Princeton
DEVELOPMENT OF PRINCETON AND COMMUNITY
McKinney Weekly Democrat Gazette, March 14, 1901
Tuesday a Democrat reporter accompanied S. H. Cole on a land surveying tour two miles southeast of Princeton where Mr. Cole ran a line for Ben Wilson of Altoga who had sold his farm to G. W. Duncan formerly of Altoga. While Messrs. Cole, Wilson and Duncan were surveying the reporter did the nimrod act resulting in our killing much time and ammunition. Mr. Duncan has a big job before him to clear up and put into cultivation his new bought land but we predict that he will be successful, for appearances are that he possesses that pluck, energy and ability so characteristic of Tennesseans.
On our way home we tarried a brief time in the fast growing railroad village of Princeton -the "prince" of three S towns. Among the business enterprises we noted the following: W. A. Harrelson, general merchandise; Alma Wilson, general merchandise and postmaster; John K. Wilson, druggist; Sam Smith, general merchandise and lunch stand; Meroncy & Stinson, general merchandise; D. C. Eifird, general merchandise and Bois d'Arc dealer; Boorman & Davis, M. Ds.; Jack Aycock, Bois d'Arc dealer; R. L. Lafevers, depot agent. A. M. Butler is having a large storeroom built which will be occupied in the near future by West Bros., late of Tennessee, who will place a large stock of general merchandise therein. It is reported that Alma Wilson will in the near future erect a brick building. We believe Messrs Alma Wilson and W. A. Harrelson are the pioneer merchants of Princeton. Messrs Meroncy and Stinson have just recently embarked in the mercantile business. Both formerly lived near Chambersville, this county, and are excellent gentlemen.
Princeton is surrounded by a deep rich black soil formerly densely covered with timber, green briars, red bud and other sprouts, but this condition has vanished before the ax, saw, grubbing hoe and plow, wielded by an honest sturdy, home loving yeomanry, and as a happy result, blocks of little farms lie in every direction from Princeton. Even within the memory of the writer there was no Princeton nor many settlements surrounding. Fifteen and twenty years ago we helped Geo. A. and T. B. Wilson survey along the course of Tickey creek from almost its source to its mouth, sometimes spending a whole day in the dense brush without food nor water carrying a chain, then slumbering on blankets while the festive mosquitoes and ticks exultingly caressed us. How different now. A man can get a cool refreshing drink at almost every turn and feast on fat chicken, spare-ribs and delicious biscuits instead of dry cornbread and strong northern bacon. May the car of progress roll onward throughout the 20th century and Princeton be a "prince" indeed among its kind. A striking feature in the country are the number of new farm residences and barns just being erected. While referring to these many improvements we will not forget to mention our visit to the office of Drs Boorman & Davis. These gentlemen, while not officing in a brick edifice, certainly have a well equipped office. In fact, as far as we were able to judge, they are prepared to handle their patients just as well as many physicians of larger pretensions in larger towns. We may possibly tire our reader with this write-up of Princeton, but being a "pioneer" of that section, we feel rather an inspiration.
And now in conclusion for fear some of our newly acquired readers may doubt our claim as a pioneer we respectfully refer them to our old time friend, John Martin, of Jack county, for whom we drove a span of mules while building ground tanks in Princeton and Culleoka section in the long ago. Yes, we were there, but of course we are young!
LITTLE CITY OF PRINCETON HAS MANY IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED OR UNDER WAY
McKinney Weekly Democrat Gazette, April 22, 1937
Interesting Brief Visit Made There By Representatives Of The Daily Courier-Gazette and Weekly Democrat-Gazette-Modern New $42.000 Brick School Building Completed Few Months Ago-Citizens State Bank Making Substantial Additions To Its Building-Much New Building and Remodeling Completed or In Progress.
Coming back slowly, but steadily, the little city of Princeton, located seven miles each of McKinney, is recovering from the depression period of six or seven years in a very apparent way.
A couple of representatives of this paper, visiting there briefly Monday, took note of more or less new construction work, remodeling, repainting, recovering and repapering being done in both the business district and the residence section of the town.
The principal improvement underway now is the work going on in the enlargement of the Citizens State Bank brick building.
The institution, which has been the chief financial interest of Princeton for the past thirty years, found it necessary to build more spacious quarters in order to handle its growing business. Consequently, additions are being built to the old corner bank building, both to the north and to the west of it. When completed, the building will have a forty-foot front on one street and fifty foot facing on the other. It plans to rent three store buildings of modest dimensions and occupy the remaining portion of the substantial brick property as a home for the bank, which has become badly cramped for space in which to handle its steadily increasing volume of business.
It is putting in enlarged vaults for both itself and for the accommodation of patrons and for storage of its own records. It will have modern office rooms for its needs, more pleasant working quarters for its employees and also a more attractive lobby for the public. The work has progressed to near to the completion point and soon will be finished up in a neat way.
Citizens State Bank, Princeton, Texas.
Officers are: T. Ben Wilson, President. Mrs. T. A. Curtis, Vice-President. J. W. Chappell, Vice-President. J. W. Neal, Cashier. W. T. Hooten, Jr., Assistant Cashier. Mrs. C. H. Akin and Russell Wilson, Bookkeepers.
The bank, which is a member of the federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, had a total of $186,752.57, as reported to the Commissioner of Banking, State of Texas, at the close of business, March 31 1937. It has a capital stock of $25,000.
The President of the concern, T. Ben Wilson, is a native of the county, son of the late George A. Wilson, largest landholder of the county when he died forty years ago. He is a brother of former Postmaster Wallace C. Wilson of McKinney. Mrs. Curtis, Vice-President, is the widow of a former Cashier of the bank. The other vice-president, J. W. Chappell, is a successful farmer and long a useful and progressive citizen of the Princeton community.
J. W. Neal, Cashier, was born and reared near Melissa, where his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Jim Neal, were regarded as among the most estimable early settlers and a substantial farm couple. Mr. Neal has made an outstanding success with a small country bank. He is a Gibraltar of strength and civic leadership in the affairs of Princeton and its fertile trade territory.
