Illinois-native George Mansfield Dilley, the prominent railroad-building contractor who played an instrumental role in the expansion of railroads throughout Texas and the South, established this foundry in 1873, one year after the railroad arrived in Palestine. The George M. Dilley & Son Foundry, located adjacent to the I&GN tracks, at one time contained more than ten buildings. The enterprise manufactured some farm equipment and machinery, but its primary output was gray iron and brass castings for Texas railroads. The elder Dilley moved to Dallas in the 1880s, but the foundry continued to be run by his son, George Edward Dilley – one of Palestine’s most prominent citizens of the late 19th century. G.E. Dilley continued operations at the foundry until his death in 1932; his son Clarence V. Dilley then took over until his own death five years later. In the mid-1930s, the plant had an average payroll of about twenty thousand dollars, for a workforce of twenty to twenty-five men. The foundry ceased operations in the late 1930s. All that remains today are the frame office building, the nearby brick brass furnace building, and a lengthy iron fence which borders the property and faces May Street (which local historians …

Illinois-native George Mansfield Dilley, the prominent railroad-building contractor who played an instrumental role in the expansion of railroads throughout Texas and the South, established this foundry in 1873, one year after the railroad arrived in Palestine. The George M. Dilley & Son Foundry, located adjacent to the I&GN tracks, at one time contained more than ten buildings. The enterprise manufactured some farm equipment and machinery, but its primary output was gray iron and brass castings for Texas railroads. The elder Dilley moved to Dallas in the 1880s, but the foundry continued to be run by his son, George Edward Dilley – one of Palestine’s most prominent citizens of the late 19th century. G.E. Dilley continued operations at the foundry until his death in 1932; his son Clarence V. Dilley then took over until his own death five years later. In the mid-1930s, the plant had an average payroll of about twenty thousand dollars, for a workforce of twenty to twenty-five men. The foundry ceased operations in the late 1930s. All that remains today are the frame office building, the nearby brick brass furnace building, and a lengthy iron fence which borders the property and faces May Street (which local historians …

A photograph of a young Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody). He is wearing a thick, long buckskin coat and fringed leggings. He is holding a rifle in one hand with his revolver tucked under his arm.

A photograph of Buffalo Bill standing with a group of eight Native Americans. They are members of the Crow, Sioux, and Pawnee Nations.

Photograph of the F.B. Severs Cash Store, Okmulgee, I.T. Photo was taken by John K. Hillers on May 9, 1875. Frederick Ballard Severs was a prominent rancher and entrepreneur in Indian Territory. He was the first postmasters in Okmulgee. He helped develop Okmulgee and Muskogee by constructing many of the business buildings, and he built and assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Muskogee.

Photograph of the Interior of St. David's Church during the of Reverend Thomas Booth Lee. The pews are empty, but a man is seated up near the altar. There are large chandeliers in the sanctuary and a stained glass window behind the altar. The caption beneath the photo reads, "Interior of St. David's Church, Austin, Texas, during the early part of the rectorship of the Rev. Thomas Booth Lee- 1875-1912."

This is a photograph of the first building constructed on the courthouse square. It was located where number 601 East Lacy is now located, but it extended over approximately halfway into the lot of the current number 603. This was Alexander Joost's store, known after the Civil War as the "Cheap Cash Store". Joost was an immigrant from France who had an earlier store at Fort Houston. As soon as the site was located for the county seat of the new Anderson County, he bought land there and prepared to moved. He rebuilt after the 1874 fire and again after the 1879 fire. Most of the conflagrations that were destroying entire blocks of the city of Palestine in the 1870s and 1880s were set by an incendiary who was eluding the police. Even though numerous merchants in New Town and Old Town suffered from these fires, Joost took them personally, especially when rumors were spread around town that he was having difficulty maintaining a good stock of merchandise. To combat this, he took out an ad in the Trinity Advocate to let his customers know he was still offering the best merchandise at the best prices. However, when his store …

This is a photograph of the first building constructed on the courthouse square. It was located where number 601 East Lacy is now located, but it extended over approximately halfway into the lot of the current number 603. This was Alexander Joost's store, known after the Civil War as the "Cheap Cash Store". Joost was an immigrant from France who had an earlier store at Fort Houston. As soon as the site was located for the county seat of the new Anderson County, he bought land there and prepared to moved. He rebuilt after the 1874 fire and again after the 1879 fire. Most of the conflagrations that were destroying entire blocks of the city of Palestine in the 1870s and 1880s were set by an incendiary who was eluding the police. Even though numerous merchants in New Town and Old Town suffered from these fires, Joost took them personally, especially when rumors were spread around town that he was having difficulty maintaining a good stock of merchandise. To combat this, he took out an ad in the Trinity Advocate to let his customers know he was still offering the best merchandise at the best prices. However, when his store …

Nellie Ballentine Walker as a toddler. She was born February 27, 1872, the daughter of Albert A. and Margaret J. Walker. Albert Walker was a dentist in Paris.

Copy photo of a T&P map and advertisement. Written around the border of the map are "No other route can offer such inducements to the traveling public is the Texas & Pacific Railway," "Shortest and quickest line from Texas to St. Louis and the East," "Palace day and night cars on all through trains." and "The only direct all rail route to Memphis and the Southeast." Written below the image are "Timetable issued June 1875 (15 x 23 inches)" and "C. F. Taylor (Mr C. H. Sypert - Collection)."

Copy photo of a framed T&P timetable. Written underneath the image are "Timetable issued June 1875 (15 x 23 inches)" and "C. F. Taylor (Mr. C. H. Sypert Collection)."

Photo of Avenue A in Palestine, Texas.

Photograph of a woman wearing a dark dress, fur collar, and pearl jewelry.

Photograph of a man standing next to a short pillar in front of a painted backdrop. He is wearing a long coat and vest, and a pocket watch chain is visible under his coat. "No. 40, J. Bond, Cleburne, Texas, frame 10412 W. C. R." is written on the back.

Photograph (copy) Suzanne "Lizzy" Ryon Davis. J. H.P. Davis first wife. Davis' hair is pulled back into a bun; curls frame the front of her head. Her dark dress is shirred at the front and she has a lace collar with a scarf that is tied into a bow. A chain can be seen hanging from beneath her bow. Davis is seated in a chair and portrait ends just below the waist. Scanned image is of the copy.

Portrait is a full-body shot of an unidentified woman posing with her left hand on a chair. She is wearing a dark-colored dress with a light-colored lacy collar and a necklace. The photograph is on a light mat and has "Meyersville, 1875" written on the back.

Portrait of Ella Dorsey wearing a dark dress with a white ruffled collar. According to a note on the back of the photo she was born February 16, 1852.

Portrait of Evan Dorsey, a man with a dark beard. According to a note on the back of the photo, he was born July 3, 1839.

Portrait of Fannie Louisa (Lavenia) Lawrence wearing a dark dress with a high collar and a bow.

Portrait of the Walker family: J. W. and Sarah Henrietta Lister Walker and their five children, including Louisa and Lizzie Walker.

Portrait of two women standing next to a display of photographs in frames. One of the women is identified as Janie Walker.

Photographic copy of original tintype of Thomas Jefferson Smith. Original tintype (returned to donor) is 8" x 10", oval matted in a paper matte and framed in an oval wooden frame. Matte is very brittle and was reinforced with masking tape prior to its arrival at the museum. Image of Smith has moderate crackling over entire surface (visible in scanned image). Smith is pictured as an old man with a sunken face, wire rimmed glasses, sparse white hair, and a white beard. He is holding a cane across his chest.

Photograph of the Ursuline Convent and Academy, in San Antonio, Texas.