The White Rock Lake Museum: Historical Timeline

Historical Timeline

Prior to 1910 | 1910-1929 | 1930-1958 | 1959-Present

1909-1910: A severe drought prompts city commissioners to consider building a reservoir on White Rock Creek.

January 11, 1910: As the drought continues, city commissioners formally adopt plan for White Rock reservoir.

January 16, 1910: First advertisements for bids to build a dam and spillway are published in Dallas, Houston, and St. Louis newspapers.

March 7, 1910: Fred A. Jones Company of Dallas awarded contract to build dam and spillway on White Rock Creek.

November 15, 1910: Seven workmen injured in derrick accident at White Rock dam construction site.

1911: In his "City Plan for Dallas," urban planner George E. Kessler recommends that all city land around White Rock reservoir "be retained in public hands and used for park purposes."

September 1, 1911: Daily Dallas Times Herald reports that White Rock Dam is completed (except for upstream guard of the spillway and sluiceway) and that the reservior already contains 800,000,000 gallons of water.

October 7, 1911: Beneath a tent erected beside the dam, Fred A. Jones hosts a luncheon for 143 civic leaders to celebrate completion of the work.

1913: Dallas' first chlorinated water dispensed by White Rock pump station.

1914: White Rock Lake is completely full for the first time. City establishes a nursery on land beside lake "to supply trees and shrubs for the park system."

April 3, 1917: Joe E. Lawther elected Mayor of Dallas. At the same time, voters approve fishing at White Rock Lake.

1917-1919: During Lawther's term of office, prisoners from Dallas city jail are used to build a gravel road around White Rock Lake.

1918: Kessler's second plan repeats his previous recommendation regarding land around White Rock Lake.

1921: Work begins on new filtration plant.

1923: Road encircling lake is named Lawther Drive, in honor of former mayor. New filtration plant, built at cost of $381,000 put into operation.

October 4, 1924: Work begins on new reservoir for Dallas, at Garza in neighboring Denton County.

October 9, 1925: Opening exercises of the new Texas & Pacific Clubhouse are held at Roxana Point (now called Tee Pee Hill).

Labor Day, 1926: First sailboat race held on White Rock Lake. Four boats entered but only one finished.

1928: Dallas Sailing Club, the lake's first, opens on western shore. (Moves to eastern shore in 1933.)

August 1928: City Water Commissioner, Col. S. E. Moss, ignites controversy when he proposes a "Coney Island" style amusement park for White Rock Lake.

April 9, 1929: A speedboat accident results in city ordinance requiring life jackets to be carried all boats on White Rock Lake.

April 1929: In a run-off election, "Hot Dog" candidate J. Waddy Tate, an outspoken advocate of providing public recreational facilities at White Rock Lake, is elected mayor of Dallas.

1929: Lake Dallas (now Lake Lewisville) completed. City stops using White Rock Lake for water supply.

December 13, 1929: White Rock Lake Park created. Lakeside hunting comes to end since it is against the law to discharge a firearm within the city limits.

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