PLANO
OLD DOWNTOWN PLANO
City Historical Marker
Old downtown
Plano was started in 1852 by Eli Murphy, a storekeeper, and grew along the wagon
road (Ave. K). In 1872, the H. & T. C. Railway came through bringing
incorporation (1873) and further growth. The entire downtown burned in 1881, but
the town rebuilt. The St. Louis, Ark., and Tex. Railway came through in 1887,
and a national bank was opened. In 1895 and 1897, much of downtown burned again.
By the 1890's, the town was a cotton and grain center.
In 1957, Lavon
water and Central Expressway arrived here and Plano began to change from an
agricultural community to an urban center. In `96`, Plano became a Home Rule
city.
LETTER FROM PLANO
Plano, Texas, March 16th, 1880
Editor Enquirer
If it makes you
smile to hear from Plano, just smile away; but I tell you it's not any time for
smiling now with farmers or stockmen, who have 100 head or so of cattle and most
out of feed. Another by at Mr. Clint Haggards. They say Clint has had a smile on
his face until his wife and neighbors are uneasy. Candidates are now coming
around; I would as soon see them as a book agent; but come along boys, father
Russell and I are both old enough to vote and if we don't vote for you we may
against you. Our old friend Luther Curtis give me a little dog - he lives on the
Muncey survey on Rowlett's creek, near where the Muncey family were murdered by
the Indians in 1844.1 took dinner with them a few days ago- had a splendid
dinner. Mr. Curtis was out of pies, but had splendid egg custards and apple
preserves. Mr. Curtis keeps his sweet potatoes in a cellar; let's all dig us a
cellar. My little boys are trapping for birds today. I used to trap for birds
and varmints in old Virginia when a boy. I'm fearful oats are ?. This is a hard
spell for March. I was looking for it when January was so lovely. If the fruit
crop was not too far advanced we will have fruit this year. Next Saturday they
vote for local option in Piano; both sides claim it. We are glad to see John
Johnson's card. Come right along Johnson, we believe you are the farmer's
friend; we have many other good men but can't vote for them all. Old Mr. Skiles,
near Richardson, died a few days ago; he was a good citizen, highly esteemed by
those who knew him. Temperance society organized in Piano a few nights ago;
twenty-one prominent citizens joined the first night. Chickens most all dead
with cholera. We haven't heard from Bear Creek schoolhouse for some time.
Since the above was
written I have examined my oat crop and think they are not injured; though the
corn that is in the ground is likely to stay there. Mr. Brock's son, who left
some time ago rather mysteriously, made his way back to Missouri, to his
friends. He walked to Rockwall the first day; from there to Terrell, and there
took the train and worked his way through. Mr. H. C. Overaker buys more cotton
than any man in Piano. With respect, R. H. B.
LETTER FROM PLANO
Plano, Texas, Oct. 4th, 1880
Editor Enquirer:
Feeling as I do,
that Plano is head quarters, and many want to hear from here, I give you a few
dots. Health good. As I sit here and write, the Autumn winds sigh round the
corners of the house and whistle through the tree tops, and the yellow leaves
are fast falling to the ground, all remind us that another summer is past and
the melancholy days of fall are upon us and very soon they will glide by and
make room for bold winter.
Cotton is turning
out better than was expected. Corn is so plentiful and cheap that every old
rogueish cow is going to be fed. Cornfed beef will be cheap. Somebody will be
hurt feeding this winter. There is no one believes Joe Foreman and Oscar Flack
took Abe Enloe's beef hide. Thanks to Dr. Feland for a silver mounted walking
cane. It brings me back to my boyhood days, when we first met in Collin county
and the Comanche Indians were our neighbors. Dr. Feland was the first physician
who ever practiced medicine in Collin county. Doc. I often think of your fine
home surrounded with forest trees. Judge Andrews made me a present of a hive of
bees for the benefit of the Methodist church at Piano. I will be after it soon.
Now Judge, I want it full of honey. I went to Fannin county a short time ago,
got two loads of apples and had a nice time eating pies. I was pleased to see a
communication from our much esteemed J. J. Thompson. Hope we will hear from him
[lost]
LETTER FROM PLANO
Plano, Tex Dec. 19, '81
Editor Enquirer:
The year 1881 is
most gone - soon 'twill be numbered with the things that were.
I have been absent
from home some time, therefore am not posted in regard to Plano news.