W. T. Hooten, Jr., Assistant Cashier, was reared at Princeton, where his father, W. T. Hooten, Sr., was a leading merchant for many years.
Mrs. C. H. Akin, bookkeeper, is the daughter of Mrs. Pearl Strother of McKinney, former County Clerk of Collin County. She is the wife of former Representative C.H. Akin of Princeton, where he is actively engaged in business circles.
The other bookkeeper is Russell Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Wilson. He is a graduate of the McKinney High School and received his higher education at the Texas A. & M. College. He is a young business man of solid character and has a very promising future of success and usefulness ahead of him.
This editor regretted to learn of the ill health of our good old friend and former Princeton merchant, W. T. Hooten, Sr., merchant for many years at Princeton, but who, for sometime past, has been a resident and owner of a country store at Sikes, eight miles southwest of Greenville. Hi is suffering from a partial stroke of paralysis. At the present time, he is visiting his daughter, Mrs. John McMurray and husband, at Greenville. As stated above, he is the father of W. T. Hooten, Jr., Assistant Cashier of the Citizen State Bank, Princeton.
It is the consensus of opinion that this year's onion acreage around Princeton and in the Princeton trade territory will total from 1,400 to 1,600 acres, or about sixty per cent of the normal crop. At the present time, the onions are looking fairly well with the exception of such crops that were set out in defective slips. Onion growing has come to be one of the staple crops of that part of our county centering around Princeton and Farmersville. Lots of corn had to be replanted in this area and the crop is therefore, backward at this season of the year and not al all promising. Cotton planting is now underway. Cotton has long been the leading crop of this part of East Collin.
While in Princeton, one of the editors of this paper made an interesting visit to the Post Office. Ray Gantt has served sixteen years as the faithful Postmaster. He is a native of Princeton, being a son of M. C. Gantt, farmer, whose place is located one mile north of town on the Longneck road. Mr. Gantt, in addition to his postal duties, also handles a line of national magazines and papers, a line that does not interfere with his duties in the postal service. He has a good home, just west of the new school building, which he and his wife keep in a creditable manner from a civic standpoint. Postmaster Gantt is a brother of Prof. Elburn L. Gantt, Superintendent of the Princeton Public School for the past several years and recently re-elected. His youngest brother is Walter B. Gantt, young business man, onion dealer and cotton buyer, in season.
Paul G. Boorman, Princeton's only rural Letter Carrier, serves Route One, which is 42.65 miles in length. He has held this position for several years and is quite efficient. He is a brother of Lynn Boorman of McKinney and a son of Mrs. Sallie (Wallace) Boorman, who lives in her home on Tennessee Street, this city. His father, Dr. T. G. Boorman, deceased, was one of East Collin's most highly esteemed citizens and extensive practitioners. Paul is the every image of his revered father whose memory is treasured in scores of homes in the territory of his practice in and around Princeton. Paul also has the humorous slant on life that his father had and spreads sunshine among all with whom he mingles.
J. I. (Isaac) Griffin has underway the erection of a six-room and bath modern home. One of the best concrete foundations for a residence that we have ever seen is already in place and the frame work of the building is nearly completed. The structure will be of native Denton County rock, reddish brown in color. It will be unique in construction when completed, and a distinct addition to the pretty civic appearance of this little East Collin city. Mr. Griffin is a native of McKinney, being a son of the late Isaac Griffin, a prominent ginner, threshermann and farm owner of McKinney for many ears, who died several years ago. His mother is still living and resides at the corner of North Church and West Heard Streets, McKinney. Mr. Griffin gives considerable attention to onion prediction, buying, selling and shipping that product, which has carried the name and fame of the Princeton area to remote corners of the country for high quality dry farming grown onion products.
Mrs. Ben W. Dugger has recently had her residence extensively improved, repaired, repapered and repainted in a most attractive and comfortable way. She has done her part towards improving the looks, value and comfort of her home and adding to the civic attractiveness of her little home city.
Cecil Robbins is another Princetonite, who has recently re-roofed his residence, repapered and repainted the same in an attractive way. He is a property owner and taxpayer, who believes that money spent in a timely way for upkeep and paint prolongs the life of property investments and, therefore, is always a paying proposition. A well kept home and premises adds to the happy home life and pride of the owner, while at the same time contributes to the value and prestige of the town in which it is located For civic progressiveness and attractiveness in the eyes of home people and visitors.
W. H. Rutledge has recently added to the appearance and convenience of his residence property by improving and repapering it and plans to repaint the same in the near future. He believes that money invested in good paint, properly applied, is a real investment, because it prolongs the life of a home as well as beautifies it in the eyes of his neighbors and the general public coming to the town to trade or visit.
Another Princeton home that has undergone substantial repairs inside and out, repapered and repainted is that of G. H. Dalton, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of that town, which he has called home for many hears. Mr. Dalton can always be counted on to pull for his home town in every way, in civic and business advancement, school interests and otherwise.
T. C. Myers, a thrifty farmer, has recently erected a new box and weatherboarded farm home on his place, four miles south of Princeton. He will probably built a new barn sometime later in the spring and summer. Lots of farm improvements have been made throughout Collin County during the past few years. Mr. Myers is one of the forward looking farmers to help overcome the depression and set normal business back on the throne again by making these improvements which add to his own convenience, helps give employment to labor and does his bit in a business way for hardware, paint and lumber establishments of his town and county.
The. J. S. Heard Estate has built a four-room frame farm residence on what is known as the Heard Ranch, two miles southeast of Princeton. Preparations are underway to also build a large storage barn on the same property. The Heard Ranch contains several hundred acres of rich, productive black land, with a number of sets of farm improvements for tenants living on the property.
E. E. Davis, farmer, has built a good new six-room residence on his farm, three miles northeast of Princeton, within recent months. Mr. Davis is a useful, thrifty citizen, who believes in making the farm more attractive as a home proposition where a livelihood for himself and family is to be made.
