Share your story

The community is invited to share stories, memories and photographs of Cedar Hill with us. Do you have a story about Cedar Hill we should know about? We’d love to hear from you. Submit your story, photograph and/or artifact and become a permanent part of Cedar Hill’s history.

Artifacts

The collection is currently housed in our temporary location at 332 Cedar Street (west entrance). Longhorn football championship memorabilia, physician’s and carpenter tools, clothing, homemaking, barbershop and clock repair items are among the collections. Please call for an appointment if you would like more information.

This horse bit with etched silver sides was found in the old livery stable at the southeast corner of Houston and Texas Street (just south of the current Babe’s Restaurant). It was donated to the Museum by Greg and Linda Patton after having been found in the 1980’s with a metal detector. In the 1800’s, the stable housed a talented blacksmith who made all kinds of metal items, including air tight wagon beds for hauling ice from Oak Cliff.

See additional photographs below.

Photo Collection

The collection, including digital, includes over 3,000 photographs. Periodically a "new" photograph will be selected to add to the online collection.

Photo Spotlight

This 1882 photograph is the 500 block of Cedar Street on the north side (across the street from the current location of Babe's Restaurant). You will notice it was prior to the old bank building which wasn't constructed until 1906. However, what appears to be the back of Pony Wilson's building that now houses Sam's Pizza shows on the left. The Straus Mercantile building was there until the 1950's. Perry is brother to the Perry whose homestead has been turned into a museum in Farmer's Branch.


Circa 1930 This school bus was driven by Joe Tidwell for the Cedar Hill School. He is sitting on the front fender. Students were all taught at the Bray Elementary site just west of the railroad track where Straus Road, Main Street and Cedar Hill Road merge.

Oral Histories

Our most recent oral history addition was provided at a storytelling party which was our quarterly membership program on March 26, 2010. J.R. Hickman, Jimmy Mobley, Robert Nelson, Frankie Lee & Joe Potter each added to our collection.

J.R. Hickman, Contest Winner tells of attending Pleasant Valley school during the 1930's (was located in the current Lakeridge Development). This school was also a church and cemetery so during funerals they would be sent home early.


The Cedar Hill Museum video records oral histories by appointment. If you have lived in Cedar Hill prior to the 1980's we would like to visit with you. Our collection currently includes interviews of Lovell Penn, Booney Dawson, Marietta Clark, Faye Carrell, Irene Stewart Haney and Vinus Nelson.

We are asking all key organizations to provide us with information about their projects annually. This report can include a video recording by the president and /or board members.

For a complete listing or recording and further information, please contact Phyllis Stewart at 972 293-3806.

Private Collections - Artifact Registration

This clock owned by T.A. Bray's grand son hung on the wall during the early 1900's, notice it behind Thelma Bray in photo. The clock still works. The building located at 210 S.Houston Street in Cedar Hill's Old Towne Square currently is Stacia's Spotlight Dance Studio and is stop number 6 on the Historic Walking Tour. Clock is part of T.Anthony Reid's private collection,as well at the fan which promotes community spirit and the business (photo below).

STEWART PRIVATE COLLECTION

This print of Pharoah's Horses, circa 1880, decorated the home of Joseph Stewart who lived at 523 W. Belt Line approximately 5 blocks east of the railroad on the north side. He was Cedar Hill Postmaster from 1876 to 1882 and Justice of the Peace for three terms. Its frame is embellished with horseshoes. It is currently on loan to the Museum by Joseph’s great, great grandson, William Stewart of Cedar Hill.

The print is in it's original frame and is an authentic Cedar Hill artifact which is registered with the Museum meaning simply that when the artifact changes ownership, the Museum is to be notified with new owner's contact information.