Aerial Photos of Mount Pleasant
(The way it used not to be)
The City of Mount Pleasant has changed slowly, but steadily over the years. You notice large changes, but small changes that take place on a day to day basis have a way of altering the landscape before your eyes without you having noticed. The following photos were taken in 1973, and over 30 years later you may find the things not shown in these photos to be almost as interesting as the things the pictures show. That's why this page is subtitled "The way it used not to be."
The photos show some buildings that no longer exist, but more-so show open spaces that buildings, houses, and other results of growth and progress now occupy. Older visitors may enjoy being reminded of the way things were, and younger visitors may be interested to see how things looked before the buildings they now find familiar were constructed.
Sandlin Motors at Highway 67 and North Jefferson - 1973
- (Photo AP-0002)
Sandlin Motors at the intersection of Highway 67 and North Jefferson as it appeared in 1973. Also in the photo adjoining the Sandlin property in the upper right side of the photo are the buildings once occupied by Stop and Shop Grocery and the original location of Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company, which no longer exist.
The photo was taken from the North side of Sandlin Motors looking toward the South. U.S. Highway 67 crosses the bottom of the photo. The turn lane for North Jefferson is visible at the extreme right of the photo. North Jefferson Street, though not shown in the photo, would be on the right side.
Dellwood Park and Highway 49 at Florey - 1973
- (Photo AP-0017)
This photo was taken from the South side of the Dellwood Park looking north toward East Ferguson Road (Highway 49).
The swimming pool is visible at the approximate center near the bottom of the photo. The ring visible above and to the right of the swimming pool is a rose garden, and a softball field is located between the swimming pool and Ferguson Road. The tennis courts are visible to the left of the swimming pool. A road, which doesn't show well because of trees and shadows, wound through the park from Highway 49 to Florey Street.
What's not shown: The Mt. Pleasant Central Fire Station now sits where the softball park once was at the corner of East Ferguson Road and South Florey. Since this photo was taken, several gazebos and other covered pavilions have been built for public use in the park.
Downtown Business District - 1973 - (Photo AP-0022)
This 1973 aerial view of the downtown business district was taken from the east side of the Court House square. The square today looks much as it did in this photo, but several buildings visible in the photo no longer exist.
Beginning on the East side of the square at the corner of Second Street (toward the bottom of the photo), the first three buildings have been demolished and are now a parking lot. The Lilenstern building (once occupied by Harkrider's Department Store) stood at the corner of Second Street and Jefferson, then the building once occupied by Bullington Drug, and the building next to it. Hotel Stephens and the apartment building behind it are visible at the corner of Madison and West First Street, which is now a parking lot and will soon be the home of the Mt. Pleasant Bell Tower. Likewise, the small building that once housed a taxi stand directly across from Hotel Stephens has been razed for parking. The roof of the old Titus County Jail is visible at the corner of Johnson and Second Street, which was bulldozed for parking. The building located behind the West side of the square (near the top center of the photo) was occupied by Brookshire's Grocery when this photo was taken. The building burned and Brookshire's relocated to its current location on West Ferguson Road.
Several businesses have moved since the photo was taken. Guaranty Bank was located on First Street on the south side of the Court House square. They have since built a new building and moved one block south, occupying the entire block between Madison and Jefferson and Arizona and Arkansas Streets. Beall's Department Store was located on North Jefferson in the building near the lower right corner of the photo and have since moved into Jefferson Park Shopping Center (which didn't exist in 1973). Their former building was combined into Et Cetera Square.
South Jefferson, Highway 49, and Ferguson Road -1973
- (Photo AP-0033)
This view of the intersection of South Jefferson and Ferguson Road was taken from the east looking west. Ferguson Road runs top to bottom in the photo, and South Jefferson left to right. The black line running almost level across the center of the photo is the train tracks.
The corner to the top left of the intersection, where Jefferson Park Shopping Center now sits, was vacant ground. The three buildings visible on the corner, from left to right were the Dairy Bar, Talley and Allen Grocery, and the Massey Ferguson Tractor dealership. A Gulf service station sat directly across South Jefferson from these three buildings and is partially hid by trees in this photo. A Texaco service station sat in the northeast corner of the intersection, where the Dairy Queen now sits. The corner residences of the Mt. Pleasant Housing Authority are visible in the far right side of the photo.
Continuing south on the west side of Jefferson from the Dairy Bar was a Shell service station (the building is still there, after several remodels), and a Fina service station.
Jumping to the west side of South Jefferson at the corner of White Street were two duplex residences. One sat where Bluebonnet Internet is now located and the other was across White Street from it where Tobacco Plus is located.
Stella Street is the first street south (left) of East Ferguson Road (Highway 49). The Gulf service station at the corner of Stella Street and South Jefferson and the four houses on the north side of Stella Street were bulldozed to make room for the CVS Pharmacy.