C. A. Mantooth, who was reared in the Altoga community and has chiefly educated his children in the McKinney Public Schools, has built a nice four-room frame residence on his farm, three miles northeast of Princeton, which is occupied by his son, Ross Mantooth and young wife.
J. Willis Neal, Cashier of the Citizens State Bank, Princeton, is another progressive East Collin citizen, as well as a successful country banker to build a new and comfortable little frame residence on the farm that he owns, two miles northeast of Princeton. Mr. Neal is a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. T. Ben Wilson, a substantial pioneer couple of that little city. Mr. Wilson is President of the bank, which Mr. Neal is as capable serving as Cashier.
During the last four or five months L. V. Reid has erected a comfortable five-room frame farm house on his place, located on the Longneck road, a short distance north of Princeton. Mr. Reid is a progressive farm citizen who is now occupying his comfortable new home with his family.
Another new home completed this year in Princeton is that of Choice Bates, a rather accommodating clerk for Bros. Grocery store. His firm are also veteran operators of a Princeton garage business. Mr. Bates' wife is one of the competent teachers in the Princeton Public School, which is conducted by a faculty of eleven or twelve teachers under the superintendency of Prof. Elburn L. Gantt.
J. D. West, son of Edd West, one of East Collin's most widely known and highly esteemed business men and merchants, finished a new five-room residence within the past year in Princeton. J. D., like his father, is energetic and believes in building up the prestige of Princeton as a center for one of the richest farming areas of North Texas.
While in Princeton, the representatives of this paper made a brief business call at the Wilcox Lumber Company yard, an old established Princeton business, which deals in lumber, doors, sashes, shingles, lime, sand, cement, paints and varnishes. The Wilcox Lumber Company was first established at Plano, over sixty years ago, by the late J. M. Wilcox, who later moved it to McKinney where its headquarters have been maintained since It owns several other lumber yards besides the McKinney and Princeton yards. After the death of J. M. Wilcox, the founder, he was succeeded as president of the Company by his son, the late George Wilcox, one of the most capable and valuable business men and citizens that McKinney ever had. After the latter's death, his brother, District Judge Frank E. Wilcox, became President, and is now capably serving in that capacity with Frank Cook of McKinney, manager, and Roscoe O. Wilson, manager of the Princeton yard in his fourteenth year. The Princeton yard is spacious carries an excellent and varied stock and is patronized by a wide scope of territory. Commencing about a year ago, his business decisively picked up and has been better than for several years past.
We had the pleasure of greeting Alva Burnside, son of A. L. Burnside, a well known farmer of our county. Alva operates the truck and delivery business for the Wilcox Lumber Company, at Princeton, and is giving Manager R. O. Wilson, for valuable assistance in waiting upon and serving their increasing business.
Among the busy artisans of Princeton is the firm of L. N. Helton & Son. The other member of the firm is Henry Helton. They are carpenters, builders and contractors, who take a pride in doing their work in a satisfactory, substantial way.
One of East Collin's busy carpenters, paperhangers and painters is G. C. Murphy of Princeton. He, like others engaged in the various phases of the building craft, has been kept quite busy in recent months, helping to do the work in his line that is being carried on in an increasing way, at Princeton, and for a large cope of surrounding territory.
Claude Houser & Son is another firm of paperhangers and painters that keeps quite busy. The son is G. D. Houser. They do high class work and spread out in their contracts to other parts of the surrounding farm area and county wherever they may be needed and contracted with.
C. E. Wakety, getting his mail on Route One, Princeton, has recently erected a nice, new frame residence on his farm, four miles northeast of Princeton. Mr. Wakety is an excellent citizen and wideawake farmer, who believes in maintaining the fertility of his farm and also keeping up its improvements to a high and creditable standard.
In the country, about three miles northeast of Princeton, Tom Recer has recently built a new frame residence on his farm, which is occupied by his son, Bill Recer, and wife. The Recers are an old and respected family name of East Collin, who originated in that section soon after Collin was organized ninety-one years ago.
We had the pleasure of greeting our old friend, Dr. S. J. Dobbs, who has been a busy physician and surgeon in and around Altoga and Princeton for many years. He is still active in the practice and is doing his part towards keeping the people healthy and restoring the sick to health again. Princeton has another physician in the person of Dr. C. C. York, whom we did not see on this brief but interesting visit to this thrifty little home city.
G. A. Miller, Star Route Carrier for the United States Post Office Department, between McKinney and Princeton, is one of the mist highly esteemed citizens of that East Collin area. He resides in Princeton and is connected with the big Miller Bros. Organization, onion growers and buyers of the county. He has faithfully served in the capacity as Star Route Carrier for a number of years and has the respect of all who know him. He makes two round trips daily between the McKinney and Princeton Post Offices carrying the mail and also passengers.
The major improvement of Princeton and vicinity during the past few months has been the erection, completion and dedication of the new high school building through the co-operation of the Public Works Administration. The new building, which is on the same campus with the old Princeton school, now used for the lower grades, was built at a cost of $42,000. The A. J. Riffe Construction company of Dallas had the contract while Allen Marshall did the work. Construction was commenced in July and the school was formally dedicated on March 19 this year. Prof. Elburn. L. Gantt is Superintendent and was recently re-elected for his sixth year. The School Board is composed of J. W. Godwin, President; W. T. Hooten, Jr., Secretary; John K. Wilson, R. E. Clements, G. H. Dalton, Charlie B. Neal and C. M. McMahan.
HISTORY OF PRINCETON
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, Oct. 1, 1946 Centennial Edition
by Mary Louise Leake
Once upon a time a small railway stop was locate eight miles east of the county seat of Collin County. The stop was called "Wilson Switch" in honor of the Wilson family. The postoffice department objected to the name since another town in Texas was named Wilson. The name was changed to Princeton, in honor of Prince Dowlin, who owned the land and had it surveyed. It has been said, too, that his name was Princeton Dowlin, and that he was one of the first residents of Princeton. The M. K. & T. railroad built the narrow gauge railway in 1881, later it was sold to L. R. & N. railroad and reconstructed in 1887 into a wide gauge. Princeton was merely a stop until 1900 when the depot was built. John K. Wilson was the agent during 1901 and 1902.
