Plano, Texas: The Balloon Capital of Texas

In my quest to travel around see the cities in Texas, it occurred to me that I shouldn't ignore the cities that are in my own backyard, like Plano.

Plano is a suburb of Dallas to the north. It has a wealth of corporate headquarters like Toyota, Frito-Lay and JC Penney, to name a few. Every September, it hosts hot air balloon races, which is why it's called the Balloon Capital of Texas. But it wasn't always like this.

Plano was part of the Peters Colony, which was the name of an empresario land grant made in 1841 by the Republic of Texas to William Peters. It was his job to bring settlers to the area.

The first settlers to Plano were McBain Jameson and Jeremiah Muncey back in 1844. Unfortunately, that didn't go very well. They were killed during an Indian raid.

In 1851, William Forman moved here from Kentucky after having scouted the place out a few years before. He opened a general store and ran a post office out of his house. In 1852, a real post office was established and the town was named. The initial suggestions were Forman (after the guy that ran the General Store) and Fillmore (after the President). Both were rejected for Plano. William Forman became the first postmaster.

Plano was a farming town. The land grants were huge! 320 acres to a single man and twice that if he was married. Charles Shepard Haggard, another pioneer was just such a farmer. At one time he owned all the land along Park Blvd between Central Expressway and the Dallas North Tollway.

The Haggard Farm on Park Blvd at Custer Rd in Plano.

The family raised sheep and donkeys and also grew cotton. In 1872, the Houston and Texas Central Railway came through town and opened the market for their crops. In 1888, the St. Louis, Arkansas, and Texas Railway came through and made Plano a nerve center of commerce. The city was located in between McKinney and Dallas. 

In 1908, the interurban railway came to Plano. It was a passenger train that ran from Denison to Dallas and Waco. The train ran from 1908 to 1948. As cars became more common, ridership on the train went down. The depot is now the Interurban Railway Museum. It's free and well worth a visit. It's right next to the Plano Dart station.

This is Texas Electric Railway Car 360, manufactured in 1911 by the American Car Company of St. Louis. Originally  it was numbered car 11. The car measures 56 feet 10 inches long by 9 feet wide by 12 feet 9 inches high. Car 11 weighed 85,180 pounds, accommodated 62 passengers and was outfitted with 4GE73 Motors and 27MCB3X Brill trucks. In 1913, car 11 was renumbered to 360. In 1932, the car was modified to a rail postal office under specifications provided by the United States Post Office and is the last remaining example of a Texas Electric RPO. This car remined in service until the system ceased operation on December 31, 1948. I was told that this car was sitting on a farm being used for hay storage before it was donated to the museum and fully restored. This is one of the things you can see at the museum.

The W. R. George Building was built in 1896. William Ross George came to Plano from Kentucky in the late 1800's. This building housed his saddle and harness shop. In 2009, it was completely restored and now houses The Urban Crust and has a marvelous rooftop bar.

This building used to house the Mathews Department store. In 1906, Sidney Mathews opened this store and sold "most everything" from furniture to hardware to millinery. His wife and daughters used to make hats that were available for sale at this store. Now it's an event venue. 

Right next to that is the Louise Bagwell Sherrill Building which was originally the Farmers & Merchants Bank Building. Louise Bagwell Sherrill used to own the Plano Star Courier so I can only assume that at one point it housed the paper.

Back in 1885, the WD McFarlin building housed a grocery store. Later, it housed a Pharmacy owned by E.A Carpenter who was the son of RW Carpenter (for whom a school has been named). Edward was a pharmacist and, in 1895, bought the Schoolfield Pharmacy which was also located in this building. In 1908, he sold his business to the Allen Brothers.

This building was erected in 1895 after a fire destroyed the original building. It was shared space for the Plano First National Bank and the International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. It was restored with this facade in 1936 and then updated again in 1958. When the Schell family bought the building they restored it back to the 1930's art deco facade. I read that the old bank vault is now a conference room. How cool to take all your calls there!

