Scyene, Dallas facts for kids

Scyene (pronounced like "sye-EEN") was once a small town in East Central Dallas County, Texas. It was located about 10 miles east-southeast of downtown Dallas. Today, Scyene is a neighborhood within east Dallas, just west of Mesquite.

The area that was Scyene is bordered by South Sam Houston and Cheyenne roads to the east, Military Parkway to the north, North Prairie Creek to the west, and Bruton Road to the south. The very center of the old town was where Scyene Road and North Saint Augustine Drive meet.

The Story of Scyene

Scyene officially began in 1854 when a post office was built there. Before that, the town had different names, like Thorpville or Prairie Creek. A resident named James Beeman suggested the name "Seine." However, people first spelled it "Sceyne," which later changed to the spelling we know today: Scyene.

Famous Residents of Scyene

During the Civil War, in 1864, some well-known people moved to Scyene. These included Jesse and Frank James, Cole and Bob Younger, and Myra Shirley, who later became famous as Belle Starr. These individuals were part of groups known for their daring adventures in the Old West.

The Town's Peak and Decline

Scyene was at its busiest in 1873. At that time, about 300 people lived there. The town had a Masonic Lodge, a factory that made wagons, and six places called saloons.

However, in that same year, the Texas and Pacific Railway decided to build its tracks around Scyene instead of through it. The town had refused to pay for its own train station. This decision caused Scyene to slowly shrink. The railroad instead built a station in a new place, which helped create the city of Mesquite.

Scyene Becomes Part of Dallas

Over time, Scyene continued to decline. In 1950, the area officially became part of the city of Dallas.

Scyene Today

In the mid-to-late 1950s, a builder created new homes and shops in the area. This development was called Riverway Estates/Bruton Terrace. It was named for the homes built near the water of a lake known as Lake June. While the dam on Prairie Creek is now open and much of the lake has shrunk, some of the lake still remains. The eastern part of this development is located where the old town of Scyene used to be.

Images for kids

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  Historical Marker ~ Scyene Meeting Place

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  Historical Marker ~ Old Scyene Road