The spirit of Halloween may be about ghosts, goblins, candy, and things that go bump in the night, but the Southlake Historical Society has a different take on this year’s spooky season.
On this week’s Minute with the Mayor, SHS member Tamara McMillan spoke with Mayor John Huffman about the organization’s plans to educate the public on the real-life spirits of Southlake by hosting their annual event, Ghosts of Southlake’s Past.
The event will be held in Hood Cemetery located on Coventry Lane near east Peytonville Avenue in the Coventry Manor subdivision on Saturday, November 12, at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“We have several cemeteries in the area that people don’t know about,” said McMillan. “There are many people buried here who actually were really putting the community together; there are also a lot of unmarked graves because in those times, very often, people really weren’t able to mark their graves.” “We really want to educate people about what happened here.”
Reenactors will tell the story of the people who are buried.
“This year, we have some good stories, we have a horse thief, we have a confederate soldier, and we have an unmarked grave with a mother and her daughter telling their story about how they got here,” she said.
“It’s a great way to end Spooky Season,” said, Mayor John Huffman.
Tickets for this event are required and can be purchased online at Tickets to the City or www.southlakehistory.org. A limited number of tickets will be available the night of the event. The tour will be held rain or shine. Participants should be a small flashlight, wear comfortable shoes and dress weather conditions.
The spirit of Halloween may be about ghosts, goblins, candy, and things that go bump in the night, but the Southlake Historical Society has a different take on this year’s spooky season.
On this week’s Minute with the Mayor, SHS member Tamara McMillan spoke with Mayor John Huffman about the organization’s plans to educate the public on the real-life spirits of Southlake by hosting their annual event, Ghosts of Southlake’s Past.
The event will be held in Hood Cemetery located on Coventry Lane near east Peytonville Avenue in the Coventry Manor subdivision on Saturday, November 12, at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“We have several cemeteries in the area that people don’t know about,” said McMillan. “There are many people buried here who actually were really putting the community together; there are also a lot of unmarked graves because in those times, very often, people really weren’t able to mark their graves.” “We really want to educate people about what happened here.”
Reenactors will tell the story of the people who are buried.
“This year, we have some good stories, we have a horse thief, we have a confederate soldier, and we have an unmarked grave with a mother and her daughter telling their story about how they got here,” she said.
“It’s a great way to end Spooky Season,” said, Mayor John Huffman.
Tickets for this event are required and can be purchased online at Tickets to the City or www.southlakehistory.org. A limited number of tickets will be available the night of the event. The tour will be held rain or shine. Participants should be a small flashlight, wear comfortable shoes and dress weather conditions.
The Texas Historical Commission’s prestigious Award of Excellence in Preserving History has been awarded to the Southlake Historical Society for its exhibit “Bob and Almeady Chisum Jones: A True Story of Resilience, Courage and Success.” The exhibit shines light on Southlake’s past through the accomplishments of former slaves whose lives were part of the heritage of Texas.
“The Bob Jones family has left a lasting legacy for the city that will forever define Southlake,” said Southlake Mayor John Huffman. “We are grateful to the Southlake Historical Society for bringing their incredible story to life through this award-winning exhibit.”
The exhibit was displayed in Southlake Town Hall in summer 2020. It can now be seen at the Bob Jones Nature Center’s visitors center and also online, at www.southlakehistory.org.
“The Southlake Historical Society is an inspiration to other organizations and communities wrestling with similar histories,” said THC Executive Director Mark Wolfe. “Their commitment and diligence in building this detailed exhibit is worthy of recognition as preservationists and historians work to present Texas’ diverse history.”
Both Bob Jones (1850-1936) and his wife, Almeady Chisum (1857-1949), were born into slavery. Each had a white father and a mother who was enslaved. Bob and Almeady witnessed the Civil War, Juneteenth, frontier lawlessness, trail drives and cattle barons (Almeady was told cattle baron John Chisum was her father), Reconstruction and Jim Crow. The pair built a farm/ranch that was an area economic engine, created strong bonds with their white and Black friends and neighbors, educated their 10 children and enjoyed life.
In 1948, when thousands of acres, including Jones land, was being taken to build Lake Grapevine, sons Jinks and Emory opened a livestock auction barn, the largest business at the time in what would become Southlake. Next to the auction barn, their wives ran a cafe thought by historians to be the first integrated cafe in Texas.
The award was one of 11 presented at the Real Places 2022 conference in Austin Feb. 3-5 that honored accomplishments and exemplary leadership in the preservation of Texas’ heritage. The conference was attended by hundreds of individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving Texas’ historic places and the stories they tell.
