Short articles about the original "West Dallas" area, briefly also called "Mount Airy"
Early History of the "William Coombes Survey": (1842-1912)
White Settlement's first seventy years in the Western Heights district of Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

William Coombes Survey:  
photo
View toward downtown Dallas from the southwest corner of the William Coombes Survey,
along Fort Worth Avenue, with the Western Heights Cemetery.


The William Coombes Survey:  
map

The William Coombes Survey is a square mile (two half-sections of the 1840s' Peters Colony grid system)
located about 2 miles west-southwest of the "Old Red" Courthouse in downtown Dallas.
[street map c.2025]

(click on map to enlarge)


(Click on blue underlined hyperlinks to read the stories)

Mabel Gilbert's cabin
The first Dallas cabin on the west side of the Trinity River, built by Mabel and Charity Gilbert.

Genealogy of William Coombes
Listing of all the members of the large family of William Nelson Coombes (1803-1867).

William Coombes in Texas
Biography of the life of William Nelson Coombes (1803-1867) and his family in Texas.

The Bois D'arc Corral
History of the thorny bois d'arc corral William Coombes created, to stop Indians from stealing his horses.




Regarding the Western Heights Cemetery
The following articles are intended as only supplemental to the main webpage for the cemetery,
at https://westernheightscemetery.org/

        Missing Burials   List of possibly unmarked Coombes family related burials.

        Ownership   Map showing the history of land title transfer at the cemetery.

        Boundary   Map comparing deeded boundaries with modern boundary and fences.

        The SouthEast Corner   Deed records suggest something previously occupied the southeast corner.


Regarding the whole William Coombes Survey
Articles are about the entire square mile area of Willliam Coombes' land grant.

        The 1855 Cabin Map   Early La Reunion colonists' map, showing every structure.


Schools:   Articles about various schools in, or near, the William Coombes Survey.

        National Christian College   The first black college in Dallas

        Nazareth University   A college at the top of the hill

        West Dallas Public School   A three story brick school built in 1894
                District map   West Dallas school district areas, showing 1891 City of Oak Cliff


Churches:   Articles about various churches in, or near, the William Coombes Survey.

        West Dallas Methodist Episcopal Church   1888-1948 Methodist congregation

        West Dallas Church of Christ   1872-1985, also known as Western Heights Church of Christ.
                Mabelle Robinson's 1933 history
                Sue Churchill Krayer's 1987 history

        Presbyterian church site   1886 site acquisition for a congregation who never built there.




20th August 2025, last revised on the 25th January 2026
Jim Barnes
Barnes444@sbcglobal.net