DYK...Highland Park?

[ADLER]

Did you know that Highland Park existed from 1890 until 1933 when the City of Denton sold the property to The University of North Texas (then North Texas State Teacher's College) to build a golf course? Land developers in Dallas renamed their Philadelphia Place community after Denton's popular Highland Park in 1906. (there were some parks in their development, but they were all in lower areas along the Turtle Creek)

Denton dismantled the streetcar (trolly) lines from downtown to Highland Park in 1918 to contribute the steel to the war effort. Visitation to the park declined greatly in 1927 with the construction of Lake Dallas southeast of Denton, making Highland Park expendable for the city.

The only remnant of the name is Highland Park Drive which ran along the south side of the park. 

Highland Park has since been converted from a golf course into the Athletic Village at The University of North Texas and tailgating parties and football games take place on the Highland Park hill every football season.

 

Edited September 5, 2019 by ADLER

[TheColonyEagle]

[greenjoe]

I believe every word you wrote, but just for fun, could I look through your bibliography cards please. 

6 for Heisman

GO MEAN GREEN

[ADLER]

The far better story is why was this property so special and what made it available to be turned into a park in 1890.

The three ponds on the property were fed by natural springs. This high water table was why the Fouts Field stadium could not have the track removed and the stadium dug deeper into a bowl configuration. These were the western most springs in the entire region, on the border of woods to the east and bison laden grasslands to the west,  and a coveted source of fresh water for the Wichita Tribe which had a permanent settlement for at least the last several hundred years.

By the 1870's barbed wire cut off the bison migration routes, and by the 1880's unregulated water drilling and drought had lowered the water table to the point where the springs often stopped flowing. The Wichita Tribe which had peacefully coexisted with European settlers soon departed for other regions to the north and west. Their land was kept for them surrounded by developers claims, and was eventually turned into Highland Park.

 

Edited September 5, 2019 by ADLER

[Philip Ferguson]

[ADLER]

1 hour ago, greenjoe said:

I believe every word you wrote, but just for fun, could I look through your bibliography cards please. 

6 for Heisman

GO MEAN GREEN

Here's a tiny part: http://www.ntxe-news.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=53&num=85890

https://dentoncountyhistoryandculture.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/native-american-heritage-month-denton-countys-original-settlers/

Highland Park, Pilot Knob across I-35W and Hickory Creek which runs between the two all have significant historical significance.

Aubrey, six miles northeast of campus, was a large Cherokee settlement.

Edited September 5, 2019 by ADLER

[UNTLifer]

[ADLER]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

"L ... L ... L ... L ... L ... L ... L ... LEARN!"

[ADLER]

People often think that Highland Park Road over by the stadium is named after the city in Dallas County, when in actuality, it's just the opposite. The city in Dallas County was named after the actual Highland Park which is now our athletic village.

[Mean Green 93-98]

[UNTLifer]

1 hour ago, ADLER said:

People often think that Highland Park Road over by the stadium is named after the city in Dallas County, when in actuality, it's just the opposite. The city in Dallas County was named after the actual Highland Park which is now our athletic village.

The ponies are going to love this.

[TheColonyEagle]

5 hours ago, ADLER said:

People often think that Highland Park Road over by the stadium is named after the city in Dallas County, when in actuality, it's just the opposite. The city in Dallas County was named after the actual Highland Park which is now our athletic village.

SMU fans:

[Pavlovs Eagle]

All I read was the Mean Green took over Highland Park...

[northtexassigep]

I lived on highland park circle right next to highland park drive in 2011 and 2012. Living there as a student for the first 2 years of apogee will forever be some of my favorite college memories. It was the meeting place prior to tailgate and the spot for my friends after the games.