The only people living along the banks of the LaCreole River before 1842 were Native Americans and a few itinerant French Canadian fur trappers who, according to local lore, bestowed its name. Wagon trains first arrived in 1843 with these pioneers settling along the LeCreole River’s banks. The community of Cynthian grew on the north side of the LaCreole River, the area of north Dallas today.
The LaCreole River evolved into the Rickreall and Cynthian was renamed Dallas when it relocated to the south banks of the river. Dallas, the county seat of Polk County, is rich both in its history and its heritage with many of the old buildings and early homes still in use. Numerous descendants of those original 1843 and 1844 pioneer families continue to call modern Dallas home.
A portion of the author proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to the Polk County Museum.
Highlights of Dallas include:
• The majority of the images used are located in the Polk County Museum.
• The Muir & McDonald Tannery, Dallas’s longest continual business, is featured in the book.
• The book contains some very old photos of businesses and people not typically displayed including the Main Street covered bridge that used to cross the LaCreole Creek.
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.