Some distinguished people who visited Princeton at this time were William Jenings Bryan and Carrie Nation.
The first resident of Princeton was W. A. Harrelson. He built the first house which is located in the western part of the village.
On February 8, 1889, the first postoffice was opened, and Mr. Harrelson was the first postmaster. About this time W. J. Burton built the first blacksmith shop.
J. H. Sneed, the first person to sell dry goods in Princeton, made his home the first dry goods store. The first store was built in 1891 by J. H. Sneed and Alma Wilson.
Dr. T. G. Boorman was the only doctor in Princeton at that time. The first drug store was owned by Dr. Boorman and J. Frank Smith. The store was then sold to John K. Wilson, who was the druggist and undertaker.
The first cotton gin was built by J. A. Barnett, in 1895. Three gins were constructed. They were the Oil Mill Gin, Godwin Gin and Farmers Gin.
The first church in Princeton was the Methodist, built in 1896. In 1907, the Baptist Church was moved from Long Neck. In 1910, due to the old church being blown down, a new Baptist church was built.
The first brick building ever built in Princeton was used for a bank. Later it was owned by John K. Wilson and used as a drug store and undertakers department.
On March 20, 1901, the West brothers came to Princeton and established both a grocery and dry goods store.
The artesian well was dug in 1906. The land was bought in 1918 by the city from a Mr. Taylor for $5000.00.
Land was bought in the northern part of the town from a Mrs. Mead to build a school house. The first school house was built in 1898, however, in the southern part of the town. A brick building was erected in 1910 under the directions of a Mr. Shepherd and son.
Land was given by Alma Wilson to the I. O. O. F. cemetery, which is located in the southwestern part of Princeton. The first person buried was Clayton Hogan.
The one and only hotel was built in 1904 by B. F. Test. It is situated in the main section of Princeton.
Dr. T. G. Boorman was in charge of the first telephone in Princeton. The modern system is owned by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
In 1921 the business section of Princeton was destroyed by fire. This section consisted of a garage, grocery store, barber shop, tailor shop and telephone office. This section was rebuilt and the West brothers owned the telephone office.
Princeton continued growing through the years-still prospering in its most productive crop-onions.
In 1936 a new high school building was built just to the west of the old building, which was still used. Buses have long since been bought to provide transportation for the children living in the country. In 1940 the twelve grade system was added to the school; before this time only eleven grades were had. To add to the attractions of the school, a Mr. Fred Martin organized a band for the pupils of the public school. This band was continued through three years, when the membership dropped so low in the band that Mr. Martin could no longer make his long trips from Fort Worth to Princeton once a week. The new lunch room had been added which benefitted the boys and girls in school. Hot lunches were served at a very low cost. Mrs. Bertha Wilson is still the supervisor of the lunch room.
There are now four church in Princeton. They are the Baptist, the Methodist, the Christian and the Church of Christ. On Christmas of the year 1940, the Church of Christ burned. Church was held in the auditorium of the high school building until a new church was built.
The migratory camp was built in June of 1940. This is situated at the west of Princeton. It was built for the people who moved into Princeton each onion and cotton season to help do the work. Honorable Sam Rayburn made the dedicatory speech, introduced by C. H. Akin, a local representative and also a native of Princeton. Later the camp was made into a war prison camp for Germans captured during the World War II. The artesian well dug at this camp was then used to supply water for Princeton instead of the former well.
The population of Princeton decreased rapidly during the year 1941 and especially during 1942 because so many boys and men were joining the armed forces and many people were leaving to find jobs in war plants.
In 1943, the women of Princeton voted to organize a study club. Since Princeton is the onion center of Collin County, the women decided to turn the spelling of the word onion backwards, and they found a suitable name: The Noino Study Club. The purpose of the club was to learn more about different people, places, and to have social gatherings every two weeks. Mrs. Guy Bush was the first resident. The laws and the constitution were drawn. As all women do the women of Princeton began to notice that Princeton was very unattractive because of the large dumping ground in the center of Princeton where the railroad had been taken up. Each woman began working and planning a park. There was a beautification committee that went to work immediately. On this committee there were Mrs. Charles akin, Mrs. Walter B. Gantt and Mrs. Luther Leake. Merchants from neighboring towns aided the women as did the merchants of Princeton, in constructing the park. Many people form Princeton, McKinney Farmersville and Greenville gave liberal donations to this park. Under a special bill the German prisoners were contracted to do the work on the park. The park is in memory of the boys who served in the armed forces during World War II. The dedication was in the spring of 1946. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Dooley was the speaker, who was introduced by Ike Griffin.
The public school has grown during the last few years, too. Four contract schools have come in with Princeton school and two no grade schools. The total scholastics are four hundred and seventy-two.
The school also has been noted for girls basketball team, who won the Collin County championship in 1946. Sarah Cave and Doris McCormack received gold basketballs for their good work on the team. George Lacy was the coach. Hugh Peterman, also won the Sports award for the team in football. He had four boys that were outstanding. They were Eldon Donihoo, Kenneth Combest, Jackie Fort, and Jack Harvell. M. S. Rogers as organized a program of future farmers. Many of his boys have won prizes for their stock shown at different stock shows. Mr. Rogers also had an agricultural work shop on the campus of the school. The new school has had a new superintendent for the last two years, Paul G. Henderson, formerly from Allen.
J. W. Chappell is the mayor of Princeton now. There is a Co-op Gin in Princeton now; many garages; practically every type of store except a dry goods store. Dr. C. C. York and Dr. J. S. Dobbs are the only doctors here now.
Princeton has a great production of cotton, wheat and corn and it is still noted for the great production of onions.
Thus the small gage railway stop called "Wilson Switch" has developed into a village that is centered in the midst of the most fertile land in Collin County.
