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Willow Park Texas Information |
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The
history of the area where the City of Willow Park sits can be traced through
records and books back to Parker County's creation in 1856. Isaac Parker of
Tarrant County and Jefferson Weatherford of Dallas County enacted legislation to
form the 576,000 acres into a county because an increasing number of settlers
had begun to farm the fertile soils of the Clear Fork Branch of the Trinity
River and ranch the rolling plains. The Butterfield Stage line ran through the
area, and local ranchers could easily herd their stock northeastward to the
nearby Chisholm Trail. Weatherford was the terminal for several stage coach
lines during the 1870's and one was held up by the notorious Sam Bass gang en
route to Ft.Worth at a spot near Mary's Creek.
The area was ripe for settlements in the late 1850?s and 1860?s even though the
western part of the county was still suffering an occasional Comanche or Kiowa
raid. The area west from Weatherford was not proclaimed ?free from hostile
Indians? by the Governor until 1877. Evidence of such brutality lies in our own
Willow Springs Cemetery located on the north service road at Exit 415 of I-20.
The oldest tombstone in the cemetery tells the fatal outcome of Martha Sherman,
wife of Ezra Sherman, killed by the Comanche Indians in 1860 near the Palo Pinto
and Parker county line, and ?buried here because there was a church nearby.?
The church being referred to was Elm Grove (also called Ellum, Alum Grove) and
was begun by Simeon Wright, Rev. B. A. Kemp, and Rev. J. W. Chalk in May, 1854.
It was later named Willow Springs after the springs themselves which were
located on property east of the cemetery. Unfortunately the springs were
extremely disturbed by the construction of Interstate 20. The Willow Springs
school was located south of the cemetery a couple of miles away.
As the area grew, new roads were developed to facilitate settlers and by the
turn of the century the county was becoming substantially populated. Memories of
settlers in our area are conjured up when we see their names on tombstones in
Willow Springs Cemetery or in the legal descriptions of deed records. Names such
as Yeary, Mirike, Froman, Teater, Blackwell, Tinsley, Fox, Robertson, Carr,
McCarver, Headley, and Williams, among others, hold places of honor in our
history.
By 1925 the area which is now Willow Park was sparsely populated with farms and
ranches and a pastoral scene for travelers going east or west on the newly
completed Bankhead Highway. The remnants of that highway are, generally
speaking, the southern boundary of much of today's City of Willow Park. With the
improvement of, increasing need for, and popularity of automobile, truck, and
bus travel, Bankhead Highway was eventually out-dated and was replaced by the
new double-lane U.S. Highway 80 which was constructed a bit farther to the
north. It was completed by 1940 and soon after, a lovely roadside park --
complete with native Willow trees and a pond to overlook -- was constructed for
weary travelers and Sunday picnickers. It was not until 1968 that Interstate 20
blasted its way through the established town of Willow Park, Texas, and
obliterated the picturesque roadside park. The town, however, retains its memory
through the name, Willow Park, and the pond is still visible north of the
interstate highway.
The City was incorporated in 1963 by petition of 32 resident voters. Many new
people had moved to the area, first known as El Chico Ranch Estates, shortly
after the completion of the Weatherford Reservoir in 1956-57. The $2,000,000
project had added further allure to a beautiful area, tantalizingly close both
to the larger city of Ft. Worth and the county seat with its historic square,
Weatherford. For many of the employees of Convair (General Dynamics,
Lockheed-Martin) and military officers of the adjoining air force base, the area
was perfect for raising children in a country atmosphere. Both the Aledo
Independent School District and Weatherford Independent School District were
(and still are) academically attractive as well, so a good education was easily
accessible.
El Chico Ranch Estates, north and south of U.S. Highway 80, was the first area
to be developed before the city?s incorporation. The previous ranch owners (O.P.