The Plano Lodge No 768 was built in 1898 and then restored in 1925. The Mason's still use this lodge today.

This is the First Christian Church of Plano, established in the mid-1850's by the daughter of William Forman (remember him?). The first church was a small building on the Barnett farm that was also used as a school. As the congregation grew so did the need for larger sanctuaries.  

In 1889, Henry and JM Carlisle opened the Plano Grocery Company at this location. It grew to be the largest grocery store in Collin County. They carried grain, hay, cotton seed, stapes and groceries. Sadly, the store closed in the 1930's, a victim of the Great Depression. Now this building is a mixed use multi-family/retail building.

This is the Aldridge House built in 1918 for CC and Elizabeth Aldridge. The marker states that the original house on this lot (built in 1890) was either demolished or completely rebuilt. CC Aldridge had a seed farm and believed in extending credit to farmers. He was a civic leader in his time as well. The house is privately owned. I always think I'd like to live in a historic house but then people like me would come by taking photos.

This is the Saigling House which currently holds the Art Center of Plano. It was built in 1918 by Celestine Saigling. In 1895, her husband Charles opened the Plano Milling Company. They milled flour, oats, bran and cornmeal to name a few things.

On this site in 1882 the Plano Institute was built. This would be before there was any school system in Plano. In 1891, the city took over. This building was built in 1924. After the school closed, the district took over the building to use as an administrative building.

In 1935, right next door to the school, the WPA built this gymnasium. Now it's an auditorium and its right across the street from Haggard Park.

So much history right up the street! Who knew? Now you do. Check it out!

Farmers Branch, Texas: The City in a Park

Farmers Branch is a suburb of Dallas that isn't very far from my house. It's a very low-key city. You don't hear about them in the news. It's like you wouldn't even know it's there unless you drove through on your way to some place else. But, that wasn't always the case.

Farmers Branch was part of the "Peters Colony", which was a section of land granted by the Republic of Texas to "Empresarios" who were then charged with settling the land. The first settlers, Thomas Keenan, Isaac Webb and William Cochran, came in 1842. But the Texian Land and Emigration Company advertised this community as far away as Europe.

The community was originally called Mustang Branch for the mustang grapes that grew along the creek but William Cochran eventually changed the name to Farmers Branch after all the rich farmland.

Another of the original settlers was Dr. Samuel Gilbert. Dr. Gilbert came to Texas about 1850. He settled first in Cass county and in 1852 married Julia Ann Ritchie (d.1881). Gilbert purchased 275 acres of land at this site about 1855 and by 1857 had this native limestone house constructed. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Gilbert operated a farm here, growing vegetable crops and raising livestock. A respected community leader, he helped outfit a local militia unit during the civil war and in later years held a number of local public offices. The house remained in the Gilbert family until 1937. 

In 1874 Dr. Gilbert was instrumental in bringing rail service to the Farmers Branch community when he sold part of his property to the Dallas & Wichita Railroad for a right-of-way through the area. Around 1877, the D&W built this depot in Farmers Branch located near the intersection of Valley View Lane and Denton Drive where the first railroad line reached the Farmers Branch and Carrollton area.  In 1881, Jay Gould and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad purchased the rail line, which runs from Dallas to Denton. The Interurban Railway electrified the line in 1924 and until 1931 ran as many as 50 scheduled trains per day.

I mentioned Isaac Webb as one of the original settlers. Webb's Chapel was a Methodist church established in 1845. Isaac was also the first postmaster for Farmers Branch. His daughter, Nancy, married Warren Taliaferro, a civil war veteran from Missouri, and they had a general store. W. Taliaferro and Sons opened its doors in 1901 and was located at the corner of Bee and Valley View Lane. The store was open until Taliaferro's death in 1929.

There was another General Store called Corbit's that was located at the corner of Valley View Lane and Elder Streets. They sold mostly groceries and even had a "meat cooler" where they stored meat that had been freshly butchered.

Valley View Lane was the "Main Street" of Farmers Branch.

