Landmarks
Wills Point’s village proper was formed in 1873. It was laid out at the highest elevation point between Ft. Worth and New Orleans by General Grenville M. Dodge from Iowa, then construction engineer for California Construction Company. Reportedly, it was first named Iola. According to legend, when early settlers petitioned Uncle Sam for its own postal service, the name had to be changed because there was already postal service to a place called Iola. William Wills was the initial settler. The Wills homestead was situated where a stand of trees came to a point in a clearing, so Wills Point was submitted and accepted. Wills Point was also known as “The Queen City of the Prairie”.

The Texas and Pacific Railroad

The Texas and Pacific Railroad has been located in Wills Point since 1873. The town was built around the railroad. Many businesses relocated here from the Cedar Grove Community when they heard the railroad would run through here.

The Majestic Theatre

Karl C. LyBrand launched his long and colorful career in the entertainment business in Wills Point in 1907 as manager of the Wednesday Book Club Opera House. In 1926, the theatre building was built to show the silent movies that were all the rage. Probably the most memorable thing during the silent picture days was the orchestra that won fame in our area providing musical accompaniment to the films. The orchestra included Karl C. Lybrand on trumpet and Ms. Eva Lybrand on piano. The orchestra played until talking pictures took over the screen in 1933. The first talking picture shown her was “The Girl From Woolworths” starring Alice White.

Karl C. Lybrand III carries on the tradition of his father and grandfather operating the Majestic Theatre today. It is the longest continuously operated movie house in Texas.

The Goodnight Building

Wills Point was still brand new in 1875 when Civil War veteran Major Henry Franklin Goodnight relocated here and opened a drug business. In 1902, he conceived and established the Van Zandt County National Bank, the second bank in the county. The current building at Commerce and 4th Street still contains the original bank vault.

Rose Dry Goods Store

Rose Dry Goods was established in 1873. It was originally in the Cedar Grove Community before it was relocated to the present site when the railroad came through Wills Point. B. W. Rose, the founder of the business, was a Jewish immigrant who came to America from his native Germany when he was 16 years old. The original building was a wood structure, but was bricked using bricks made south of Wills Point. There is no true record of the date of the building, but it is well over 100 years old. B. W. Rose died in 1922.

Wills Cabin

In 1848, a man named William Wills, the namesake of our city, came to Texas from Tennessee three years after it was annexed into the United States. He settled on what was then titled “Government Vacant Land” owned by the state and obtainable by settlers living on a tract for 3 successive years. He was the first settler to come here and built his home, a wood cabin, at the point of timber between the Sabine and Trinity rivers.

First Christian Church

On the northeast corner of James and N. 3rd Street ahead is the First Christian Church. It was founded in 1882. The congregation first met at the Presbyterian Church and a cotton gin pond was used for baptisms. The main part of the present church was erected in 1886. A Baptistery was added in 1891. During remodeling in the 1920’s, a belfry was removed and the beautiful stained glass windows were installed.

First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church was organized in 1873. The first location on the corner of 4th and High Street was constructed in 1876, but was destroyed by a storm. The next building was built around 1880. In 1901, while Rev. Clouse, daughters of the pastor were killed and the church was again destroyed. The original part of the existing structure was built in 1913.

Bruce & Human Drug

Bruce & Human Drug Company is the oldest family owned drug store in the state of Texas. Established by the late B. W. Bruce, it still remains in the hands of his family. It has been located on the corner of James and 4th Street since 1879.

The Green House

On the northwest corner of James and 4th Street is the original First National Bank building. The building was built and commissioned to the board of trustees of the First National Bank by the Howell family in 1895. The building is outlined by railroad tracks that the walls are built on top of. This was to deter any would be burglars from tunneling under the walls and into the bank. After the bank moved to another location, the building served as a city office, and then the post office. Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Mayberry bought the building in 1955, where they continued to operate the Greenhouse for over 40 years. The business is still family owned today.

The Chamber of Commerce/Easterwood Community Center

The Chamber of Commerce and Community Center is located at 307 N. 4th Street. The Chamber helps promote our town and businesses, and our community center is rented by groups throughout the year.

The Bobbitt House

The two-story brick house on the south side of the Post Office was originally the Bobbitt House. In 1918, Georgia Ann Morris Bobbitt moved her small family to Wills Point. She bought a small house on N. 3rd and decided to run a boarding house to support her family. Room and board was $1.00 per day.