Leonard, Sr., sons Bob and Paul, Jr., and sons-in-law James Anthony and Leland
Hodges, DBA - Republic Land Company) sold the property to developers Curby and
Vera Haynes Mirike, who developed the area keeping an eye toward separating
commercial from residential areas. As well, a new subdivision -- Hillcrest-- was
developed in 1965, near the privately owned Parker County airport. By the time
the town commission was granted in October 1963, at least 200-300 residents had
laid down roots and formed this fledgling community. By election, the City of
Willow Park had reached its goal of 'cityhood' with 45 total votes cast (29 for,
12 against, and 4 void). The first mayor was J.D. St. Clair and the two elected
commissioners were W. E. ?Tony? Self and T.W. Grubbs. Monthly meetings were held
at the ?Clubhouse? at 201 Ranch House Rd. (The clubhouse has a history of its
own since its erection in the mid-1930?s, but it is now a private residence.)
City leaders met in this location until land was given by the Leonard family in
February 1971 for a combined City Hall and Fire Department Building which still
stands on the corner of Stagecoach Road and Ranch House Road. The first meeting
in the new ?Municipal Building? was held on 15 November 1971.
Although Mayor St. Clair served the City for six or so months, he soon resigned
for health reasons and was followed by Mayor G. Wayne Stevens who served for the
next five years. During his tenure, Mayor Stevens and Commissioners Self and J.
C. Gilliland led the City through the delicate steps necessary to become a
well-organized and carefully planned community. Other pioneers of this time
period were as follows:
Town Marshall: Claude F. Mason (appointed 1964)
Town Secretary: Mary Ann Boubel (1963-1966), H. G. Knutson (1966-1968), Edna
Grace (1968-1970)
Town Inspector and Engineer: Ralph E. Darling (appointed 1965)
Planning and Zoning Commission: (appointed 1969) Alvist (Al) V. Rice, Bob
Phillips, Gene Ward, J. C. Gilliland, and Michael G. Lee
By 1970, the Federal Census reported 230 people living in the City . The
Republic Land Company soon began developing the area overlooking Weatherford
Lake known as Laguna Vista and other realtors descended on the fertile land --
fertile for residential sales and no longer for agricultural use. Mayor Ralph
Darling was appointed to finish out G. W. Stevens? term after he resigned due to
time conflicts with his job. By April 1970, Z.C. Baker had been elected to serve
on the council with Tony Self, who by then had served since the City?s
incorporation.
Willow Park grew greatly during the 1970?s. Businesses cropped up and Squaw
Creek Golf Course was completed giving General Dynamics employees and area
residents a beautiful new coarse close to Ft. Worth. William M. Grace was
appointed the first Fire Marshall, and Ronald J. Muncy served as Fire Chief. The
first fire truck was a 1953 Ford -- one water tank on its back -- named ?Old
Whitey?. The Ladies Auxiliary members raised money for the department through
dinners and chili suppers, and often fought fires themselves while the men were
at their own jobs during the day. Squaw Creek Estates was developed as another
picturesque subdivision overlooking General Dynamics golf course and reservoir
and lots sold rapidly. Buena Vista Estates subdivision was established near
Laguna Vista Estates in 1976. The Willow Park Church of Christ was founded in
May of 1975 when O. P. Leonard donated a corner lot on Ranch House Rd. near the
Municipal Building. By September of 1979, a small group of Baptists formed the
First Baptist Church which later built on land adjacent to the Church of Christ.
By late 1979, Trinity Bible Church came into being and later in the early 1980?s
bought property on Interstate 20 and built their church. Soon after, they added
their school which now encompasses grades K-12.
By 1980, the census reported 1,113 residents within the City limits and needs
for water and services increased. Jesse and Joy Lee, Roy and Jan Lynch, Bill
Bowden and others were having a field day developing land, selling lots, and
building houses. Willow Wood Subdivision was developed and Don Dickerson sold
his water company to the City of Willow Park. During the same decade Willow Park
residents voted to buy Tarrant Utility Co. from the Leonard family and the town
became more independent from outside pressure. The churches begun in the 70?s
continued to grow and others were established. The Living Way Ministries, and
Saint Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church were established and gave even more
opportunity for fellowship and worship in the community. The latter added a
small parochial school which serves the early grades. Small businesses came into
the area including a state-wide grocery chain; medical and pharmaceutical
services, television cable services; filling stations and convenience stores;
laundry services; a restaurant; and two banks. The Ladies Fire Auxiliary
continued to raise money for the ever-growing volunteer fire department.
