History of Douglass:
Douglass was established in 1869 by Joseph Douglass after the Civil War. He was a trader who saw the potential for a community along a cattle trail from Texas, and with an old Army scout, took up land to farm. But, he decided he wasn't a farmer and applied to turn his land into a town site. He had it laid out, blocks and streets, as it was in his home state of New York, on a square grid. Some land was given to influential people who could be expected to try to bring in settlers. One, C. N. James, gave some of his lots to the Methodist Church for a building site. The Methodist Church is on that land still. Joe Douglass took an active interest in his town, even to checking on a fellow who was seen carrying chickens on the outskirts of town. The fellow said he'd bought them from this or that settler, but when Mr. Douglass asked, they said they hadn't sold them to him. So, he took the fellow into custody, but neglected to disarm him. The miscreant shot Mr. Douglass who died some days later after saying the fellowshouldn't be arrested since he had made the mistake. Of course, the fellow was taken into custody and tried, but Mr. Douglass died anyway. The town was well enough established that it survived and prospered. Business establishments were doing well and more and more people came here to settle. There were grain mills and saw mills, hotels, general stores, blacksmiths, livery stables, even doctors and simple drug stores. There were also horse thieves, who were hung, much to the satisfaction of their victims who had formed a Vigilance Committee to deal with the problem.

Civilization crept in in the form of a subscription school and Sunday School. Businesses came and went. A newspaper was begun in 1879 and was printed off and on under different editors. A movement was begun to incorporate the town of Douglass and that was accomplished in 1879. City officials were elected and there was law in Douglass. Many homesteads were taken up in the surrounding area and prosperous farms established. Businessmen loaned money for livestock and other necessities, but eventually banks were opened. A "large party" named Levi Wright opened a hardware store and prospered. Eventually he built an opera block. Stores were on the ground floor and upstairs was an Opera House. Many community events were held there, acts and entertainment were brought in from the East. Homegrown plays and pageants were held. Although he prospered, he eventually hung himself behind the scenery in the Opera House.

Well, it's a long story, but I'll cut it short and speak about the features of our town as it is today. The limestone Community Building took the place of the Opera House and is now on the National Historic Register. The limestone Library building was built with the help of a prosperous former resident, Clarence Copeland. The Chamber of Commerce building is next to a stone building built originally by a popular blacksmith. One of the early banks, Wilkie's Bank, building is still in use. An early hardware building is still standing although in another use now. The Douglass Pioneer Museum is in two early buildings.

The early schools have become the extensive plants along Highway 77, and on land originally laid out by Joe Douglass south of Third Street. We have a fine park, pool and playground between Fifth and Sixth Streets. There is a nearly new and very popular Senior Center at Fourth and Taylor. There are four churches, three eating places, a grain elevator and mercantile, and other amenities. Douglass is an historic place and now a comfortable community in which to live.