100 Years Ago

From March 1910

Sam Bass’ sister visits Denton

“Mrs. Hornbrook of Minneapolis has been visiting here.”

The above item to the casual reader does not mean much, but just state that Mrs. Hornbrook is the sister of Sam Bass in the hearing of the old-timer here, and there is many a story of the early day forthcoming.

Mrs. Hornbrook came here to see “Uncle Bill Egan,” for whom Sam Bass worked for several years. She was in Texas for the purpose, she said, of looking after the grave of her brother, who is buried at Round Rock, Williamson County, where he was killed after a desperate fight with a posse.

Mr. Egan, when asked about Sam Bass, said:

“Sam Bass worked for me for several years and was as honest in his dealings with me as any man could be — up to the time he got hold of a little mare that was considerable of a race horse. The race horse was the beginning of his downfall. Naturally, he fell in with the tougher class, and from horse racing to gambling and then down the ladder was a short step.

“The first real desperate venture that I recall was when he went to the Territory to win all the Indians’ horses. The result was not as anticipated. … Some of the gang went back across the river and stole all the Indians’ horses. From then on, Sam Bass was a desperado in every sense of the word.

“All his depredations were away from Denton County. When he quit work for me, he owed me $140. He paid every nickel of it, with interest.”

Mrs. Hornbrook went from here to Round Rock after a night spent at the home of Mr. Egan.

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Note: The barbershop was under Denton County National Bank.

Waketon wants the Interurban line

A largely attended meeting of the citizens of the Waketon community was held at that place Friday afternoon in the interest of the proposed Interurban line. Every prominent landowner in that part of the county is reported to have been present, as well as a committee of leading businessmen from Grapevine, Tarrant County.

Hon. Alvin C. Owsley of this city, president of the local company, was present at the meeting and made a short talk. Mr. Owsley said to a reporter after his return:

“The meeting was the largest gathering of farmers I have attended in years. All were enthusiastic over the matter.

“If all the people of Denton were as united in their efforts as are the people of Grapevine … it would be only a short time before the Interurban was running and the city of Denton had 20,000 inhabitants.”

Note: Waketon was a community along the present Flower Mound-Double Oak border, near the appropriately named Waketon Road.

75 Years Ago

From March 1935

Texas history topic of Shakespeare Club

With Mmes. Belle Stantforth and A.D. Miller the hostesses, the home economics department of the Shakespeare Club met Thursday afternoon in Smith Carroll Hall.

Mrs. W.R. Lakey told of the capture of 8-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker by the Comanche Indians, her life with them for 22 years — during part of the time as the wife of an Indian chief — her motherhood and her capture by the late Sul Ross, then a Ranger captain and later governor of Texas.

Mrs. S.F. McCombs talked on “Folk Lore of Texas.” Both talks were discussed by the members.

St. Patrick’s Day was observed in the menu, and the rooms were decorated with jonquils, peach and plum blossoms. A four-leaf clover decorated each dessert plate.

The hostesses were assisted in serving by C.I.A. students Misses Charlie Jack Murphy, Ruth Maynor, Elizabeth Bell and Sue Allen.

Note: CIA was the College of Industrial Arts and Sciences, now known as Texas Woman’s University.

Broncos are state basketball champs

A drive that began last December and never let up for four months came to a climax Saturday night in Austin as Coach Dan McAllister’s Denton High Broncos heard the last referee’s whistle, winning the state high school basketball championship by beating Lamesa, 38-23.

Led by Captain J.D. Wright and the rangy Bud Smith, the locals’ defensive performance completely smothered Lamesa. The follow-up shots of Homer Barns did much to put the Broncos in the lead.

The last quarter opened with Denton leading 31-11, and the Broncos eased up and coasted the last eight minutes.

50 Years Ago

From March 1960

City Council rezones areas for business

Denton’s City Council this morning formally rezoned three pieces of property for business use in a quick meeting.

The three tracts that were rezoned had earlier won approval of the Denton Planning and Zoning Commission.

Property at the southwest corner of University Drive and North Locust Street is now in the Denton business district, as is property at Bernard Street and Fort Worth Drive and a tract on the south side of University Drive west of Malone Street.

Mayor Frank Barrow also outlined a plan to convert the stage of Denton’s Municipal Auditorium into a posh council chamber this morning. If present plans are carried out, the council chamber will double as a Corporation Court.

Barrow said the work will cost about $2,500.

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Zimmerman’s guests cause frantic call

Who was that suspicious character entering Mrs. Bob Zimmerman’s house last week?

Mrs. Zimmerman was hostess to the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority’s beatnik party Tuesday night. Just as the party began to vibrate, Mrs. Zimmerman received a frantic phone call advising her that a suspicious-looking character was slinking around near her house.

The character could have been Mrs. Clyde Willingham, who appeared wearing baggy trousers, a sloppy gray sweater, sunglasses, and a moustache and goatee.  She won first prize for her costume.

Or it could have been Mrs. V.C. Adams, who wore black leotards, black belted sweater and a man’s white dress shirt. She, too, wore sunglasses and carried a long cigarette holder. Then again it could have been Mrs. Mildred Casey in her long, droopy sweater with her long, blond tresses parted in the middle.

Mrs. Jim Ganzer began the vibrations with a recitation, accompanied by bongo drum beats.

25 Years Ago

From March 1985

Denton Community Orchestra to perform

The Denton Community Orchestra and special guests will present a concert Tuesday in Denton at 8 p.m. in the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 703 N. Elm St.

The orchestra, under the direction of Nan Hudson, and the choir, under the direction of Marilyn Walker, will present a program of works by Bach and Mozart. The program will open with Bach’s Fourth Brandenberg Concerto and will continue with Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto K. 622, with Kris Elliott as soloist, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass K. 317, featuring the choir.

Commissioners hire county business aide

Denton County commissioners have hired someone to help them keep track of their business.

Barbara Bowman, the new aide to Commissioners Court, will have other duties besides keeping up with the court, and she has started on two long-term projects. She will begin a policy and procedures project and a systems analysis and flow chart of each department.

A graduate of the University of Alabama with a master’s degree in social work and administration and social planning, Ms. Bowman, 35, said her background will help her in her work with the county.

Ms. Bowman worked for a Community Mental Health Center in Pensacola, Fla., before coming to Denton.

So far, she said, she has enjoyed working in county government.

 “I like it because you work with so many different personalities that you can’t hardly get bored,” she said.

DJ TAYLOR resides in the Sanger/Bolivar area. He may be contacted at 940-458-4979 or djsanger@airmail.net.