Red Oak High School - Hawk Yearbook (Red Oak, TX)

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The Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been designated by the State Historical Survey Committee as a Texas historical site. The building, erected in 1872 was remodeled during their centennial. The home of Mrs. Paul Jonte and the late Mr. Jonte was one of the first two-story houses constructed in Red Oak. The 11-room white frame structure was built in 1917 for Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Ligon of hand picked lumber. The cost was about S3,000. It features a tile-like metal roof that was added in 1927. At X, , ,..s.,.s.a. A....,-..o.Ja.n.,:,J.,a,4-...a.,n.,-,.f...f..,.,a., ...A .... ,, that time the roof cost S1,000. Lightning during an April, 1913, storm destroyed two white frame Red Oak classroom buildings. During that same year. the cornerstone was laid for this two-and- one half story building that was constructed for a total cost, of S11,000. The red brick structure housed Red Oak students for 50 years until fire from faulty electrical wiring in a gym caught the main building also and they were both destroyed in May, 1963. . Q. JL www ,, ,Z l -- .,.. . fi. 5 5 - . 9 S--- '- -14.34 -1.f-- L s r.. 6 past

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Residents oppose 'whistling of locomotives' Though America's history as an independent nation dates to 1776, Red Oak residents can only look back to 1843 when the first settlement was established. About a mile south of its present location, the town sprung upalong the creek that gave it its name. Texas was still a republic then and Anson Jones was its president. In the late 1880's representatives of the MK8cT railroad came to town to acquire right of way to lay down tracks that would link Dallas to Waxahachie. It was said there was much opposition to the coming of the railroads as citizens did not wish the tranquility of the little town disturbed by the whistling of locomotives. As a result of thebickering, the tracks were laid to the northwest of the settlement. Soon, however, businesses were attracted to the railroad and the town was moved on wooden wheels connected by axles and drawn by mules. One two-story drug and dry goods store owned by the Wicker Co. took 16 mules and two weeks to move. During the move, heavy rains simply stopped the progress. The mules were unhitched, business car- ried on as usual until it was dry enought to move again. From the establishment of the postoffice in 1851 to the first bank in 1904, growth continued with the town incorporated in 1949. Along with the early settlement was the beginning of a school system. There were subscription schools ti- nanced by the students' parents and a number of smaller districts until 1912 when Red Oak and Ashwood were consolidated into the Red Oak Inde- pendent School District. Lightning and electrical wiring were responsible for tires in 1913 and 1963 that destroyed the school's buildings. A 1909 fire consumed much of the downtown business district when the towns residents were unable to put out the blaze because there was no water. The lack of water kept the gin from operating that year, also. fx At Bells Chapel Cemetery Senior Rickey Hooper looks at a grave marker that dates to the 1800 s Founded in 1875 by the Methodist Church the oldest grave in Bells Chapel is that of Jodie M. Bell, who was buried in 1878. He was the grandfather of Glen Bell who resides southeast of Red Oak. Part of the land for the X 4 cemetery was donated by John Gibbons and awww' . 1, V ..- ,.,,...s ,, two-and-two-thirds acres were purchased from iiii S el fn, ., it f 5 .... f , f V Squire A. Rockett for a total cost of 565. past 7