Retrospect, July, August, September, 2003 Page: 1

                                
RE TROSPE CT
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE
DENTON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION

July, August, September 2003

Chairman's Corner
By Howard Smith
May Meeting
We had a wonderful May
meeting of the DCHC at the Sen-
ior/Community Center in Pilot
Point. There was a full house of
members, visitors, and representa-
tives of Pilot Point.
Gretel L'Heureux, Main Street
Manager of Pilot Point and DCHC
member, hosted the event. Gretel
gave a great program on the Main
Street Program in Pilot Point. This
was followed by an arranged tour
of the Lantana Lodge, which is un-
dergoing a major renovation. Lan-
tana Lodge also provided the re-
freshments for the meeting. Need-
less to say, they were delicious.
Thanks to Gretel and the City of
Pilot Point for a wonderful day.
Historical Preservation Conference
The Texas Historical Commis-
sion celebrated its 50th Anniver-
sary with a special dinner during
the 2003 Annual Historical Preser-
vation Conference in Austin, May
15-17. DCHC was again recog-
nized by receiving the Distin-
guished Service Award.
Susan Odom represented
DCHC at the ceremony, and she
reported that it was really a thrill
when it was announced that DCHC
had over 6,000 hours; only one
other commission had more.
(See CHAIRMAN'S CORNER on page 2)

OLD ALTON BRIDGE AND PARK

CELEBRATI
The restoration of
the Old Alton Bridge
is at last a reality.
Many years of persis-
tence and hard work
on the part of many
Denton County His-
torical Commission
members have paid
off. Denton County
has retained a treas-
ured monument that
will bring many more
years of delight to its ci
zens.

ON
Hr
Howard Smith standing in front of teOld Alo  rdge.

ti-

The bridge's rededication was
held May 31 under partly sunny
skies and a slight breeze. Over 50
citizens joined in the celebration,
anxiously anticipating the official
reopening of one of the county's
greatest treasures. Many adults
who attended shared childhood
memories and many children at-
tended to begin making new ones.
DCHC Chairman Howard
Smith served as Master of Ceremo-
nies for the rededication. (See his
picture at the bridge and the
"Chairman's Corner" for more infor-
mation about the ceremony.)
The adjacent park will provide
a safe route for hikers, bicyclers
and horse riders in a county hike
and bike trail network that now
traverses over 25 miles of southeast
Denton County.
The bridge's restoration
and rehabilitation and the park sur-
rounding the bridge were made

possible through the very specific
efforts of many individuals and
organizations. Special thanks are
extended to the Denton County
Commissioners and County Judge
Mary Horn, former County Judge
Scott Armey, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, Cross Timbers
Equestrian Trail Association,
Denton Master Naturalists Group
and  DCHC    members Mildred
Hawk, chairman of the Historic
Bridges and Structures Committee,
and Melbagene Ryan.     County
Commissioner Cynthia     White
chaired the committee to develop
the park and bring the project to its
conclusion.
Old Alton was the Denton
County seat for seven short years
from 1850 to 1857. The bridge
crossed Hickory Creek, an impor-
tant water source for the burgeon-
ing community.

(See OLD AL TON on page 5)

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