In the 1930s, the gas station became an integral part of the landscape and our lives. By 1933, there were over 24 million registered automobiles in the United States, and stations became more complicated and sophisticated in design. A Texaco Gas Station was the first such business in the Farmers Branch area in the 1930s. Arthur Raymond "Ray" and Ina Millaway owned a Texaco Gas Station and a café right next door to each other in downtown Farmers Branch. Ina ran the café for over ten years. Ray was also one of the City's first councilmen. Descendants of this family are still in Farmers Branch.

Bill Dodson and his wife moved to Farmers Branch in the 1930's and commissioned contractor Ross Faulkner to design this house to Maude's specifications. It was completed in 1937. In January 1946, Bill learned the city of Dallas, with city limits then 12 miles distant, planned to annex the Farmers Branch community. He and his neighbors circulated a petition for a local incorporation election. Citizens voted approval, an in April, they elected Dodson the first mayor. 

These days, the original settlers would probably not recognize the place. 

Several companies, such as OxyChem, Celanese Corporation and Eyemart Express, have made Farmers Branch their home. The biggest employers of the city are, surprisingly, the IRS, a company called Feizy and another company called Anserteam, LLC. Coca Cola Enterprises has a presence here as well.

Farmers Branch is called the "City in a Park" because there are over 30 parks and gardens in the city. People come from all over to take advantage of the parks and walking trails. This is the Rose Garden of Farmers Branch.

If you're interested in the history of Farmers Branch, go to the Farmers Branch Historical Park at 2450 Farmers Branch Lane. It's a cool park that has all the historical buildings shown in the photos. Their website has tons of information. The park itself is free but I think if you want to go into the buildings as part of a tour, you have to pay. Check the website.

San Antonio, Texas: The Alamo City

San Antonio has to be one of the most visited cities in Texas. It's the go-to vacation spot when you don't have a lot of money but you want to get out of town. There's tons to do, lots of hotel options at various price points. It's great!

Well, we went and it did not disappoint. 

San Antonio was founded in 1718 as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost. By 1731, it was the first organized civil settlement in what is current day Texas. Up until 1821, it was part of the Spanish empire. Between 1821 and 1836, it was part of the Mexican empire. From 1836 to 1845 it was part of the Republic of Texas. Then, in 1845, Texas became part of the United States.

In San Antonio, you can still find the Spanish Governor's Palace. It started as a one room structure to house the captain of the presidio. 

It was in this room in 1749 that the captain would live and do his work. Over time, additional rooms were added by subsequent captains. It then became the home of the Spanish Governor. In 1930, the structure was purchased by the city and a reconstruction was done, addition additional rooms, to portray how upper class Spanish families would have lived.

Over the entrance to the Palace is the coat of arms of King Ferdinand VI of Spain. The Plaza de Armas in front of the Spanish Governor's Palace would have been the parade ground for the soldiers stationed there.  It was initially enclosed on three sides by thick adobe. During the Mexican rebellion in 1813, captured rebels were jailed in the palace and then executed on the Plaza. During the years of the republic, the military aspect of the plaza waned and it became more of a commercial market. A stone courthouse called the "Bat Cave" was built there in 1850's but was eventually demolished in 1889.

San Antonio City Hall (built in 1892, now sits on those grounds.

San Fernando Cathedral was founded in 1731 by a group of 16 families that came from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Philip of Spain. The church itself was built by the soldiers of the presidio between 1738 and 1750. The walls of that building form the sanctuary thus making this the oldest Cathedral in the state of Texas.

In the entrance on the far left is this sarcophagus that contains the ashes of the heroes of the Alamo.

The inside of the church. Off to the left (the man's head is blocking the view) is a baptismal font that was a gift in 1759 from King Charles III of Spain. The church was named for Ferdinand III of Castile. James Bowie was married in this church and it was here that Santa Anna raised the flag of "no quarter" that began the siege of the Alamo.

