Elm Community

Elm Community. . Settlers first arrived in the area that would become known as the Elm community during the 1850s. Elm was located about 12 miles northwest of Dallas and, after Irving's founding in 1903, about two miles north of Irving., Nicholas Farine, one of the area's first settlers, emigrated from France as a member of the La Reunion Colony. La Reunion was located southeast of the Irving area. The colony failed in the late 1850s, and the Farine family moved to the Elm community in 1859. Other pioneer families in the region were the Tolers, Metkers and Storys., Farming was the primary occupation of Elm community residents. Local farmers raised cotton, hay, fruits and vegetables. In 1899, John Finley Mills, a local farmer and merchant, opened the area's first post office. The Finley Post Office served a population of about 75 families in the area until it was closed in 1902., In the early 20th century, the O'Connor family operated a large dairy farm in the area. The Elm community succumbed to urban growth as the City of Irving annexed the farming area during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, local street names, such as Metker and Toler, serve as reminders of the early community., Captions , (Photo #1) Elm School , In the early 1880s, five local men each contributed $25 for materials to build the school. The school provided grades 1-7. A new Elm School building was built in 1934. Pictured is the Elm School student body in front of the new school during the 1935-36 school year. , (Photo #2) Elm Community General Store , John Finley Mills came to the Elm community with his sister Jane, shortly after the Civil War. He opened a general store during the 1880s and later served as postmaster for the area. The Finley Post Office was in existence for only three years, 1899-1902. Pictured is the Elm community general store in 1915.