McKinney Weekly Democrat Gazette, March 14, 1901
Tuesday a Democrat reporter accompanied S. H. Cole on a land surveying tour two miles southeast of Princeton where Mr. Cole ran a line for Ben Wilson of Altoga who had sold his farm to G. W. Duncan formerly of Altoga. While Messrs. Cole, Wilson and Duncan were surveying the reporter did the nimrod act resulting in our killing much time and ammunition. Mr. Duncan has a big job before him to clear up and put into cultivation his new bought land but we predict that he will be successful, for appearances are that he possesses that pluck, energy and ability so characteristic of Tennesseans.
On our way home we tarried a brief time in the fast growing railroad village of Princeton -the "prince" of three S towns. Among the business enterprises we noted the following: W. A. Harrelson, general merchandise; Alma Wilson, general merchandise and postmaster; John K. Wilson, druggist; Sam Smith, general merchandise and lunch stand; Meroncy & Stinson, general merchandise; D. C. Eifird, general merchandise and Bois d'Arc dealer; Boorman & Davis, M. Ds.; Jack Aycock, Bois d'Arc dealer; R. L. Lafevers, depot agent. A. M. Butler is having a large storeroom built which will be occupied in the near future by West Bros., late of Tennessee, who will place a large stock of general merchandise therein. It is reported that Alma Wilson will in the near future erect a brick building. We believe Messrs Alma Wilson and W. A. Harrelson are the pioneer merchants of Princeton. Messrs Meroncy and Stinson have just recently embarked in the mercantile business. Both formerly lived near Chambersville, this county, and are excellent gentlemen.
Princeton is surrounded by a deep rich black soil formerly densely covered with timber, green briars, red bud and other sprouts, but this condition has vanished before the ax, saw, grubbing hoe and plow, wielded by an honest sturdy, home loving yeomanry, and as a happy result, blocks of little farms lie in every direction from Princeton. Even within the memory of the writer there was no Princeton nor many settlements surrounding. Fifteen and twenty years ago we helped Geo. A. and T. B. Wilson survey along the course of Tickey creek from almost its source to its mouth, sometimes spending a whole day in the dense brush without food nor water carrying a chain, then slumbering on blankets while the festive mosquitoes and ticks exultingly caressed us. How different now. A man can get a cool refreshing drink at almost every turn and feast on fat chicken, spare-ribs and delicious biscuits instead of dry cornbread and strong northern bacon. May the car of progress roll onward throughout the 20th century and Princeton be a "prince" indeed among its kind. A striking feature in the country are the number of new farm residences and barns just being erected. While referring to these many improvements we will not forget to mention our visit to the office of Drs Boorman & Davis. These gentlemen, while not officing in a brick edifice, certainly have a well equipped office. In fact, as far as we were able to judge, they are prepared to handle their patients just as well as many physicians of larger pretensions in larger towns. We may possibly tire our reader with this write-up of Princeton, but being a "pioneer" of that section, we feel rather an inspiration.
And now in conclusion for fear some of our newly acquired readers may doubt our claim as a pioneer we respectfully refer them to our old time friend, John Martin, of Jack county, for whom we drove a span of mules while building ground tanks in Princeton and Culleoka section in the long ago. Yes, we were there, but of course we are young!
LITTLE CITY OF PRINCETON HAS MANY IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED OR UNDER WAY
McKinney Weekly Democrat Gazette, April 22, 1937
Interesting Brief Visit Made There By Representatives Of The Daily Courier-Gazette and Weekly Democrat-Gazette-Modern New $42.000 Brick School Building Completed Few Months Ago-Citizens State Bank Making Substantial Additions To Its Building-Much New Building and Remodeling Completed or In Progress.
Coming back slowly, but steadily, the little city of Princeton, located seven miles each of McKinney, is recovering from the depression period of six or seven years in a very apparent way.
A couple of representatives of this paper, visiting there briefly Monday, took note of more or less new construction work, remodeling, repainting, recovering and repapering being done in both the business district and the residence section of the town.
The principal improvement underway now is the work going on in the enlargement of the Citizens State Bank brick building.
The institution, which has been the chief financial interest of Princeton for the past thirty years, found it necessary to build more spacious quarters in order to handle its growing business. Consequently, additions are being built to the old corner bank building, both to the north and to the west of it. When completed, the building will have a forty-foot front on one street and fifty foot facing on the other. It plans to rent three store buildings of modest dimensions and occupy the remaining portion of the substantial brick property as a home for the bank, which has become badly cramped for space in which to handle its steadily increasing volume of business.
It is putting in enlarged vaults for both itself and for the accommodation of patrons and for storage of its own records. It will have modern office rooms for its needs, more pleasant working quarters for its employees and also a more attractive lobby for the public. The work has progressed to near to the completion point and soon will be finished up in a neat way.
Citizens State Bank, Princeton, Texas.
Officers are: T. Ben Wilson, President. Mrs. T. A. Curtis, Vice-President. J. W. Chappell, Vice-President. J. W. Neal, Cashier. W. T. Hooten, Jr., Assistant Cashier. Mrs. C. H. Akin and Russell Wilson, Bookkeepers.
The bank, which is a member of the federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, had a total of $186,752.57, as reported to the Commissioner of Banking, State of Texas, at the close of business, March 31 1937. It has a capital stock of $25,000.
The President of the concern, T. Ben Wilson, is a native of the county, son of the late George A. Wilson, largest landholder of the county when he died forty years ago. He is a brother of former Postmaster Wallace C. Wilson of McKinney. Mrs. Curtis, Vice-President, is the widow of a former Cashier of the bank. The other vice-president, J. W. Chappell, is a successful farmer and long a useful and progressive citizen of the Princeton community.
J. W. Neal, Cashier, was born and reared near Melissa, where his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Jim Neal, were regarded as among the most estimable early settlers and a substantial farm couple. Mr. Neal has made an outstanding success with a small country bank. He is a Gibraltar of strength and civic leadership in the affairs of Princeton and its fertile trade territory.
