Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
John Frank Strickland Portrait |
Date |
ca 1912 |
Description |
Digital portrait of John Frank Strickland (1860 - 21 May 1921) from the book Makers of Dallas (ca 1912). Born in 1861, Colonel J. F. Strickland traveled to Texas by wagon train in 1878. In 1892 the Colonel became involved in electric power generation in Waxahachie. He would become founder and president of Texas Power & Light Company and the Dallas Power & Light Company. Strickland would also create, in central and north Texas, the largest interurban rail system in the Southwestern United States. In 1908, a Strickland company began interurban service from Dallas to Sherman, at the time the longest interurban line in the Southwest. It would soon be extended to Denison and the Red River. In 1912, service from Dallas to Waxahachie was initiated, and was extended to Waco in 1913. In that same year the Dallas to Corsicana interurban opened. In 1917, Strickland merged his Southern Traction Company and his Texas Traction Company to create the Texas Electric Railway Company. He was also founder of the Dallas Railway. Construction of interurban railroads was a complementary function of many electric power companies. These railroads had a tremendous impact on both travel and development patterns. Colonel Strickland’s vision, talent and persistence made him the outstanding figure in the electric utility business in the Southwest and a master interurban builder. |
Associated People |
Strickland, John Frank |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Search Terms |
Dallas Power and Light Company Dallas Securities Company Dallas Street Railway Company Founder Hillsboro Electric and Gas Company Interurban Management Officers Portrait President Southern Traction Company Texas Electric Railway Company Texas Power and Light Company Texas Traction Company Waxahachie Cotton Compress Waxahachie Electric Light Company |
Collection |
Dallas Historical Society Collection |
Copyright |
Courtesy of Dallas Historical Society. Used by permission. |
Catalog Number |
CP.2010.GC.2-2 |