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Guest
of Honor
Photo courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006 |
History in a Pecan Shell
It may have first been known as Iola, Texas (but it's Wills
Point that's on all the maps). The name Wills Point is said to be
after William Wills, the local tax assessor who had settled here in
the 1840s. The "point" was the tree line that ended abruptly where
the prairie began.
Wills built a double log cabin
and expanded his land holdings. In the mid 1850s Wills took advantage
of his location on the Dallas-Shreveport Road and provided lodging
for travelers. Prior to the arrival of the railroad, the town had
stagecoach service. The Wills Point post office was opened in 1870
and the town was platted in the early 1870s with the arrival of the
Texas & Pacific Railroad.
The town's prosperity reached the point where an election was held
(May of 1877) to move the county seat from Canton
to Wills Point. The vote was 705 for - and 523 against. To win, Wills
Point needed a two-thirds majority and they fell short. Not willing
to accept the loss, fraud was declared and violence ensued. The state
militia was called in to quell the discontent and prevent bloodshed.
The White Rose Cemetery was donated by William Wills and by 1896 the
town was still prospering - it just wasn't the county seat. The town
had an opera house, hotels, cotton gins, schools and a newspaper.
From a population of 1,000 in the early 1890s, it more than doubled
to 2,500 just before the Great Depression. At the beginning of WWII,
Wills Point had just under 2,000 people which has slowly increased
to the current estimate of 3,599 (2017).
Wills Point is now known as the Bluebird
Capital of Texas. |
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Cotton market
in Fourth Street - Wills Point, TX
Postmarked Dec 9, 1910
Click on image to enlarge |
Wills Point,
Texas Landmarks/Attractions
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Bluebird in Wills
Point
Photo
courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006
See Texas
Birds |
Wills Point
as Bluebird Capital of Texas
by Ken
Rudine
Bentsen
Rio Grande State Park's colorful Green Jay has real competition
565 miles NNE near the south shores of Lake Tawakoni. That bird is
the Bluebird which has a sky blue head and back and the breast color
of a Robin.
The presence of the many Bluebirds visiting Van
Zandt County to nest had been noted for years. In April 1993 Wills
Point hosted the first Bluebird Festival as a general spring celebration
in their area of Texas. After the annual Audubon bird count revealed
that Wills Point was host to more bluebirds than any other area in
Texas for 11 consecutive years, (then) Governor George W. Bush designated
Wills Point the "Bluebird Capital of Texas". Our State Legislature
followed by declaring Wills Point the Bluebird Capital of Texas on
February 7, 1995.
Now the local farmers and ranchers place Bluebird boxes on area fence
posts. If necessary the local Wilderness Society maintains these Bluebird
houses throughout the area. The Wills Point Bluebird Festival also
includes an Antique Car & Tractor Show, and the Van Zandt County Bake-Off
featuring cookies, cakes, pies, and candies. Also a quilt Show and
singing contests are held during the celebration.
The white marker or structure on Commerce Street is the Rose Monument.
B. W. Rose's real estate ventures in Dallas
had been profitable. A former Wills Point resident and dry goods store
owner; he gave this to show his civic appreciation.
The old train depot has been renovated to serve as the town's Historical
Museum.
© Ken
Rudine |
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Finis
C. Wills Cabin
"A replica of the pioner cabin of Finis C. Wills in whose honor the
town of Wills Point was named, was built near the site of the original
by the Wednesday Book Club of Wills Point at a cost of approximately
$500, of which $200 was allocated by the Commission of Control. The
cabin is used as a meeting place by the book club and by various other
organizations of the town."
- Image & transcript courtesy Sarah
Reveley |
Depot Museum
The Texas and Pacific Depot
210 W. South Commerce St.
near US 80 and 5th Street.
903-873-8626
More Texas Depots
| Texas Museums |
View down 4th
Street in Wills Point, showing the historic two story Rose Dry Goods
Store. German Bros. B.W. and Isaac ("Ike") Rose came to nearby Cedar
Grove in 1873, and almost immediately moved to Wills Point. They opened
Rose Dry Goods that same year (1873).
Photo courtesy Texana
Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017 |
Commerce and
4th Steet.
The historic Rose Fountain was built 101 years ago, by Mr. Ike Rose,
to both beautify the town and to quench the thirst of horses bringing
folks to town.
Photo
courtesy Texana
Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017 |
A bright red
storefront, closed, with skeletons playing guitar and trumpet in the
window. Very strange.
Photo
courtesy Texana
Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017 |
2007
Photograher's Visit to Wills Point
Mike
Price
October 2007 |
The Majestic
Theatre "operating since 1923(?)"
Red brick street downtown
Photo
courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007
More Texas Theatres |
Rose Dry Goods
Co.
Photo
courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Rose Fountain
& red brick street
Photo
courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
1914 Jamieson's
Building
Photo
courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
2006 Visit
to Wills Point
Melanie Eastep, April 2006 |
Rose Dry Goods
and Rose Monument on Commerce Street
Photo courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006 |
Wills Point downtown
Photo courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006 |
Pharmacy
A Hopper-esque view of downtown.
Photo courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006 |
Bluebird
On the sign - not on the menu.
Photo courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006 |
Bluebird Capital
of Texas
A year-round reminder on the water tower.
Photo
courtesy Melanie Eastep, April 2006
More Texas Water
Towers |
Wills
Point Nearby Destinations:
Lake Tawakoni State Park
From Wills Point, take FM 47 North to FM 2475
903-560-7123
Hike and bike trails. Boating, camping. Picnic areas.
Habitate for over 250 bird species. |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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