Cannon Family Contributes to Euless Development

The new Fire Station Number 3 stands on a site that played an important role in the commercial history of the City of Euless.

Ross Cannon (1897-1980) and his wife Winnie Day Cannon (1899-1958) bought six acres in 1931 at the southwest corner of present South Main Street and West Euless Boulevard , including this location. At the intersection stood a general store that served as the business center of Euless for many years. The Euless Post Office (misnamed Enless) also occupied the building in 1889-1892 and 1901-1910, when storekeeper Thomas W. Fuller was postmaster.

Ross was a son of Arch N. Cannon (1866-1941) and Della Whitener Cannon (1872-1946) who established the Euless Nursery in 1897. The nursery produced fruit trees and vines, as well as ornamental shrubs. Ross worked in the nursery with his parents. After their death, he operated it until 1959. Meanwhile, he and Winnie continued buying adjoining property until they owned 20 acres extending west to present Martha Street . They used much of the land for growing nursery plants.

Beginning in 1940 they built commercial and residential rental buildings, and in 1949, platted the Ross Cannon Addition, opening Ross Avenue . Between 1964 and 1967, Ross leased a building at 201 West Euless Boulevard to the city for a library. After Ross' death, his daughter Louise Cannon Griffith inherited the property. Her husband, J. W. "Bill" Griffith was the Euless Fire Chief in the early 1950s. The city purchased the building and remodeled it in 1990, incorporating it into Fire Station No. 3. In 2004, Ross and Winnie's son, Weldon Cannon, owner of this site since 1958, and his wife, Patricia Benoit, sold it to the city for a new fire station.

Through three generations, the Cannon family has contributed significantly to the development of Euless and has had a special relationship with the city, especially in safety and community service.

By Weldon Cannon -- June 9, 2005