W. T. Hooten, Jr., Assistant Cashier, was reared at Princeton, where his father, W. T. Hooten, Sr., was a leading merchant for many years.
Mrs. C. H. Akin, bookkeeper, is the daughter of Mrs. Pearl Strother of McKinney, former County Clerk of Collin County. She is the wife of former Representative C.H. Akin of Princeton, where he is actively engaged in business circles.
The other bookkeeper is Russell Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Wilson. He is a graduate of the McKinney High School and received his higher education at the Texas A. & M. College. He is a young business man of solid character and has a very promising future of success and usefulness ahead of him.
This editor regretted to learn of the ill health of our good old friend and former Princeton merchant, W. T. Hooten, Sr., merchant for many years at Princeton, but who, for sometime past, has been a resident and owner of a country store at Sikes, eight miles southwest of Greenville. Hi is suffering from a partial stroke of paralysis. At the present time, he is visiting his daughter, Mrs. John McMurray and husband, at Greenville. As stated above, he is the father of W. T. Hooten, Jr., Assistant Cashier of the Citizen State Bank, Princeton.
It is the consensus of opinion that this year's onion acreage around Princeton and in the Princeton trade territory will total from 1,400 to 1,600 acres, or about sixty per cent of the normal crop. At the present time, the onions are looking fairly well with the exception of such crops that were set out in defective slips. Onion growing has come to be one of the staple crops of that part of our county centering around Princeton and Farmersville. Lots of corn had to be replanted in this area and the crop is therefore, backward at this season of the year and not al all promising. Cotton planting is now underway. Cotton has long been the leading crop of this part of East Collin.
While in Princeton, one of the editors of this paper made an interesting visit to the Post Office. Ray Gantt has served sixteen years as the faithful Postmaster. He is a native of Princeton, being a son of M. C. Gantt, farmer, whose place is located one mile north of town on the Longneck road. Mr. Gantt, in addition to his postal duties, also handles a line of national magazines and papers, a line that does not interfere with his duties in the postal service. He has a good home, just west of the new school building, which he and his wife keep in a creditable manner from a civic standpoint. Postmaster Gantt is a brother of Prof. Elburn L. Gantt, Superintendent of the Princeton Public School for the past several years and recently re-elected. His youngest brother is Walter B. Gantt, young business man, onion dealer and cotton buyer, in season.
Paul G. Boorman, Princeton's only rural Letter Carrier, serves Route One, which is 42.65 miles in length. He has held this position for several years and is quite efficient. He is a brother of Lynn Boorman of McKinney and a son of Mrs. Sallie (Wallace) Boorman, who lives in her home on Tennessee Street, this city. His father, Dr. T. G. Boorman, deceased, was one of East Collin's most highly esteemed citizens and extensive practitioners. Paul is the every image of his revered father whose memory is treasured in scores of homes in the territory of his practice in and around Princeton. Paul also has the humorous slant on life that his father had and spreads sunshine among all with whom he mingles.
J. I. (Isaac) Griffin has underway the erection of a six-room and bath modern home. One of the best concrete foundations for a residence that we have ever seen is already in place and the frame work of the building is nearly completed. The structure will be of native Denton County rock, reddish brown in color. It will be unique in construction when completed, and a distinct addition to the pretty civic appearance of this little East Collin city. Mr. Griffin is a native of McKinney, being a son of the late Isaac Griffin, a prominent ginner, threshermann and farm owner of McKinney for many ears, who died several years ago. His mother is still living and resides at the corner of North Church and West Heard Streets, McKinney. Mr. Griffin gives considerable attention to onion prediction, buying, selling and shipping that product, which has carried the name and fame of the Princeton area to remote corners of the country for high quality dry farming grown onion products.
Mrs. Ben W. Dugger has recently had her residence extensively improved, repaired, repapered and repainted in a most attractive and comfortable way. She has done her part towards improving the looks, value and comfort of her home and adding to the civic attractiveness of her little home city.
Cecil Robbins is another Princetonite, who has recently re-roofed his residence, repapered and repainted the same in an attractive way. He is a property owner and taxpayer, who believes that money spent in a timely way for upkeep and paint prolongs the life of property investments and, therefore, is always a paying proposition. A well kept home and premises adds to the happy home life and pride of the owner, while at the same time contributes to the value and prestige of the town in which it is located For civic progressiveness and attractiveness in the eyes of home people and visitors.
W. H. Rutledge has recently added to the appearance and convenience of his residence property by improving and repapering it and plans to repaint the same in the near future. He believes that money invested in good paint, properly applied, is a real investment, because it prolongs the life of a home as well as beautifies it in the eyes of his neighbors and the general public coming to the town to trade or visit.
Another Princeton home that has undergone substantial repairs inside and out, repapered and repainted is that of G. H. Dalton, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of that town, which he has called home for many hears. Mr. Dalton can always be counted on to pull for his home town in every way, in civic and business advancement, school interests and otherwise.
T. C. Myers, a thrifty farmer, has recently erected a new box and weatherboarded farm home on his place, four miles south of Princeton. He will probably built a new barn sometime later in the spring and summer. Lots of farm improvements have been made throughout Collin County during the past few years. Mr. Myers is one of the forward looking farmers to help overcome the depression and set normal business back on the throne again by making these improvements which add to his own convenience, helps give employment to labor and does his bit in a business way for hardware, paint and lumber establishments of his town and county.
The. J. S. Heard Estate has built a four-room frame farm residence on what is known as the Heard Ranch, two miles southeast of Princeton. Preparations are underway to also build a large storage barn on the same property. The Heard Ranch contains several hundred acres of rich, productive black land, with a number of sets of farm improvements for tenants living on the property.
E. E. Davis, farmer, has built a good new six-room residence on his farm, three miles northeast of Princeton, within recent months. Mr. Davis is a useful, thrifty citizen, who believes in making the farm more attractive as a home proposition where a livelihood for himself and family is to be made.
