Titus County, Texas History

After the original Dellwood closed as a tourist attraction, the land was divided among the investors. William Henry Florey received the end of the property closest to his South Lide Street residence. This part of the original Dellwood land ran from the south side of what we now know as Dellwood Park all the way up to and around his house.

William used the land to pasture his cattle, and grass, brush, and trees were allowed to grow naturally and were not manicured like they had been when the land was a tourist park. He could drive his cattle from the back side of the pasture all the way to his house, just as if the location was far out in the county.

In 1930 and 1931, the portion of Highway 49 that runs from the intersection of Choctaw Street east of Mt. Pleasant to its present intersection with South Jefferson was constructed as a part of the Highway Department's efforts to eliminate railroad grade crossings on highways. This both straightened the Daingerfield highway and routed traffic to and from Daingerfield through the new railroad underpass on South Jefferson to eliminate the danger of traffic having to cross the steep Arkansas Street grade crossing.

The Park Board financial statement showed that $7,200 had been collected by September 7, 1949. Of that amount, $4,000 was paid toward purchase of the property and about $800 was been spent for improvements. The park had approximately $3,000 on deposit against a $4,500 debt for the balance of the land purchase price. The Park Board hoped to pay off the property in 1949 and start the new year debt-free so they could concentrate on permanent improvements like softball and tennis courts, a swimming pool, children's playground areas, permanent picnic facilities, and other things.

The new highway separated William Henry's pasture land from his residence. Edward Florey, William Henry's grandson, heard that when Highway 49 right of way arrangements were made that an agreement was made to build a large culvert under the highway so W. H. could continue to move his cattle between the pasture now on the south side of Highway 49 to the pasture north of the new highway. The large culvert was not built as agreed, so W. H. just drove his cattle across the highway and blocked traffic when he needed to move them.

By 1949, after not being maintained as it once was, native grasses became tall, brush grew, and trees returned to their natural un-pruned state on the property. In 1949, P. D. Thornton, prominent local dry cleaner and businessman, purchased 45 acres of the approximately 160 acres that once comprised Dellwood Park for $9,000. Mr. Thornton promptly offered the property to Titus County citizens for use as a county park.

A public fund drive was started to purchase the property from Mr. Thornton and raise the money to make the improvements necessary to convert it into a modern recreation area. Considerable work was done to clear underbrush, build streets, clean out the springs, and other things needed.

On Thursday, September 8, 1949 the Parks Board held an all-day public work day at the park with Dr. Kenneth Taylor, program committee chairman, in charge of entertainment. Like neighbors helping neighbors in barn raisings of the past, the work day was planned as a county-wide event of work and fun. Everyone was asked to bring hoes, axes, saws, shovels, mowers, tractors with winches, and other equipment that might be used.

A horseshoe and washer pitching contest was planned and everyone was asked to bring their horseshoes and a partner for the event.

The county's Home Demonstration Clubs were asked bring picnic lunches and to urge the other ladies to do the same for a picnic lunch at noon. Free lemonade was served with the picnic lunch.

Mt. Pleasant businesses had been asked to close from 11 a. m. to 2 p. m., but only a few complied.

A memorial to Titus County veterans that sits just inside the park's main entrance on Danny Drive near Highway 49 (East Ferguson Road) reads:

"The redbud tree planting in this park is a tribute to the sons and daughters of Titus County who served in World Wars I and II. The Dogwood is a memorial to those who gave their lives for the cause of Democracy. The Mt. Pleasant Garden Club, 1950."

A log cabin-style Scout Hut is located on the hill where the elaborate Dellwood Hotel once stood. It was dedicated in memory of the late Tully Florey III, grandson of William Henry Florey, one of the founders of the original Dellwood Park.

A Texas Historical Marker and the last remaining mineral spring are reminders of Dellwood Park's origin and its fame as a popular turn of the century tourist destination. The original brick steps that once led to the extravigant Dellwood Hotel still lead up the hill to the hotel's former location just to the left of the historic marker and slightly out of the frame of this photo.

In its meeting of Tuesday, March 6, 1951, the City Council purchased Dellwood Park for the City of Mt. Pleasant. In the same meeting, they also purchased approximately ten acres north of and adjacent to Pecan Street, bounded on the east by the Tyler branch of Cotton Belt railroad to be used to construct Oaklawn Park for Afro-American citizens.

Improvement and maintenance of the two new city parks was to begin on a limited basis in 1951 and progress as the city could afford. City officials had already added a park budget to the city's proposed budget for the coming year.

Many, many improvements were added to Dellwood Park between 1951 and 2008. A large city swimming pool and changing rooms was one of its first additions. A bandstand was constructed at the foot of the hill where the Dellwood Hotel once sat. The road that once ran completely through Dellwood was split and changed into two cul-de-sacs to prevent vehicles from speeding through the park. Dellwood now has a jogging trail, reflecting pools, and pavilions for people to picnic under.

We will continue to research the story and will update it when possible.

H. L. Hess brought all of his farm equipment and several men to help. Lee Thompson of Route 1 and A. B Young of West New Hope both brought equipment and came to help. These were the only names gleaned from newspaper articles of the day, but two or three hundred people showed up and there was enough food to have fed many more if they had been present.

The Army Recruiting Service furnished a public address system for the event. After the picnic, several short speeches were made to acquaint people with the work that had been done and future developments planned.

Dan Latimer, parks board chairman, and city and county representatives spoke. P. D. Thornton, who was instrumental in securing the park, made a speech. County Agent W. W. Grisham, Jr. spoke representing rural residents. The high school band provided music for the occasion.

Congressman Wright Patman was the principal speaker. He recalled Dellwood at its peak of popularity before and into the early 1920s. He lived in Linden then Linden and brought a Boy Scout troop to the park for a week long encampment. Dellwood was then unsurpassed in beauty, and offered better recreation facilities than any other area in Northeast Texas.

Lots of work was done on the park before and after the picnic. Weeds, grass, and brush were cut and piled and burned, and considerable work was done to roads through the park. Much more work was still necessary to get the park in first class condition, but that would come with time. Workers hoped that by the middle of the next year Dellwood would regain much of the manicured beauty lost through years of use as a pasture.

Chamber of Commerce president Everett Redfearn began a new fund drive on September 22, 1949 to raise an additional $3,000 to pay off property and pay for an additional $500 worth of improvements by year's end that were then under way. J. A. Petty, T. C. Walker, Billy Means, Frank Marshall, Buster Petty, Howard Leftwich, Rual Perkins, Everett Redfearn,

Charles Tucker and Dan Latimer attended the fund drive's kick-off meeting and took cards of some 75 businesses who had not yet contributed to the project. As an extra incentive, the Mt. Pleasant Daily Times promised to publish the names of all contributors to the park fund in Monday's edition.

A committee was simultaneously planning to get the streets oiled and the creek crossings in good condition. Another committee was working to secure adequate funds to build a swimming pool, and plans were also under way to light the park.