The coming Christmas
will be my 37th year spent in Collin county. I crossed Red River the 17th day of
Dec., 1845, at old Warren's, in the company with my father and mother; also,
father and mother Russell. My father died in 1876, at the age of 89; my mother,
the same year, at the age of 82; mother Russell in 1877, at the age of 72, and
father Russell in 1881, at the age of 81. Rev. Wm. Allen, of Bethel, will preach
the funeral of Joseph Russell, at the Methodist Church in Piano, Sunday, January
1st 1882.
Rev. John W. Chalk
is appointed on the Plano Circuit for the coming year, where many of his old
friends will welcome him.
We have had a very
mild, warm winter. Stock looking well; wheat and oat pasture never better.
I bought five colts
of Mr. G. W. Barnett, sired by the famous old Blackhawk, of Plano, so long owned
by Capt. Joe Foreman. I am to have them on exhibition at the next fair.
Mr. Luke Recer sold
two sorrell mules recently to Mr. J. Bowman for $300.
When I looked out
over Texas, thirty-seven years ago, at her rich rolling prairies, then one broad
open prairie, and look at it now, what a change! All fenced and mostly in
cultivation, and dotted over with some neat little cottage homes and good barns.
There is no telling what old Texas is destined to rise to yet - now linked by
railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific - then about 30 voters; now 5,000! As
the year draws near to a close it reminds me of when I first came to Texas, when
I was well nigh through my teens. How many of Steps' and Fitzhugh's company are
there in Collin county? Where is John Gray, the ranger, Bill Biles, substitute?
Sam Pritchet, the bugler, is gone with many others. I'm looking for Tom
McDonald, George and Bill Fitzhugh, Doc Franklin, Doc Felan and Aif Chanler,
Fount Vance and Jim Graves to visit me. I don't believe a better set of men ever
baked an ash cake, or roasted bear meat than the early settlers of Collin
county. Where is our friend, Geo. White? Is he eating fish at Elm Grove?
I do think Doc.
Foote and I. D. Newsom might have sent me a venison ham.
I'm fixing to run
that foot race with Adam Hedgecoxe, I. D. Newsom and Dr. Foote,
We are needing cold
weather - I mean hog killing weather.
What has become of
our correspondents at Rock Hill, Bear Creek school house and Lebanon?
Our bachelors,
Loveless, Flack and Matthews, about 55, are fixing to make a change, and what a
change it will be.
I will here say this
has been a strange season-the coldest and the hottest, the wettest and dryest.
Christmas tree at
Plano Christmas Eve. A merry time for the old and young folks.
Capt. W. N. Bush
remarked the other day that over half of the old settlers had passed away in
twenty-five years.
Plano is fast
building up with brick buildings.
Christmas gift to
the ENQUIRER. It has never faltered or turned from its straight forward old
Democratism, true to its cause. Well might we be proud of such a county paper.
R. H. B.
LETTER FROM PLANO
Plano, Tex., Feb. 20, '82.
Editor Enquirer:
Weather warm and
wet. Wheat looks fine. Too wet to sow oats; some are mudding them in. I hear it
round and round that there is three cases of small-pox at Dr. Stancel's in
Plano. The roads are worse than they have been since Jim Ned and Spotted Tail
left the range. There has been a fast cattle buyer about Plano, lately, paying
form $25 to $60 a head, for cotton seed fed as well as corn fed. Mr. Wash Ford,
of upper Lazy Neck, sold his short horn bull, weighed him at Plano; he pulled
down 1755 pounds. I have two nice half-breed bulls I want to sell. I went up on
the 11 o'clock train and down on the 3 o'clock; was in town only a short time;
long enough to meet some old friends; Mr. James Herndon; one whom I have known
from '45 all up to '82; and in the court house hall I was greeted by Judge
Goodner, Wilkins and Kerr. I am engaged in setting out an orchard in Dallas
county; have set out about 120 fruit trees, apples, peaches, plums, apricots;
total 1000.200 vines blackberry's and grapes, mostly from Messrs. Kerr and
Kirkpatrick's nursery, of Collin county. I have a high, rich sandy location.
Turnip greens and chicken pie for dinner to-day. Plenty of fish in my lake on
Elm. Good men are coming to Plano now. R. H. B.
Mendenhall Elementary Plano
Debating Society Plano
First Baptist Church
Plano First Christian Church
Plano First Methodist Church
Plano First Presbyterian Church
Plano High School
Plano Mutual Cemetery
Plano National
Bank
Plano Pioneer Cemetery
Shiloh Baptist Church
Texas Electric Railway Station
Communities Index
- Recommended
citation:
-
"Plano - Collin County Communities,"
Collin County, Texas History and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of
Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13 13:37:28 US/Central 2004 ].
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