Yesterday on a tour of some of the lesser-known nooks and crannies of Harry Moss Park (see our Facebook Live video), we learned some interesting history of the area, which we plan to share more of in an upcoming magazine story.
But if you can’t wait, I’ll direct you to the Advocate’s past interview with historian Ted Campbell who explores the topic in depth through two videos.
You’ll learn:
American Indians began migrating toward Lake Highlands as early as the 1600s. By the 1800s there is evidence that tribes were settled in the neighborhood we now call home. By the 1900s most had relocated to Oklahoma.
James and Amanda Houx followed the Shawnee Trail to our area in the 1800s. Amanda died in childbirth shortly after arriving here. James purchased land near White Rock Creek, which is now Moss Farm. Their son Nicholas inherited that (plus much of the surrounding area was given to him by his adoptive father). The Houx family, the first settlers in this area, suffered a great deal of loss and tragedy.
Harry S. Moss was born in Canada in 1888 and founded the Moss Petroleum Company. He developed the Moss Haven Stock Farm in Lake Highlands, at first, to store a bull. His house was featured in a 1950s issue of Architectural Digest, and that home still stands in the neighborhood today.
The original neighborhood called Lake Highland is south of Northwest Highway and is now called Old Lake Highlands.
In the 1970s there was a hotel and practice field for the Dallas Cowboys along Forest Lane.
The development of the Forest Meadow and Town Creek area coincided with the construction of the team’s facilities.
Harry S. Moss Park was given to the city in 1978. (Also, not mentioned, we learned last year while working on this story, that Moss Park briefly was considered as a location for the Dallas Arboretum).
And much, much more.
