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)

Regarding the whole William Coombes Survey:
Articles are about the entire square mile area of Willliam Coombes' land grant.
        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 horses.
        The 1855 Cabin Map
        Early La Reunion colonists' map, showing every structure.

CEMETERIES:   Articles about cemeteries in, or near, the William Coombes Survey.
        Western Heights Cemetery
        These articles supplement this cemetery's main webpage, linked to its name above.
                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.
        Struck Cemetery   Inside the southeast corner of Western Heights Cemetery
        Scott Family Cemetery   A little pioneer family cemetery. now moved away to a safer location
        Robinson Family Cemetery   A little cemetery containing ten Robinson family burials
                Robinson Family History   1980 genealogical and historical account of the Robinsons
                Notes on the Robinson Family History   Minor corrections proposed for the 1980 history

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
        Cedar Valley--Benito Juarez School   A longtime school site on Singleton
        St. Mary of Carmel   Roman Catholic complex including both church and school
        Fred Douglass   In the 1890s the first school for African Americans in West Dallas was opened

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.
        West Dallas Baptist   An early Baptist church, of which little is known, and a 1917-c.1980 congregation


20th August 2025, last revised on the 18th April 2026
Jim Barnes
Barnes444@sbcglobal.net