Following the addition of five new sub-divisions in the mid-80?s (Willow Crest
and Northchase on Ranch House Rd.; Willow Springs and Willow Springs Oaks on FM
1187 south of I-20 and the Willow Springs Cemetery; and Pruitt-Cobb Subdivision
on Crown Rd.) the Willow Park Women's Club and the Willow Park Chamber of
Commerce were created and gave added opportunity for community involvement. The
Extension Homemakers Organization, begun in the 70?s added new members, and a
local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi cropped up for a while. Rattlesnake Round-Ups in
the canyons of the community became activities of the past, and as the
population of the City more than doubled, a need for an official police
department became evident. The first Police Chief was David Carrothers, and a
small department of reserve officers soon gave the inhabitants round-the-clock
protection. Several lawsuits necessitated a City Attorney and the first, Henry
Kerry of Ft. Worth, was retained in 1983.
The 1990 Federal Census reported 2328 inhabitants of the City and was
proof-positive of the more-than-double growth of the 1980?s. The police force
and fire departments began beefing up for the opening of the new Trinity Meadows
Racetrack and emergency services were a new focus for those departments.
Although the race track flourished only for a short period during the 1990?s,
its creation spurred the citizens into action and a Municipal Court was
established with community member Glen Wilson serving as the first Municipal
Judge. Four new subdivisions were created; Trinity Estates, Oak Manor,
Ridgecrest Estates, and Ridge Haven Estates made obvious impacts on the growth
of the City, now covering over five square miles. Big-name corporations such as,
Texaco, Exxon, Fina, Ramada Inn, Subway, Chicken Express, Popeye's, and
McDonald's began to appear and replace earlier businesses like Ralph's, Bino's,
Thrift Mart, and Fast ?N Fair. Two new churches set down roots, Willow Park
Baptist Church, and Cornerstone Assembly of God, both on Ranch House Rd.
At last the little country town had been discovered and national real estate
organizations such as Century 21, Coldwell-Banker, and Remax came to stake their
claims. The video stores competed and nationally known Winn-Dixie came to feed
the growing community and compete with the original grocery store which had by
then been purchased by a Texas chain, Brookshire Brothers. Several dentists, an
optometrist, and Campbell Health System reinforced the medical community and
home-owned small businesses continued to thrive. With this commercial growth, it
became obvious to far-sighted city leaders that a waste-water treatment plant
was a necessity and the sewer system for the commercial corridor was put into
place in the early 1990's.
At the turn of the century, the 2000 Federal Census for the Willow Park
incorporated area was 2,849, but the figure is distorted by the fact that nearby
towns and unincorporated areas adjacent to the City are blowing the lid off
feasibility and traffic studies being undertaken by private corporate entities
and various state and federal departments. Although the biggest problems being
encountered by Willow Park residents still remain (water and sewer provisions,
and road conditions), the new millennium is being met by groups and individuals
determined to rectify the situations expeditiously and correctly. Growth west of
the Ft. Worth metroplex area is a given and the release of the massive Walsh
Ranch lands which have served as a buffer from that growth in the past, will now
insure that fate. Currently planned for the immediate future is a new golf
course surrounded by estate homes as well as garden homes for empty-nesters and
retirees. As well, Crown Development Corp. has laid the groundwork for a large
commercial development on I-20 adjacent to the Clear Fork of the Trinity River
where not so long ago, pioneer neighbors hailed each other on their way to the
original Willow Springs Church. In two more years, Willow Park will celebrate
its fiftieth anniversary and with continued careful planning will be able to
weather the certain growth being thrust its way for the next fifty years. |
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