Union Bower Community

Union Bower Community. . The Union Bower community, located on what is now far eastern Irving, was established along the Elm Fork banks of the Trinty River in the mid-19th century. Several of the early settler families came from the La Reunion Colony, located a few miles south of Union Bower., By 1859, the colony was defunct, and several families relocated to Union Bower. Residents cut cord wood and raised fruits and vegetables, which they sold in the Dallas market., William and Virginia Smith moved to the area in 1879, and it is believed that the couple named the region Union Bower after a town in Pennsylvania where William previously taught school. The Smiths were instrumental in bringing the residents of the area together to work for the development and progress of the community., A nondenominational Sunday school was organized in 1885. The Smith family donated land for a community cemetery in 1886. In 1891, they donated land on which a school was built. The school site was used until the early 1960s, when it became part of Irving Independent School District. Irving annexed the Union Bower area in 1956., Captions , (Photo #1) Union Bower School , The community of Union Bower provided a one-room school for the area's children during the 1880s. In 1912, a two-room school was opened, to which a third room was added in 1932. Pictured is the Union Bower School in 1925. , (Photo #2) Smith Family Home , The home of William and Virginia Smith was built in 1888. The Smiths came to the area in 1879, and were leaders in the community. They donated land for a community cemetery after the death of their young daughter. William Smith died in 1904, and Virginia lived until 1930. The Smith home stood until 1986.