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| Photo
courtesy David Cole, 2010 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
One of about nine
communities of the same name in Texas
(and scores of others throughout the Southern US), the Dallas County
Shady Grove was named by early settlers after a group of oak trees.
Early history is hard to come by, but in the 1930s, Shady Grove had
a mere 20 people. They stopped counting before the 1950 census but
it had grown to 50 residents by 1947.
Recent history and turmoil:
Although it was annexed by Grand Prairie
in 1968, that didn’t stop an attempt of annexation by Irving
the following year. Residents felt as though their needs weren’t being
net by Grand Prairie and petitioned
for a rare “disannexation” in the early 1970s.
As recently as the mid 1980s, residents and city officials in both
Irving and Grand
Prairie were confused over the status (and particularly the boundaries)
of Shady Grove.
A joint committee of officials from both Grand
Prairie and Irving was established
to discuss zoning and public service issues in the Shady Grove area.
Cemetery
"Here are a few photos
of a cemetery. If you drive west on Shady Grove out of Irving,
you come to Rte 161. Just before it, there's a trailer park; just
past it, immediately on your left, there's a cemetery.
Maybe Shady Grove extended all that way, or maybe that was Grand
Prairie." - David Cole
Forum
"Shady Grove is a name of a major street in South Irving now
but there was a city: I don't think you'll find Shady Grove on any
maps... I can't find the site, but as I recall Irving
agreed to provide police and fire services that Grand
Prairie would not, so Shady Grove decided to become part of Irving."
- David Cole, October 09, 2011 |
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| Photo
courtesy David Cole, 2010 |
| Photo
courtesy David Cole, 2010 |
Woodsmen
of the World Monument
Photo courtesy David Cole, 2010 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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