C. A. Mantooth, who was reared in the Altoga community and has chiefly educated his children in the McKinney Public Schools, has built a nice four-room frame residence on his farm, three miles northeast of Princeton, which is occupied by his son, Ross Mantooth and young wife.
J. Willis Neal, Cashier of the Citizens State Bank, Princeton, is another progressive East Collin citizen, as well as a successful country banker to build a new and comfortable little frame residence on the farm that he owns, two miles northeast of Princeton. Mr. Neal is a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. T. Ben Wilson, a substantial pioneer couple of that little city. Mr. Wilson is President of the bank, which Mr. Neal is as capable serving as Cashier.
During the last four or five months L. V. Reid has erected a comfortable five-room frame farm house on his place, located on the Longneck road, a short distance north of Princeton. Mr. Reid is a progressive farm citizen who is now occupying his comfortable new home with his family.
Another new home completed this year in Princeton is that of Choice Bates, a rather accommodating clerk for Bros. Grocery store. His firm are also veteran operators of a Princeton garage business. Mr. Bates' wife is one of the competent teachers in the Princeton Public School, which is conducted by a faculty of eleven or twelve teachers under the superintendency of Prof. Elburn L. Gantt.
J. D. West, son of Edd West, one of East Collin's most widely known and highly esteemed business men and merchants, finished a new five-room residence within the past year in Princeton. J. D., like his father, is energetic and believes in building up the prestige of Princeton as a center for one of the richest farming areas of North Texas.
While in Princeton, the representatives of this paper made a brief business call at the Wilcox Lumber Company yard, an old established Princeton business, which deals in lumber, doors, sashes, shingles, lime, sand, cement, paints and varnishes. The Wilcox Lumber Company was first established at Plano, over sixty years ago, by the late J. M. Wilcox, who later moved it to McKinney where its headquarters have been maintained since It owns several other lumber yards besides the McKinney and Princeton yards. After the death of J. M. Wilcox, the founder, he was succeeded as president of the Company by his son, the late George Wilcox, one of the most capable and valuable business men and citizens that McKinney ever had. After the latter's death, his brother, District Judge Frank E. Wilcox, became President, and is now capably serving in that capacity with Frank Cook of McKinney, manager, and Roscoe O. Wilson, manager of the Princeton yard in his fourteenth year. The Princeton yard is spacious carries an excellent and varied stock and is patronized by a wide scope of territory. Commencing about a year ago, his business decisively picked up and has been better than for several years past.
We had the pleasure of greeting Alva Burnside, son of A. L. Burnside, a well known farmer of our county. Alva operates the truck and delivery business for the Wilcox Lumber Company, at Princeton, and is giving Manager R. O. Wilson, for valuable assistance in waiting upon and serving their increasing business.
Among the busy artisans of Princeton is the firm of L. N. Helton & Son. The other member of the firm is Henry Helton. They are carpenters, builders and contractors, who take a pride in doing their work in a satisfactory, substantial way.
One of East Collin's busy carpenters, paperhangers and painters is G. C. Murphy of Princeton. He, like others engaged in the various phases of the building craft, has been kept quite busy in recent months, helping to do the work in his line that is being carried on in an increasing way, at Princeton, and for a large cope of surrounding territory.
Claude Houser & Son is another firm of paperhangers and painters that keeps quite busy. The son is G. D. Houser. They do high class work and spread out in their contracts to other parts of the surrounding farm area and county wherever they may be needed and contracted with.
C. E. Wakety, getting his mail on Route One, Princeton, has recently erected a nice, new frame residence on his farm, four miles northeast of Princeton. Mr. Wakety is an excellent citizen and wideawake farmer, who believes in maintaining the fertility of his farm and also keeping up its improvements to a high and creditable standard.
In the country, about three miles northeast of Princeton, Tom Recer has recently built a new frame residence on his farm, which is occupied by his son, Bill Recer, and wife. The Recers are an old and respected family name of East Collin, who originated in that section soon after Collin was organized ninety-one years ago.
We had the pleasure of greeting our old friend, Dr. S. J. Dobbs, who has been a busy physician and surgeon in and around Altoga and Princeton for many years. He is still active in the practice and is doing his part towards keeping the people healthy and restoring the sick to health again. Princeton has another physician in the person of Dr. C. C. York, whom we did not see on this brief but interesting visit to this thrifty little home city.
G. A. Miller, Star Route Carrier for the United States Post Office Department, between McKinney and Princeton, is one of the mist highly esteemed citizens of that East Collin area. He resides in Princeton and is connected with the big Miller Bros. Organization, onion growers and buyers of the county. He has faithfully served in the capacity as Star Route Carrier for a number of years and has the respect of all who know him. He makes two round trips daily between the McKinney and Princeton Post Offices carrying the mail and also passengers.
The major improvement of Princeton and vicinity during the past few months has been the erection, completion and dedication of the new high school building through the co-operation of the Public Works Administration. The new building, which is on the same campus with the old Princeton school, now used for the lower grades, was built at a cost of $42,000. The A. J. Riffe Construction company of Dallas had the contract while Allen Marshall did the work. Construction was commenced in July and the school was formally dedicated on March 19 this year. Prof. Elburn. L. Gantt is Superintendent and was recently re-elected for his sixth year. The School Board is composed of J. W. Godwin, President; W. T. Hooten, Jr., Secretary; John K. Wilson, R. E. Clements, G. H. Dalton, Charlie B. Neal and C. M. McMahan.
HISTORY OF PRINCETON
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, Oct. 1, 1946 Centennial Edition
by Mary Louise Leake
Once upon a time a small railway stop was locate eight miles east of the county seat of Collin County. The stop was called "Wilson Switch" in honor of the Wilson family. The postoffice department objected to the name since another town in Texas was named Wilson. The name was changed to Princeton, in honor of Prince Dowlin, who owned the land and had it surveyed. It has been said, too, that his name was Princeton Dowlin, and that he was one of the first residents of Princeton. The M. K. & T. railroad built the narrow gauge railway in 1881, later it was sold to L. R. & N. railroad and reconstructed in 1887 into a wide gauge. Princeton was merely a stop until 1900 when the depot was built. John K. Wilson was the agent during 1901 and 1902.
