Cabin at Indian Run LbNA #31249

Centennial Park is near old downtown Irving, at 444 W. Second Street. Park in the lot at the corner of Second Street and Sowers near the large fountain and walk across the street to “Arrival Plaza”, which features statues of J.O. Schulze and Otis Brown, co-founders of Irving in 1903. Gaze across the lake toward “Founder’s Plaza” with these men, then take the path on their right, following the creek until you get to the log cabin.

This dog-run style cabin was a common type of frontier dwelling, and is a replica of one that would have been found between 1836 and 1845 in Texas. The original was built by Hiram Bennett, who came to north Texas with his wife and 7 children, and was located near today’s intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and Rock Island Road, on a 320-acre land grant issued by the Peters Colony. The 80-acre site on which Irving was later founded was part of Bennett’s land grant. Delaware Creek is the body of water running through this park; according to an 1849 map of the Peters Colony survey, it was originally called “Indian Run”.

At the left side of the cabin and corner of the wood-rail fence, head away from the path toward the back of the cabin. At the back corner, there will be a small white slab of concrete in some brush on the left, along with fallen limbs and a piece of re-bar. The box is under the front edge of the concrete, covered with bark and branches.