The THC award is one of several earned by the historical society. In October 2021, President Connie Cooley and historian Anita Robeson were honored by the Tarrant County Historical Commission for their 20-plus years of gathering and presenting Southlake history. In September 2021, the society received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for its Bob and Almeady Chisum Jones exhibit. In 2013, the AASLH awarded the society the Albert B. Corey Award, recognizing “the qualities of vigor, scholarship and imagination in their work.”
February is Black History Month. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of African Americans in local communities and throughout the U.S.
If you are looking for a way to celebrate Black History Month this year, then look no further than the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve. The Southlake Historical Society’s Bob & Almeady Chisum Jones: A True Story of Resilience, Courage & Success exhibit is displayed in the nature center lobby. Discover Bob Jones, his family, and their impact on Southlake.
The exhibit does a fabulous job of detailing the life and achievements of the man whose name is on Southlake’s largest park, a road, and the city’s nature center and preserve. Learn more about the Jones family and the legacy they left in Southlake through this exhibit which recently won the American Association for State and Local History's Award of Excellence.
If you don’t have time to make it to the Nature Center this month, fret not! You can experience this exhibit virtually on the Southlake Historical Society’s website.
We hope to see you at the Nature Center!
On Sunday, October 24, the City of Southlake hosted a public art dedication and celebration for Seth Vandable’s “Bob and Almeady Jones” statue at Bob Jones Park.
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the park. Descendants from the Jones family, City Council members, Arts Council members, and Southlake Historical Society members gathered to unveil Southlake’s latest public art piece. Southlake Mayor, John Huffman opened the ceremony, followed by remarks by Arts Council Chairperson Tamara McMillan and Historical Society Historian Anita Robeson. The ceremony concluded with some words from Bob Jones’ grandson, Dr. William Jones.
“Art, in all of its forms, is so vital to a City and a community. Southlake has shown a steadfast commitment to the arts in recent years as we have unveiled public art pieces in the City's roundabouts, parks, and facilities. Today's celebration is another example of the City Council's commitment to ensuring that art tells the story of our past, present, and future,” stated Mayor Huffman.
The Bob and Almeady Jones Statue is a memorial to the monumental role the Jones family played in Southlake’s development.
“Bob was a brilliant horse and cattleman. An excellent businessman, whose word and a handshake was his bind… He eventually acquired and operated over 2,000 acres in what is now Southlake. It’s a wonderful tribute that part of that original property is preserved in the Bob Jones Park and Nature Center. I am the youngest of the last of Bob and Almeady’s 24 grandchildren. No Jones descendant carries on the ranching tradition or lives in the area at present. But new generations of Jones descendants have the opportunity to visit the property and remember our past with pride…. The statue is a marvelous addition to Bob Jones Park, and will serve as a positive pictorial reminder of their legacy to all who visit for years to come,” stated Dr. Williams Jones.
After the ceremony, Jones family members unveiled the new statue together. The interactive art piece depicts Bob and Almeady Jones enjoying a freshly harvested summer meal after a hard day’s work of farming and teaching their 10 children. They are dressed in period attire and are seated on a stone bench and table, welcoming visitors to sit with them and enjoy a community meal together.
When describing the statue, Southlake Arts Council Chair, Tamara McMillan, stated that, “The portraits are welcoming likenesses, while still reflecting a measure of determination required to meet the challenges they face and burdens they carry. The sculpture is designed in the round, highlighting possible fruits and foods they would have harvested in the area, making it interesting from every angle.”
This public art dedication was unlike any other the City has hosted. After the unveiling, guests enjoyed a community meal at the Bob Jones Park Fishing Pavilion. A fiddler played as Jones family members from across the country ate together in celebration of their family’s legacy.
The Bob and Almeady Jones statue is located in Bob Jones Park in front of the playground. Community members can visit and take pictures with the beautiful interactive piece. Thank you to the Southlake Arts Council and Southlake Historical Society for helping make this addition to our Public Art collection a reality.
To learn more about Bob Jones and his family, visit the Bob Jones Exhibit at the Bob Jones Nature Center.
On Sunday, October 24, the City of Southlake hosted a public art dedication and celebration for Seth Vandable’s “Bob and Almeady Jones” statue at Bob Jones Park.
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the park. Descendants from the Jones family, City Council members, Arts Council members, and Southlake Historical Society members gathered to unveil Southlake’s latest public art piece. Southlake Mayor, John Huffman opened the ceremony, followed by remarks by Arts Council Chairperson Tamara McMillan and Historical Society Historian Anita Robeson. The ceremony concluded with some words from Bob Jones’ grandson, Dr. William Jones.
“Art, in all of its forms, is so vital to a City and a community. Southlake has shown a steadfast commitment to the arts in recent years as we have unveiled public art pieces in the City's roundabouts, parks, and facilities. Today's celebration is another example of the City Council's commitment to ensuring that art tells the story of our past, present, and future,” stated Mayor Huffman.
