloween dance at the Denlon Country Club. Ifosls were and -Mrs. W. R.

Hicks and Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn Pearson. By JOE DAVENPORT Record-Chronicle Staff Writer August 31, 1950, was the day a dream became a reality nol only for Ihe citizens of Dcntoti County but also a judge, an itinerant blacksmith who came to Texas from the gold fields of the Klondike and the blacksmith's young- csl son. The dream was Plow Memorial Hospital.

Actually, the hospital began Ink ing shape Feb. when Ho mer E. Flow called in his and announced he would turn ovc: properly to lie soiii to start a hospital. Less than -a year later, on Feb. 5, 1047, Flow died.

But in-thai one year the people of Denton County started the wheels rolling in an effort to have a city-county hospital. In Flow's original grant, he deeded his home and other properly valued at nearly $150,000 to the city and county for the pur- wse of establishing a memorial lospilal "lo serve residents of Denlon County and lo raise Ihe health Ihe county." BONDS OKAYED Eight months after Flow signed over his properly, cily and county voters voted a $300,000 bond issue lo be added lo thai which Flow had started. With 000 the building program was underway. In May 1943, R. M.

Barns cnairman of Ihe hospital's hoan ot managers, accepted a federal grant of $225,000 in Ihe name of the liospifal. In May 1347, Scripture Hill was selected as (he si(e for the proposed hospital. The properly was purchased from Grover C. Hall, who represented the Scripture heirs. As (he building progressed, (he people of Denton donated an additional $50,000 for needed hospital equipment.

Then in 1950, when the doors finally opened, Tom Eng- s.yr,..'.-., DENTONIN1883 The birds' eye view of Denlon in 1883 was drawn by Augustus Koch. The legend accompanying the rivtwing gives the following references: 1, court house; 2, jail; 3, public school; 4,5,6,7,8, Methodist Episcopal South, Baptist, Christian, Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal North churches; 9, D. S. Robinson Heat Estate office (also top center insert); 10, 11, First National and Exchange National banks; 12, opera house; 13, Clyde Hotel; 14, fire engine house; 15, Davenport Flour Mill; 16, cotton yard; 17, post office; 18, planing and grist mill and cotton gins. Loaned by City of Denton Engineering Department).

and look over the duties of ail- viinistering a new hospital with $109,000 worth of equipment and some of the most modern features of any Texas hospital. At the end of live anil a half years, plans are under way lo double bed capacity and add many new, modem features. The building program will Denton County taxpayers for $800,000 worth of improvements which will make Ihe hospital a ISO-bed unit with a scpa- raJe nursery and fea(u-es. (hat are found "only in the most up-lo- dale hospitals," Flow director Robert Keale Jr. said.

THE STORY Three persons, two of them unknowingly, played a vital part in the hospital. One was a judge, one a blacksmith and (bird was the son uf the blncksrniih Judge J. A. Carroll. James Flow and Homer Flow.

The story of this family was by Mrs. W. E. A. Ford, who knew the Flow family for many years and personally cared for Flow and his sister Gertie, 'n the last years of their lives.

Flow was blind for 20 years. James Flow, en his way to Texas from the Alaskan gold fields, stopped off in Missouri Ions enough to wed Miss Sallie Inmon. About Ihe-same time. Carroll married Miss Mattie Inmun. Both families entered Dentun "ounly with Flow-settling at Pilot Point and Carroll coming on to Denton where he set up practice and become one of Denton's richest men.

Carroll organized Denton's first bank and became one of Denton County's largest hind owners. SWAPPED LAND Carrol), deciding to leave Denlon. traded Flow 1,000 acres of land about six miles west of Denton for his home in Pilot Point. Flow hadn't been on Ihe land long when Ihe Santa Fe railroad came through. He decided to buiW a blacksmith shop near (he track and started doing work for the railroad.

Four years later he moved to Denton and opened another blacksmith shop. Judge Carroll died in 1891 and left four large sections of land near SlideH to his wife. She died in 1912 and left a section each to three brothers and her sister, Mrs. Flow. These were her only living divided among the four survivors, relatives.

During the years since he had come to Texas. Flow had had Ihree children Virgil, Gertie and Homer. died in 1321 a Ihe of All Ilirvc of the children ami Mrs. Flow found themselves in various degrees of blindness in early age. Mrs.

Flow's had been lotally blind. Mrs. Flow was blind in eye, Miss Flow was blinded in one eye at Ihe of 20. Virgil went blind when he was about 35 and Homer went blind when he was 55. If Ibrir younger days, Ihe Flows were well known in Denlon.

Virgil ran the Wright Opera House, it was what could be called a family opera house. Gertie played the piano and Homer and Virgil both played violin. Homer was also a blacksmith but had lo retire at the age of 55 when blindness overcame him. It was during ihe last days of Homer Flow's Ufa that he decided lo dedicate the Flow estalc to the city and counly,.