Speaking of, this is the Mission San Antonio de Valero which was built in 1758. It was originally a Catholic mission. The priests built the mission near the San Antonio river for a water source. In 1793, the mission was secularized and abandoned. By 1803, soldiers were housed here and by 1835, the small Texian Army was within the fort. 

General Sam Houston ordered that the fort be abandoned but William Barrett Travis refused, crying "Victory or Death".  

Inside the Alamo. The siege lasted 13 days before the Mexican Army under Santa Anna led them into a false sense of security only to surprise them on March 6th. The Texians were overwhelmed and there were no survivors, aside from women and children that were hiding in the chapel.

This is inside the sacristy.  In 2020, the white wash in this room started peeling and they were able to see what the room originally looked like in 1772 while still a mission. 

The Long Barrack on the south side of the fortress.

The infirmary. I read that Jim Bowie was in his cot sick when the attack came. I wonder if he was in here. I also read he'd been shot in the head several times. Sheesh!

Looking down the hall from the infirmary. Through the door in the center are several other rooms. Inside they have people dressed of the times that give you an idea of what it was like.

The Alamo well. This well was dug in the 1700's and provided water for the people of the mission. It also provided water for the defenders of the Alamo in 1836.

Part of the courtyard of the Alamo. It's changed a bit. The city is building an actual museum. That building on the right is now the gift shop.

This is Casa Navarro, the residence of Jose Antonio Navarro. He was one of two native Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. His complex has several buildings. 

This one was the main living area.  The second room connected to the back of the house (see photo below).

The back of the house and courtyard. The house was built of adobe brick between 1832 and 1835.

The well on the property from which water was pumped from underground.. The white structure in front of the house and behind the well is the cistern where rain water was collected.

A second building on the property is the kitchen. It was separate from the main living area. Just outside the door of the kitchen is a garden. The kitchen was two rooms. One for cooking and one for eating.

This last building was a mercantile building. They had a grocery store.

This photo was taken in 1930 in front of the mercantile building. The man standing in front of La Blanca Grocery is Jose Antonio Navarro's grandson.

Almost next to the Alamo is The Menger Hotel built in 1859 by William & Mary Menger. They started with a boarding house and a brewery. The boarding house became so popular, they built a two story hotel.

The lobby of the original building. In 1881, the hotel was sold to J. Kaupmann. He is credited with adding electricity and the additional third story.

This photo of the same lobby was taken in 1920. It looks exactly the same today. It's very elegant. The entrance to this lobby has been closed due to the construction of the new museum for the Alamo but you can still get there.

The courtyard garden at night. I didn't even know this was here. I took a wrong turn and found this by accident. It's quite beautiful and peaceful.

In 1887, a bar was added. The story is that Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders (for the Spanish American War) from this location. His ghost is supposed to haunt the bar but we didn't see anything.

In 1943, the hotel was sold to William L. Moody Jr (of Galveston fame). He expanded the hotel to encompass the whole city block. This is the hallway to our room on the expanded side of the hotel.

In addition to adding air conditioning and elevators, Moody, in 1953, also added a pool. This is the view of that pool at night from our balcony. The hotel is very beautiful and quite comfortable.

In 1896, this Bexar County Courthouse was erected. It was the 5th courthouse for Bexar county.  What's cool about this courthouse is that inside they have a little museum called Bexar County Heritage Center. It's free and they have all kinds of historical artifacts, information, etc about Bexar County. The fountain in front of the courthouse is the Lady Justice Fountain.

This scene is the Founders Monument marking the 300th anniversary of the founding of Bexar county.

This is the O. Henry House which was built by a German settler named John Kish in 1855. William Sydney Porter aka O. Henry, lived here from 1883-1885 paying $6 a month for rent. He moved here from Austin after being accused of embezzling from the bank that he worked at.

St. Mary's Catholic Church. The parish was started in 1852 to serve the non-Hispanic/European settlers in San Antonio. In 1857, the building was completed and opened for worship for both English and German speaking parishioners. In 1921, the San Antonio flood irreparably damaged the building. The current structure was rededicated in 1924.