The Bob and Almeady Jones Statue is a memorial to the monumental role the Jones family played in Southlake’s development.
“Bob was a brilliant horse and cattleman. An excellent businessman, whose word and a handshake was his bind… He eventually acquired and operated over 2,000 acres in what is now Southlake. It’s a wonderful tribute that part of that original property is preserved in the Bob Jones Park and Nature Center. I am the youngest of the last of Bob and Almeady’s 24 grandchildren. No Jones descendant carries on the ranching tradition or lives in the area at present. But new generations of Jones descendants have the opportunity to visit the property and remember our past with pride…. The statue is a marvelous addition to Bob Jones Park, and will serve as a positive pictorial reminder of their legacy to all who visit for years to come,” stated Dr. Williams Jones.
After the ceremony, Jones family members unveiled the new statue together. The interactive art piece depicts Bob and Almeady Jones enjoying a freshly harvested summer meal after a hard day’s work of farming and teaching their 10 children. They are dressed in period attire and are seated on a stone bench and table, welcoming visitors to sit with them and enjoy a community meal together.
When describing the statue, Southlake Arts Council Chair, Tamara McMillan, stated that, “The portraits are welcoming likenesses, while still reflecting a measure of determination required to meet the challenges they face and burdens they carry. The sculpture is designed in the round, highlighting possible fruits and foods they would have harvested in the area, making it interesting from every angle.”
This public art dedication was unlike any other the City has hosted. After the unveiling, guests enjoyed a community meal at the Bob Jones Park Fishing Pavilion. A fiddler played as Jones family members from across the country ate together in celebration of their family’s legacy.
The Bob and Almeady Jones statue is located in Bob Jones Park in front of the playground. Community members can visit and take pictures with the beautiful interactive piece. Thank you to the Southlake Arts Council and Southlake Historical Society for helping make this addition to our Public Art collection a reality.
To learn more about Bob Jones and his family, visit the Bob Jones Exhibit at the Bob Jones Nature Center.
The Southlake Historical Society (SHS) was recently named the recipient of an American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Award of Excellence for “Bob and Almeady Chisum Jones: A True Story of Resilience, Courage, and Success.” The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 76th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
The exhibit tells the story of former slaves who established a prosperous ranch, built relationships with white neighbors and townspeople based on friendship and respect, and valued church, education, hard work and family. The Joneses continue to impact Southlake today.
“Our goal was to make history real by connecting it to the namesake of Bob Jones Nature Center, park and road,” said Anita Robeson, SHS historian. “The Joneses’ remarkable story of perseverance and success in an uncertain world is often overlooked, but it is one everyone should know. It is part of the heritage of Texas.” See the exhibit virtually at www.SouthlakeHistory.org or in person at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve visitor center when the building is open during programming hours.
“The Bob Jones family has left a lasting legacy for the city that will forever define Southlake,” said Southlake Mayor John Huffman. “We are grateful to the Southlake Historical Society for bringing their incredible story to life through this award-winning exhibit.”
This year, AASLH is proud to confer 38 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The Southlake Historical Society was formed in the early 1990s after Gary Fickes, a former Southlake mayor and now a Tarrant County commissioner, put an ad in the Grapevine Sun newspaper asking people interested in Southlake history to meet. The 2021 board members are Connie Cooley, president; Claire Johnson, secretary; Terri McAndrew, treasurer; Rebecca Utley, director of development; and Anita Robeson, historian. In 2013, the society received the AASLH’s Albert B. Corey Award, which recognizes “volunteer historical organizations that best display vigor, scholarship and imagination.”
The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history.
The City would like to extend its appreciation to the Southlake Historical Society for their partnership on this story and the virtual tour video that was created so people could enjoy the exhibit online. The City’s collaboration with the Historical Society goes back to the early 1990s.
You know Bob Jones as the name on a Southlake park, road, and the nature center. But who was he?
Bob Jones (1850-1936) and his wife, Almeady Chisum Jones (1857-1949), were born into slavery. They overcame the challenges of inequality to build a prosperous farm and ranch along the Denton-Tarrant county line. They made sure their ten children received an education and took pride in who they were. Their story is drawn from census and other records and the remembrances of generations of family and friends.
Take a moment and watch this virtual tour of the Southlake Historical Society’s exhibit: Bob and Almeady Chisum Jones, A True Story of Resilience Courage and Success.
To see the exhibit in person, you can visit Southlake Town Hall and the Southlake Library , now through September 4. To learn more about the Jones family and to read the exhibit panels in their entirety, visit www.SouthlakeHistory.org.