The Bobbitt House was destroyed by fire twice. After the second fire, Georgia retired but her daughter, Dove, Took up where she left off. Dove built this once beautiful brick home and served noon meals to guests. The Bobbitt House played host to dignitaries from all parts of the world. Politicians, movie stars and big league baseball players including Gary Cooper, Liberace and 44 members of the St. Louis Browns baseball team were some of the honored guests. Visitors came from as far away as Africa, Lebanon and Japan. When pre-war touring by car was at its height, one Duncan Hines wrote a book in which he listed the better places to eat. The Bobbitt House was given equal space with the best of the list and received the Duncan Hines OK.

Lake Tawakoni

Take FM 47 or FM 751 North and you will reach Lake Tawakoni. Lake Tawakoni was dug in 1958 but did not actually fill up until the early 60’s. It was named after an old Caddoan Indian tribe who lived along the Sabine River. While the lake was dug, many relics were unearthed, as well as ancient elephant bones. You can find them at the Science Place at Fair Park.

Cotton Gins

West James Street was the sight of two cotton gins. At one time, there were eight cotton gins locally, and 26 county wide.

The Floyd Weeks Gin was the last working gin in Van Zandt County. The early ginners, cotton buyers and warehousemen played a vital role in Wills Point’s history, especially its economy.

The Rowden Gin was the other gin. Mr. W. O. Rowden came to live in Wills Point in the winter of 1898 to live with Mr. H.H. Carmack. Mr. Carmack gave him a boll of cotton that was brought her from Florida. Mr. Rowden planted that cotton, and from year to year improved the quality of his cotton. Around 1900, he formed a partnership with his brother, W. A. Rowden, to sell his cottonseed which produced more cotton per seed and grew taller than any other cotton. It became nationally known as “Famous Rowden Cotton”. Unfortunately, at the same time the first cotton picking machines were being invented that preferred the shorter variety, so Rowden Cotton’s fame was short lived.

Utility Information

Electricity came to wills Point in 1899. The telephone came that same year, and Natural Gas came in 1927.

Monning and Wynne Law Office

At the intersection of James and 5th Street is the Monning and Wynne Law Office. W. B. Wynne, known as the “Dean of the East Texas Bar”, began the practice of law in 1877. Angus Wynne joined his father when he was licensed to practice law in 1909. After World War I, Mr. Wynne’s sons, Buck Jim, Gordon and Toddie Lee, joined the firm. They were the first father/sons to be licensed to practice before the Supreme Court, and as far as we know, still hold that record.

The Wills Point Chronicle

Across from the City Office is the wills Point Chronicle. It had its’ beginning in Canton in 1878 during the war between the two cities over the county seat. At that time, Wills Point had a paper called the wills Point Local to champion their side of the issue, while Canton did not. In 1877, Canton bought a printing outfit with T.J. Towles and A.W. Riley as editors. As soon as the first Chronicle was launched, the war with The Local began. After 1886, the name was officially changed to The Wills Point Chronicle. In 1912, the Campbell family bought the paper and retained sole ownership until Glen McNeill Jr. became a partner. The McNeill family sold the paper to Join Buzetta in 1996.

Century 21 Hesskew Realty

The building on the corner of 5th and Hwy. 80 is the W.H. Wingo building. It was built in 1917 by Mr. Wingo. He was a merchant dealing in grains and oils and the old scales are still visible at the right side of the building. It was used as a freight warehouse in earlier years, but housed Lonnie Roe Realty from 1976 until Century 21 Hesskew Realty purchased in 2003.

Brick Streets

The brick streets were laid in the 1920’s by local laborers. The bricks were laid in a particular way on packed sand to last forever. The only ripples to this day are those made when the utility lines were installed. The bricks were taken up and re-laid, but it was difficult getting them back to the way they were laid originally.

The Rose Monument

The structure in the center of Commerce and N. 4th is the Rose Monument. I.E. Rose, the younger brother of B.W. Rose, followed his brother here. He stayed in Wills Point before going to Dallas where his ventures in real estate and other businesses proved profitable. Mr. Rose remembered Wills Point fondly for what it had done for him and his family, and expressed the desire to give something to the town that would be a source of civic pride. He first had the idea that a park for children to play in would be the best project, but after careful consideration by the mayor, city council and Mr. Rose, the monument was selected. The monument has tiers of basins for plants, a center projection that extends to a height of about 12-15 feet and attached to the projection are four light posts.