A quad-plex residential structure has been built in at the corner of Stella and Florey Streets, where Stella Street curves in the photo. It is hard to see in this photo, but the shopping center where Brookshire's Grocery is currently located has not been built and the land is an open field.
The intersection was controlled by stop signs -- there were no traffic lights. But don't forget to compare the amount of traffic on South Jefferson and Ferguson Road to the amount present there today!
West Ferguson Road at Highway 67 - 1973
- (Photo AP-0012)
This view of the intersection of West Ferguson Road and Highway 67 was taken from the east looking west. Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Yard is located in the group of buildings and sheds visible in the left side of the photo. The Holiday Inn is located above the pool to the right side of Highway 67 in the photo.
Not in the photo (because they didn't exist): Around the intersection itself are the Texaco truck stop located between Foxworth and the intersection, Western Sizzlin' on the southwest corner of the intersection, the motel on the northwest corner of the intersection, the Goodwill Store next to it, and El Chico next to the Holiday Inn. Coming down Ferguson Road from Foxworth (toward the bottom of the photo) are several commercial buildings, as is the case on Highway 67 coming toward the bottom of the photo from the street that runs between Ferguson Road and Highway 67. Also not shown is McCoy's lumber yard, which would be on the right side of the photo pretty much in line with the intersection of the street that connects Ferguson Road to Highway 67.
West Ferguson Road - 1973 - (Photo AP-0004)
This view of Ferguson Road shows some of the area between Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company toward South Jefferson. Foxworth-Galbraith's building and sheds are visible at the upper left corner of the photo. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) buildings and work yard is the light colored square in the center of the photo.
Not shown to the right side of Ferguson Road (because they didn't exist) are: An office building located between Foxworth-Galbraith and the first street connecting Ferguson Road to Highway 67, the Social Security office and Momentum Motor Sports located between TXDOT and the street nearest Foxworth-Galbraith, the Mini Storages behind the Put-a-Golf course, two commercial buildings between TXDOT and the small house visible in the trees, the Texas Workforce Commission, and residences of the Mount Pleasant Housing Authority. Buster Holcomb Drive had not been constructed when this photo was taken.
Not shown to the left side of Ferguson Road (because they didn't exist) are: The car dealership being built like an old-time barn, Robert C's Steak and Seafood across from TXDOT, and Doug Wright Tractors.
West Ferguson Road - 1973 - (Photo AP-0008)
This view of West Ferguson Road was taken almost over Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company looking somewhat southeast. The refinery is visible at the approximate center of the photo, and Texas FM-899 (the Farmer's Academy Road) is visible toward the right side of the photo as it forms a "Y" with Ferguson Road.
The group of buildings just before the trees in the lower left corner of the picture is the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). Next to TXDOT are the metal building and house that is used for an office, then nothing to Spruill's Honda, then 2 houses, then Gibson Discount at the northwest corner of Ferguson Road and Gibson Street.
On the other side of the road, there is no barn-shaped metal building, no Robert C's Restaurant, no Doug Wright Tractors, no DeHaven Eye Clinic, no Mt. Pleasant Tires, and no offices adjacent to them. The buildings that are visible on the right side of Ferguson Road are mobile homes that were for sale in the approximate location of Mt. Pleasant Tire.
Interstate 30 at North Jefferson Street - 1973
- (Photo AP-0016)
This view of Interstate 30 at North Jefferson was taken from the west looking east. We will first identify buildings that are shown, then list many that are not.
The three buildings with dark brown roofs near the center in the lower portion of the picture is Physician's Convalescence Center (a retirement home). The white buildings to the right of Physician's Convalescence Center are part of the old Titus County Memorial Hospital. Beginning at the right side of Interstate 30 on Jefferson Street is the Shell service station, which is still in the same location. The building to the right of the Shell station is the original location of Kentucky Fried Chicken. We can't remember what was in the small white building next to the hospital entrance. Across Jefferson Street at the I-30 entrance ramp was Niblett Mobil service station.
The list of what is not shown, because they didn't exist at the time, is much longer. First, there was no South service road to Interstate 30 between Edwards Avenue and North Jefferson. The Titus County Memorial Hospital buildings shown in this picture were bulldozed when the new hospital was constructed and the land they occupied is now part of the hospital parking lot. The Kentucky Fried Chicken building and the white building were bulldozed and replaced by an office complex that includes Minadeo Eye Center. Again starting at the I-30 entrance ramp across Jefferson Street, the motel, apartments, and Northridge Church of Christ had not been built yet. McDonalds and Burger King were not present.
On the north side of Interstate 30, starting from the bottom of the service road to Jefferson Street, the City of Mount Pleasant Water Treatment Plant, the Pit Grill, and Lakewood Motel had not been constructed. Across Jefferson Street, the Travel Center, the shopping center where Blalock Barbeque is located, the Holiday Inn Express, and Applebee's had not been built. Further east (near the top right corner of the photo) on Texas FM-1402 (the Hart's Bluff Road), Dr. Reichert's clinic had not been built.
