Cy-Fair Texas Texas History, Information and News

Cypress Top Historic Park Collection. We are looking for similar “interesting” photos to put up in Juergen’s Hall with the pioneer families represented there. If you have a family photo of exceptional character that you would like to share, please come and visit us.

Cypress Top Historic Park is now open

on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The volunteers will be happy to show you around. If you have old Cypress stories to share, we are interested in those as well. If you have a group that would like a guided tour of Cypress Top Historic Park, please call and schedule an appointment.

See ya at Cypress Top.l

(Clockwise from upper left) Clarence Juergen and his biceps, 1931 v Donald DeWitt Dolen (DD), 1932 v This photo of friends playing poker along the roadside is from the Henrik Krueger photo album. Krueger was a traveling vaudevillian actor. He likely took the photo since he is not in it. Krueger ’s stage name was Blonde Kerr. v This photo of another person taking a photo comes from Mary Juergen’s album. The girl is likely a daughter of E.F. and Mary Juergen who moved to Cypress in 1897 and operated the store. It may have been taken on the front porch of the Juergen home that is currently in Cypress Top Historic Park.

During the 19th century, cameras were big cumbersome boxes with glass panes the size of a small window which servedas the “film.” The developing techniques required a dark room, several trays of chemicals — one included a silver emulsion. All this made photography something that only professionals could engage in. Also, the process required a long exposure and good light, so very few photographers ventured beyond their own studio.

In the very early 20th century,


	“If you have a family photo of exceptional character...or old Cypress stories to share... please come and visit us.”

a new process and camera put photography into the hands of the masses and regular people began to record every-day events in America. Just as text-messaging and I-pods are taken up by the youth of today, the new Kodak Brownie Camera was the rage among young people as the 20th century was ushered in.

It became so popular to go out on a weekend with friends to take pictures that the activity became know as “Kodaking.” The young people quickly moved beyond taking reserved poses in their finest dress. The Kodaking photos in this article are from the