History

Garrett Burgess Griffin Royse, City Founder

Garrett Burgess Griffin Royse, better known as Byrd Royse, was born in Adair County, Kentucky on January 31, 1838, to William and Mary Stone Royse. He was the seventh of 14 children.

Mr. Royse was proud of the fact that he served the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He served with the 19th Regiment Missouri Infantry.

Around 1850, Mr. Royse's future grandmother-in-law and her sons bought several tracts of land that were later to be known as Royse City. He married Mrs. McCasland's granddaughter on August 8, 1880. They remained married until Mr. Royse's death in 1928. Mrs. Nancy Royse died 7 years later.

Around 1886, Mr. Royse platted the town site and sold the first lot to Alf Reese and his nephew Albert Royse. About that same time, Mr. Royse was instrumental in getting the MK&T Railroad line brought from Greenville to Dallas through Rockwall County. Family legend has it that Mr. Royse informed the MK&T Railroad people that he would donate the land for a train station if they would call it Royse City.

City Founder

Garrett Griffin Royse

After the lots were sold and land in and around Royse City were selling pretty high, the Royse family sold their part and, in 1893, joined about 100,000 others in the Oklahoma Land Rush. Mr. Royse got a quite of bit of land in Custer County near Foss, Oklahoma. Mr. Royse and his wife resided there until their death. They are both buried in the Stafford Cemetery near Foss.

The photo to the left was taken in the early 1920s in downtown Royse City. At the time, the modes of transportation were walking and horseback. As the cotton and sorghum industries grew, cars, trucks and other modes of modern transportation were introduced to Royse City. Most of the brick buildings that you see here are still in use today.

The building that currently houses the Royse City Library is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was approved for this designation in

1994. Royse City Library is located on the first floor and the Masonic Lodge is located on the second floor.

The building was designed by W. A. Kinzey and constructed by J.E. Harris. The two-story building reflects the influences of the Classical Revival style that was popular in the early 20th century. The history of the lodge and the city are intertwined since the very early days. At least three mayors, Newt Burton (1938-1944), Roy Cookston (1944-1950), and R.M. James (1954-1957) have also been members of the lodge. Many of the aldermen also have been lodge members.

The Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star still hold monthly activities on the second floor. The Royse City Library uses the remainder of the building.  The fire department was moved to a new building in 1980 and the exterior changes which were made to accommodate the fire trucks were removed at that time.