Dallas History Timeline: The 1880s

1881 - First telephones link the homes of Philip and Alexander Sanger with their store, and the water plant at Browder's Spring with the fire station downtown.

1882 - First electric lights illuminate Sanger Bros. store and Mayer's Garden. First street is paved with bois d'arc blocks. The Merchants' Exchange is organized to expedite commerce in farm produce.

1884 - First public school board is elected. The Ladies' Musicale is organized with Belle Fonda (Mrs. Jules) Schneider as president.

1885 - The Dallas Morning News publishes its first issue on October 1.

1886 - Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey lead a revival. Veterans of Texas Revolution celebrate Semi-Centennial in Dallas. Two competing fairs, the Dallas State Fair & Exposition and the Texas State Fair, open. Dallas women found two literary societies, the Shakespeare and Standard Clubs. The Ladies' Charity Association opens the Woman's Home and Day Nursery, a shelter and child care center for indigent and employed mothers and their children.

1887 - The fairs combine at a site in East Dallas. Thomas L. Marsalis begins development of Oak Cliff. Negro Masons establish a college in Dallas on land provided by white religious leaders. Texas Farmers' Alliance opens headquarters and exchange in Dallas.

1888 - Texas Baseball League is organized; Dallas' team, the Hams, wins the championship. The Dallas Times Herald is formed through a merger of the Dallas Times (1876) and the Dallas Evening Herald (1886).

1889 - First electric streetcar begins service. St. Mary's College opens under leadership of Episcopal Bishop Alexander C. Garrett. Dallas annexes City of East Dallas.

1890 - Dallas ranks #1 in population in Texas, with 38,067 residents