Some distinguished people who visited Princeton at this time were William Jenings Bryan and Carrie Nation.
The first resident of Princeton was W. A. Harrelson. He built the first house which is located in the western part of the village.
On February 8, 1889, the first postoffice was opened, and Mr. Harrelson was the first postmaster. About this time W. J. Burton built the first blacksmith shop.
J. H. Sneed, the first person to sell dry goods in Princeton, made his home the first dry goods store. The first store was built in 1891 by J. H. Sneed and Alma Wilson.
Dr. T. G. Boorman was the only doctor in Princeton at that time. The first drug store was owned by Dr. Boorman and J. Frank Smith. The store was then sold to John K. Wilson, who was the druggist and undertaker.
The first cotton gin was built by J. A. Barnett, in 1895. Three gins were constructed. They were the Oil Mill Gin, Godwin Gin and Farmers Gin.
The first church in Princeton was the Methodist, built in 1896. In 1907, the Baptist Church was moved from Long Neck. In 1910, due to the old church being blown down, a new Baptist church was built.
The first brick building ever built in Princeton was used for a bank. Later it was owned by John K. Wilson and used as a drug store and undertakers department.
On March 20, 1901, the West brothers came to Princeton and established both a grocery and dry goods store.
The artesian well was dug in 1906. The land was bought in 1918 by the city from a Mr. Taylor for $5000.00.
Land was bought in the northern part of the town from a Mrs. Mead to build a school house. The first school house was built in 1898, however, in the southern part of the town. A brick building was erected in 1910 under the directions of a Mr. Shepherd and son.
Land was given by Alma Wilson to the I. O. O. F. cemetery, which is located in the southwestern part of Princeton. The first person buried was Clayton Hogan.
The one and only hotel was built in 1904 by B. F. Test. It is situated in the main section of Princeton.
Dr. T. G. Boorman was in charge of the first telephone in Princeton. The modern system is owned by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
In 1921 the business section of Princeton was destroyed by fire. This section consisted of a garage, grocery store, barber shop, tailor shop and telephone office. This section was rebuilt and the West brothers owned the telephone office.
Princeton continued growing through the years-still prospering in its most productive crop-onions.
In 1936 a new high school building was built just to the west of the old building, which was still used. Buses have long since been bought to provide transportation for the children living in the country. In 1940 the twelve grade system was added to the school; before this time only eleven grades were had. To add to the attractions of the school, a Mr. Fred Martin organized a band for the pupils of the public school. This band was continued through three years, when the membership dropped so low in the band that Mr. Martin could no longer make his long trips from Fort Worth to Princeton once a week. The new lunch room had been added which benefitted the boys and girls in school. Hot lunches were served at a very low cost. Mrs. Bertha Wilson is still the supervisor of the lunch room.
There are now four church in Princeton. They are the Baptist, the Methodist, the Christian and the Church of Christ. On Christmas of the year 1940, the Church of Christ burned. Church was held in the auditorium of the high school building until a new church was built.
The migratory camp was built in June of 1940. This is situated at the west of Princeton. It was built for the people who moved into Princeton each onion and cotton season to help do the work. Honorable Sam Rayburn made the dedicatory speech, introduced by C. H. Akin, a local representative and also a native of Princeton. Later the camp was made into a war prison camp for Germans captured during the World War II. The artesian well dug at this camp was then used to supply water for Princeton instead of the former well.
The population of Princeton decreased rapidly during the year 1941 and especially during 1942 because so many boys and men were joining the armed forces and many people were leaving to find jobs in war plants.
In 1943, the women of Princeton voted to organize a study club. Since Princeton is the onion center of Collin County, the women decided to turn the spelling of the word onion backwards, and they found a suitable name: The Noino Study Club. The purpose of the club was to learn more about different people, places, and to have social gatherings every two weeks. Mrs. Guy Bush was the first resident. The laws and the constitution were drawn. As all women do the women of Princeton began to notice that Princeton was very unattractive because of the large dumping ground in the center of Princeton where the railroad had been taken up. Each woman began working and planning a park. There was a beautification committee that went to work immediately. On this committee there were Mrs. Charles akin, Mrs. Walter B. Gantt and Mrs. Luther Leake. Merchants from neighboring towns aided the women as did the merchants of Princeton, in constructing the park. Many people form Princeton, McKinney Farmersville and Greenville gave liberal donations to this park. Under a special bill the German prisoners were contracted to do the work on the park. The park is in memory of the boys who served in the armed forces during World War II. The dedication was in the spring of 1946. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Dooley was the speaker, who was introduced by Ike Griffin.
The public school has grown during the last few years, too. Four contract schools have come in with Princeton school and two no grade schools. The total scholastics are four hundred and seventy-two.
The school also has been noted for girls basketball team, who won the Collin County championship in 1946. Sarah Cave and Doris McCormack received gold basketballs for their good work on the team. George Lacy was the coach. Hugh Peterman, also won the Sports award for the team in football. He had four boys that were outstanding. They were Eldon Donihoo, Kenneth Combest, Jackie Fort, and Jack Harvell. M. S. Rogers as organized a program of future farmers. Many of his boys have won prizes for their stock shown at different stock shows. Mr. Rogers also had an agricultural work shop on the campus of the school. The new school has had a new superintendent for the last two years, Paul G. Henderson, formerly from Allen.
J. W. Chappell is the mayor of Princeton now. There is a Co-op Gin in Princeton now; many garages; practically every type of store except a dry goods store. Dr. C. C. York and Dr. J. S. Dobbs are the only doctors here now.
Princeton has a great production of cotton, wheat and corn and it is still noted for the great production of onions.
Thus the small gage railway stop called "Wilson Switch" has developed into a village that is centered in the midst of the most fertile land in Collin County.