July 5, 2008

The history of Leonard, Texas

LEONARD, TEXAS. Leonard, on U.S. Highway 69 and State Highway 78 in southwestern Fannin County, is near the center of a tract of land that, on February 8, 1845, Anson Jones, president of the Republic of Texas, granted to Martin Moore. This 3,520 acres, now known as the Martin Moore survey, was sold to Solomon Langdon Leonard in February 1859 for $10,560. It is located on the Blackland Prairie, which angles through southwest Fannin County from northwest to southeast. The prairie was bordered on the south by Wildcat Thicket and on the north by Bois d'Arc Thicket. Wildcat Thicket was an "area of trees, briar bushes, thorn vines, and tall grass, so thick and dense that it was almost impossible to see through it, even in the daytime." It was also a haven for outlaws and fugitives and the scene of several killings in the Lee-Peacock feud (1865-72). 

On July 22, 1880, the town of Leonard came into existence on the Leonard survey with the sale of town lots at auction. H. L. Parmele negotiated the location of the town with the Denison and Southeastern Railway. A post office and a school were established the next year. Residents numbered fifty in 1881. In 1885 the settlement had a population of 350, nine stores, three blacksmith shops, a church, a school, a gin, two hotels, two doctors, and two lawyers. Leonard incorporated on September 14, 1889, with a population of 400 people. The first four churches in town were the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Church of Christ. The first city hall was located on the first floor of a two-story frame building in the town square. The Grove Hill Masonic Lodge occupied the second floor. Albert Ervin established the first newspaper, the Leonard Graphic, in 1890, and it was still in publication in the 1990s.

On May 23, 1894, Leonard Collegiate Institute was organized. It began in a two-room frame building on Connett Street and in 1906 built a three-story building with the new name Dodson College. In 1908 the presbytery of the Paris Presbyterian Church took formal possession of the school and changed the name to Manton College Institute. The school closed in 1914. In the middle 1930s Dr. J. J. Pendergrass established a hospital in Leonard, which was then the trading center of southwest Fannin County and adjoining areas in Hunt, Collin, and Grayson counties. The town was known for its outstanding cotton market. The principal crops were cotton, corn, and wheat. In 1989 the main crops were wheat and grain sorghum; ranching had replaced some of the farming. The population of Leonard slightly exceeded 1,000 for most of the twentieth century, then grew to 1,509 in 1980 and 1,744 in 1990.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Leonard Centennial Commission, A History of Leonard, Texas (Leonard, Texas, 1980).

Population: 1,846 per the 2000 Census for Fannin County in the state of Texas

Regular Municipal Election Council races are held in May of each year. For more information about filing, or to pick up a packet, contact the City Secretary’s office at 903-587-3334.

Building Permits Required: Any owner, authorized agent or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, covert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the technical codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application for a permit for the work.

Solicitor’s Permit Required: The City of Leonard requires solicitors to apply for a permit to sell door-to-door. There is no charge for the permit. Peddlers and solicitors are allowed to operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

After Hours of Emergency Calls: The City of Leonard has an employee that is on-call weekends and holidays. In an emergency situation, call the City Hall at 587-3334 and the call will forward to a cellular number. The Leonard Police Department can be reached after hours by calling 587-2234 (non-emergency) This call will be answered by the Sheriff’s Department who will then dispatch the Leonard officer on duty. If it is an emergency situation, call 9-1-1.

Replacement of Street Lights: Replacement of burned our streetlights is the responsibility of Texas-New Mexico Power Company. Citizens should notify either Texas-New Mexico Power at 587-3356 or the city of Leonard at 587-3334 about the location of non-working streetlights. Citizen notification is the only way the City has of knowing when streetlights have burned out and need to be replaced.

Garage Sales: The City of Leonard allows only three garage sales a year per residence. No permit is required. Signs are allowed only at the location of the garage sale. Sign posted elsewhere will be removed.

Planning and Zoning Commission meetings: The City of Leonard Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers.

Council meetings: Leonard City Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 111 West Collin Street. Meetings are open to the public.

Special large item trash pick-up: The City of Leonard offers a large item pick-up on the second Sat. of every month for items that are not eligible for regular weekly pick-up can be made by calling City Hall at 587-3334 by the Wednesday preceding the second Sat. Items that will not be picked up are tires, paint cans, batteries and any item containing a refrigerant, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. (Unless a licensed repairman has tagged the item stating that the refrigerant has been removed.) Carpet must be in four foot or smaller square bundles and tied.

Municipal Court: Municipal Court for the City of Leonard is held on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 111 West Collin St. Only situations issued by the Leonard Police Department are handled by the Municipal Court.

Fannin County Court, Precinct 2: Fannin County Court, Precinct 2 is located on the East side of the City Hall building at 105 South Main. Civil Court cases, department of Public Safety Administrative hearings and State Trooper citations are handled through this court and trial are held in the City Council chambers.

Emergency Warning Siren: The Emergency Warning Siren for the City of Leonard is tested everyday at noon. In the case of an actual emergency, the siren will be sounded repeatedly.

Rental Dwelling Ordinance: Rental property owners are required to register each property with the City and them contact City Hall for an inspection of the property before renting. There is a $20 fee for inspections.

Animal Ordinance: Dogs running at large will be impounded. There is a $20 fee for picking up and $10 a day boarding fee. Vacation certificate and tag registering animal with the City is required. Keeping wild or exotic animals and poisonous reptiles inside the City limits of the City of Leonard is prohibited. The entire animal ordinance is available at City Hall.

This is a small portion of the ordinances and services provided by the City of Leonard. If you would like to view the ordinance book in its entirety, come by City Hall during regular business hours.