City of Deer Park history

1881 Passenger train runs from Deer Park to Lebanon along "Highland Route."

Built in 1886 as Dwires Saloon, it was just the second building in what would eventually become Deer Park, said former owner, Hermann Tegenkamp. ''They used to say if you could hit a ball from the field across the street into the front door, you'd get a free drink,'' he said.

1890 At some point Mr.

As settlers arrived from the North to erect homes and establish farms, West built a hotel and post office in 1893 and granted the Houston and Northern Railroad Company a 100-foot strip of land across Deer Park.

1903 Rapid Railway interurban transit (for the "black cars") brings trolley service to Deer Park; car barns built at Hegner and Blue Ash.

He decided that he could not wait for this development and sold Deer Park in 1905.

Still mostly rural, Deer Park was incorporated as a village in 1912.

The Post Office was discontinued in 1919.

The Edwin Brown family leased and later bought the hotel from Simeon West and lived there until sometime in the 1920's.

As late as 1921 only a footpath of cinders existed along present-day Matson Avenue.

By 1922, Deer Park had dwindled to almost nothing with only four houses, a schoolhouse, an old hotel, and scattered shacks by the railroad.

Deer Park was incorporated as a city in 1952.

1953 Deer Park Township is formed.

1962 Celebration of Deer Park’s 50th anniversary.

By 1965, the city could no longer expand as it was surrounded by annexation from Houston and other cities.

Deer Park suffered severe property damage during the 1969 tornado that struck the southwest corner of town.

1987 Celebration of Deer Park’s 75th anniversary.

2001 Deer Park newly renovated war memorial in Chamberlin Park is dedicated.