La Reunion (Dallas)

La Reunion was a communist community formed in 1855 by French, Belgian, and Swiss colonists approximately three miles west of the present Reunion Arena and Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas, and near the three forks of the Trinity River in Texas, USA. The community was led by the French philosopher Francois Marie Charles Fourier whose followers and associates established over 40 similar colonies in varies parts of the United States of America during the 1800s. The colony near present-day Dallas soon failed in 1860 the area was incorporated into the emerging city of Dallas.

Few reminders remain

Eventually what had been attempted as farmland at La Renuion was discovered to be covering large deposits of limestone and little by little it was carted away for use in building the growing state of Texas. The remains of some colonists were located a short distance away in a now disused cemetery and a small memorial was located on a nearby golf course. Reunion Tower, which is now a Dallas landmark, was named after the colony, although it is located some distance away from where La Reunion once existed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Legacy

Shortly before the complete demise of La Reunion, botanist and pharmacist Jacob Boll arrived and taught Julien Reverchon who later became celebrated in his own right as a professor of botany at Baylor University College of Medicine and Pharmacy in Dallas. The first brewery and butcher shop in Dallas were established by former colonists from La Reunion and Maxime Guillot opened a carriage factory that remained in business for 50 years.

Related Topics:
Jacob Boll - Julien Reverchon - Baylor University College of Medicine and Pharmacy - Maxime Guillot

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also

• Charles Fourier
• Victor Considerant
• Trinity River
• Christian communism