Founding of Gaston Avenue Baptist Church (GABC): In his book, “The Gaston Story,” William R. Estep covers the first 100 years of this congregation. Estep notes that all but two of the charter members of GASB, initially called East Dallas Baptist Church, were former members of First Baptist Church of Dallas. Estep names the twenty-six…
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The company’s first location was an old two story brick structure at the intersection of Elm and Murphy streets. Murphy Street has since been eliminated. Today, that location might be near Field Street downtown. The store had its formal opening in the fall of 1907. The company suffered a devastating loss when the original store…
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Come join us for our 150th Anniversary Reception! When:10/19/20254:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location:El Fenix6811 W Northwest HwyDallas, Texas Event is ticketed! See Link below: Reservation details: 150th Anniversary of the Dallas County Pioneer Association Tickets, Sun, Oct 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/150th-anniversary-of-the-dallas-county-pioneer-association-tickets-1732671279439 Get future posts by email.
C. C. Slaughter had experienced some reverses in the family ranching operations in the early 1900s and had sold a ranch in West Texas. He turned his attention to downtown Dallas, took some of the proceeds and in 1902, Slaughter acquired the National Exchange Bank Building (construction date unknown), adjacent to his company offices which…
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From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print. John Bronaugh Hereford, Jr. was born in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, on February 6, 1841. He was the son of Dr. John Bronaugh Hereford and Catherine Mary Stirling. He spent several years in New Orleans, where he married Elizabeth Johnson Robertson, a great-grand-daughter of General James…
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Gerrit Van Ginkel was an investor who specialized in creating street car systems. He was born December 11, 1849 in the Netherlands. He came with his parents to the United States around 1855. By 1860 they had settled in Pella, Iowa. The family consisted of his father (a laborer), his mother, Gerritt and four other…
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by Dustin Durrett Julien Reverchon was born on August 3, 1837, in Diémoz, France, to Jacques Maximilien and Florine (Pete) Reverchon. He grew up alongside his brothers, Elisée and Paul-Alphonse, in a household that nurtured curiosity about the natural world. From a young age, Julien displayed a passion for botany, and together with his brother…
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By Brian Gunn Two prisoners were shot down, one fatally, and a Sheriff’s Deputy slain in a fierce shoot-out as the result of an attempted escape at the Dallas County Jail. Prisoners C.E. Gaines and Sidney “Pete” Welk attempted to overpower night guard Deputy Willis Champion, but a spectacular firefight ensued that left both prisoners…
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Dallas County Pioneer Association is easy to follow. We know not everyone uses each media outlet so we try to post on a variety of them. Here is our current lineup. Facebook – request membership and answer a couple of questions X Tumblr Instagram LinkedIn Our newest offering is LinkedIn. The others have been going…
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John Henry “Doc” Holliday was born August 14, 1851 in Griffin, Georgia to Henry Burroughs and Alice Jane McKey Holliday. He was an educated man, having first studied at Valdosta Institute in Valdosta, Georgia. He learned to shoot firearms and play cards when he was still a youth. It is generally thought that he lived…
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