Veteran’s Memorial Park

In 1991, Veterans Memorial Park was established by the American Legion Post 303 and VFW Post 7837 to honor the men and women who live or have lived in the Wills Point area. Today, the Park is undergoing major renovation. An increase in park size has just been approved by the City Council. Under the direction of VFW Post 7837, a 105 MM Howitzer cannon has recently been added and a M60 tank has been ordered. The park will have new lighting, benches, and will be enclosed with decorative fencing.

Bluebird Capital of Texas

In 1995, Wills Point was officially named the “Bluebird Capital of Texas” by Governor George W. Bush. This was because we were shown to have the highest population of bluebirds on the Audubon bird count, than any other place in Texas. The water tower on the east side of town has a bluebird painted on its side. Our other water tower on the west side of town has a tiger painted on it, the WPHS mascot.

Fin and Feather Club and Lake

Through the gate at the north entrance to the White Rose Cemetery is Fin and Feather Club and Lake. At one time, it was a camp and convention ground for old settlers and war veterans. Their families would come out in covered wagons and stay several days at a time. Regular reunions were common in those days until around the 1920’s. The visitors would become a little rowdy and the club closed its doors to outsiders and formed a private club.

White Rose Cemetery

The cemetery began with the burial of William Wills on family land in 1864. Wills’ widow, Mary Ann (Phillips) set aside 8 acres here in a grid pattern and sold lots for community burials. Although the graveyard was known as the Wills Point Cemetery, in 1874, the White Rose Cemetery Association was formed to maintain the grounds. In 1886, Mary Wills retained the family burial plot and deeded the remainder of the graveyard to the Wills Point Cemetery. The association fenced the grounds and erected a gate with a connecting fence. On the north end of the cemetery is the headstone marking the sight of William Wills burial plot. The Wills family plots are within the fence.

Sweethearts Gravesite

Mr. W.M. Thompson and Miss Sallie J. Presley were engaged to be married. October 18, 1878, the day of their wedding, the bride passed away at the age of 28. Mr. Thompson bought two burial plots and fenced them together. He vowed he would never marry and would be buried beside his sweetheart when he died. January 15, 1881, he passed away at 35 years old, and sure enough, he was buried beside his one true love. A play, The Song of the Bluebird, written by Wills Point’s own Buz Craft, was based on this particular love story.

The cemetery has been enlarged over the years and by 1964, covered about 45 acres. A flagpole and memorial marker was dedicated to those who served in our armed forces by Sam Russell Post No. 303. Among the cemetery’s approximately 31,500 burials are many of the area’s pioneer settlers, their descendants and veterans of conflicts ranging from the Civil War to the Vietnam War.

Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home

The LyBrand family began in the funeral business in Wills Point in 1897. Four generations carried on the business, beginning with Julius LyBrand, who was the first licensed embalmer in Van Zandt County, then John C. LyBrand, and his son Herschel. The present building was built in 1987 after fire destroyed the original location in the downtown area. The Hiett’s purchased the funeral home in 2000.

Dallas Shreveport Road

This was a trail established by Caddoan Native Americans and later used by French traders who traversed this area. The trail emerged in the mid-1830’s as a main route into N. Texas for emigrants and cargo from the river port of Shreveport Louisiana. Van Zandt counties first courthouse was built along the route at Jordans Saline in 1848. Used extensively for troop movements during the Civil War, the route remained active with emigrants and ox teams into the 1900’s. The route greatly influenced settlement patterns in this area. The marker was dedicated in 1995.

Crestwood Nursing Home

Crestwood Nursing Home opened in 1970. Original owners were Dr. H.A. Baker of Wills Point, Dr. Michael Hackney of Canton and James Hooks of Edgewood. (It was originally known as Free State Nursing Home)

Russell House

Russell Memorial United Methodist Church was named for the gentleman who was killed in a car/train accident along with his son, Eric Jr. The first church building was destroyed by a tornado, and a second was constructed in 1890, but the congregation grew out of that church. A three story building was constructed but funds ran out, so Mrs. Russell made a substantial donation in memory of her husband and son. The name was changed to Russell Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church as the building was constructed.