The Kallison Block. In 1899, Nathan Kallison opened a leather shop selling harnesses, halters and horse collars. After 1904, Nathan changed to more of a department store but for agricultural items. With the increase of his business, he bought other properties on the block, making this the Kallison Block. In 1967, the family business was closed and the building was sold.

In the early part of the 20th century there were four theaters in San Antonio: The Texas Theater, The Aztec Theater, The Empire Theater and the Majestic Theater. The Texas theater was built in 1926 and had three balconies (one for segregated seating). The theater closed in 1979. After a fight to save the landmark, the building was demolished in 1983 and all that was saved was the facade (including the box office), which was incorporated into the new building.

The box office of the Majestic Theater. It's the oldest and largest atomospheric theater. It opened in June 1929 was was the first theater to be fully air-conditioned. It was the home of the San Antonio Symphony from 1989 - 2014. Now it hosts live shows.

The Aztec Theater opened in June of 1926. It's a six story building designed by the same firm that built Graumann's Chinese Theater in LA. By 1970's the popularity was waning and it closed in 1989. It was saved from destruction by the Historical Society and is now a live music venue.

Turn Verein erected in 1891 as a gymnasium & social center for the early German settlers and their descendants. The first floor was occupied by a cafe, cloak room, reading room, billiard room and an assembly room. The second floor housed a ballroom. In 1873, the San Antonio Turn Verein hosted the first "turnfest" or gymnastic competition. The organization was started in Germany by Ludwig Jahn who hoped to increase the physical and mental strength of his people to enable them to defeat Napoleon. The building was restored in 1972 by the US Post Office but it appears abandoned today.

The US Post Office is across from the Alamo and was built in 1937 by the WPA. It's now a federal court building and in 2004 it was renamed for Hipolito Garcia, a federal judge.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church was built in 1868 by German Catholics when they were refused the the use of the Alamo Chapel. The building was completed in 1871 and the steeple was added in 1891. It sits next to what used to be Joske's department store. The parishioners had sold several of the other parish buildings to the Joske brothers but refused to sell the church. By 1945, the German population stopped using this church and it now serves a Hispanic base.

Arneson River Theater on the Riverwalk in La Villita. It was erected in 1940 through the WPA and was designed by the "Father of the Riverwalk", Robert Hugman.

The Robert Hugman Architectural Building. Robert Hugman, the "Father of the Riverwalk" was an architect that designed the Riverwalk. After the 1921 flood, the city wanted to convert the San Antonio River to a sewer system. The Conservation society stepped in and in 1929, Robert Hugman proposed the Shops of Aragon & Romula, which was a beautification and flood control plan. The design was accepted in 1938 and was built by the WPA.

In 1854 the German settlers organized an exclusive Casino Club as a social club. In 1881 The San Antonio Club was organized for literary purposes. By 1925, both clubs had merged. This building was completed in 1927 as the San Antonio Casino Club. It became a downtown San Antonio landmark. It had club rooms, dining rooms, dormitories and a ballroom. In 1942, it was known as the Gilcrease Building when it was purchased by oilman Thomas Gilcrease. The building was vacant from 1950 - 1970 when it was converted into an apartment building with a restaurant in the basement. Now it is a private residence.

The Hilton Palacio Del Rio has the distinction of being in the Guinness World Book of Records as the fastest built hotel. It was completed in a record 202 working days. The first four floors were completed sing normal construction methods but the rooms were assembled elsewhere and then placed onto the building. It opened five days early in time for the 1968 World's Fair that was held in San Antonio. It has 21 stories and 485 rooms.

The Tower Life Building was completed in 1929. At 404 feet tall, it was the tallest building in San Antonio until 1968, when the Tower of the Americas surpassed it. The building is being converted into apartments and should be ready for leasing in 2026.

All this history and that's just scratching the surface! I know there are tons more stories out there about this amazing city. I hope to go back and find them out!