Tornado Stories

3 Tornados, of major proportion have hit Wills Point. 1890 1901-killed 2 (Mary Edith and Maggie Clouse – daughters of Reverend Clouse of the 1st Baptist Church) 1907-Killed 3 (Mary Corinne Douglas, her son Jesse, and an unnamed newborn infant)

Jack Williams (Woodhouse)

The Woodhouse house is one of the two who have official historical markers in Wills Point. It was built in 1872 by T.L. Woodhouse. The materials used to build it were hauled by ox wagon from Jefferson and Shreveport ports. Mr. Woodhouse (1841 – 1928) served in the 6th Texas Calvary C.S.A. He married Elizabeth Nash in 1868, and ran a mercantile business until 1880. The home is of Greek Revival style and was added to in 1917.

721 Canton Ave.

Home of W.H. Wingo, known around here as “BLITZ”, and is owned by the Wingo Family. Wingo’s Mill and Cotton Gin business was established in 1870 by Theophilus Francis Wingo and his wife Betty Juliet Wingo, along with her parents James Ellis Anderson and Rebecca R. Stimson. The business encompassed cottonseed processing, the production and sale of hay and cattle raising. Wingo Oil Mill, a cotton-seed processing plant, was built in 1939 on S. 4th St. by W.H. Wingo Jr. and David S. Wingo along with their father W.H. Wingo.

Wills Point Schools

Private schools provided education in Wills Point until Mayor Thomas J. McKain and city officials established a public school in 1886. Classes began in a rented building on N. Fourth Street. In 1891, 6.1 acres of land were purchased and this property became the nucleus if the district’s later growth. W.H. Alford was the first graduate of Wills Point High School. He later founded Alford Refrigeration in Dallas. Graduation exercises were held in the Opera House to packed audience. Over twenty early rural schools have consolidated with Wills Point, an independent school district since 1913. The consolidations have made Wills Point one of the largest districts in East Texas. The district covers 215 square miles in two counties. A High School was built in 2000 to handle the growth of our school system. The school is still a focal point and a source of pride for the community.

The Cartwright School

The Cartwright School was the first school for blacks. The provision for the school was made over 100 years ago. Originally, the unnamed school was located on N. Wills Street. Professor Needham Wright was the first teacher, teaching children during the day and adults at night. Cedar Grove students and teachers were moved to the school when their building was destroyed by fire and the school was moved to the south side of town. In 1927, the students in grades 1-8 were moved to the public school due to overcrowding, then in 1966, the entire school was de-segregated, and Cartwright was closed.

Hallman Memorials

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel King Hallman were pioneer settlers in Van Zandt County. Mr.Hallman, a former school teacher, established Hallman memorials in 1900. The original location was at N. 5th and James St. (where Monning and Wynne is now). Marble and granite came by rail to Wills Point from as far away as Italy. Maurice K. Hallman bought the family interest in 1946. The most interesting memorial was a crypt he designed and set in a chapel in New Diana for the late judge T. Whitfield Davidson, a federal judge in Dallas and a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas. It is currently still family owned and operated by Henry Hallman.

MURDER AT THE DEPOT

February, 1895. Just after the Texas and Pacific passenger train No. 2 came into the depot, City Marshall Marable walked in on a fist fight between Judge T.R. Yantis and County Attorney W.W. Berzett. Mr. Marable tried to stop the fight when he saw Berzett draw his pistol. Immediately, Yantis drew his pistol and fired. The bullet missed its’ target and hit an innocent bystander and good friend of Mr. Yantis’, Captain C.W. Swank, killing him instantly with a bullet to the heart.

Caboose

The Caboose was given to the city in 1990 after Union Pacific Railroad discontinued use of these on their trains. Texas and Pacific railroad, the original railroad that came through Wills Point, was bought by Union pacific. When the city let out use of the Caboose to the Historical Society, the club refurbished the Caboose as one of the Texas and Pacific Railroads.

It has since been maintained as an information center by the Historical Society through grants made available by the State of Texas. The information center is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm. Tours of the Depot Museum are available during the hours the information center is open.

Wills Point’s rich heritage dates back to the days when the longhorn cattle roamed the wide open range. May we ever be mindful of those before us whose courage, tolerance and hard labor made the heritage we so proudly proclaim a reality.