The Allen Water Station

Cradle of a Railroad Town's 150-Year Legacy Published ahead of the Allen 150 Sesquicentennial — April 25, 2026

Picture North Texas in the summer of 1874: open prairie, scattered post oak, and a creek called Cottonwood winding south through land that had no town, no post office, and no particular reason to become one. Then the steam engines came.

The Houston & Texas Central Railway was pushing north—Houston to Dallas to Denison, threading the state together mile by dusty mile. And every ten miles or so, those engines needed water. A lot of it. The H&TC's solution at Cottonwood Creek was to build something that has outlasted everything else from that era: a hand-cut stone dam, 69 feet long and 10 feet high, holding back enough water to keep the trains running through the night. Workers from Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland hauled and fitted those blocks, raised a pump house, and anchored an elevated tank on stone piers beside the tracks. In a matter o…

Door-Knockers and Door Hangers – Know the Rules or Face the Fine!

Hey, Allen neighbors! Picture this: You're sipping your morning coffee in your cozy Watters Creek-area home when – ding dong! – there's a solicitor at your door peddling solar panels, magazine subscriptions, or who-knows-what. Or worse, you come home to a pile of door hangers flapping in the breeze, advertising the latest lawn service or pizza deal. Annoying, right? Well, in Allen, Texas, our city ordinances have your back – but only if those sellers play by the rules. Violate them? Fines, citations, and a quick trip to small claims court could be in your future. Let's break it down in plain English, with a wink and a nudge to keep our streets solicitor-smart.

Door-to-Door Soliciting: Permit Up Front or Pack It In

Allen's Code of Ordinances (think Chapter 8 on peddlers and solicitors) makes it crystal clear: No knocking on doors to sell goods, services, or even take future orders without a city-issued permit. That's "home solicitation," and it's unlawful withou…

Characteristics of Top-Rated Barbecue Restaurants in Allen, Texas

Smoke Meats Taste

Barbecue in Allen is more than just a meal — it’s part of the community’s identity. Ask ten locals where to find the best brisket, and you’ll probably get ten different answers. That’s because barbecue is deeply personal, with each pitmaster offering a unique spin on smoked meats, sides, and sauces.

But while opinions vary, a few traits consistently rise to the top when people talk about Allen’s favorite barbecue joints. Here’s what locals and visitors alike usually look for when deciding if a spot truly deserves its “top-rated” status.

Flavor Comes First

When it comes to Texas barbecue, flavor is king. Tender brisket that slices easily yet holds its shape, ribs with the perfect pull from the bone, and sausages that snap when you bite into them — these are the hallmarks of a great pit.

Allen is home to pitmasters who take pride in long smoking sessions, often using oak or pecan wood to layer in rich, balanced flavor…

Wooden Front Door Maintenance and Refinishing in Collin County

Door Restoration: A Complete Guide

Your front door makes a lasting impression on visitors and passersby. In Collin County, Texas, where weather can fluctuate from scorching summers to occasional winter freezes, wooden doors require special care to maintain their beauty and functionality. Whether you're noticing fading, cracking, or just want to refresh your home's appearance, this guide covers everything you need to know about wooden door maintenance and refinishing options in the Collin County area.

Signs Your Wooden Door Needs Attention

Before diving into refinishing, it's important to recognize when your door needs care. Look for these common indicators:

Fading or discoloration from sun exposure Cracking or peeling finish Water stains or moisture damage Warping or sticking when opening/closing Visible scratches or dings Dry, rough texture when touched

In Collin County's climate, wooden doors face unique challenges. Hot summe…

Best Banana Split?

There's place in Allen TX where you can discover the samplings of 2 banana split offerings. On east Main St, you can taste Dairy Queen and Braum's Dairy Store banana splits. Have you heard of a pub crawl? In 2014, Talk of Allen organized and cheeseburger crawl. Now it would be completely sensible to enjoy a banana split crawl. And the best part? The 2 mentioned establishments are less than a mile apart.

How Business Directory Sites Boost Your Web Site

Boosting Website Performance With Citations

Business directory sites are best thought of as an authority site for online marketing purposes. While you may not get a significant amount of direct traffic from a business directory site, the links coming to your site from a business directory site are considered trustworthy. This trustworthiness or authority link, is attributed to several factors.

One factor of trust or authority is location trust. If a link is coming from a local type of directory site such as the business directory in Allen: www.talkofallen.com, then the local trustworthiness is in the context of your local website is getting a citation link from an appropriate local business directory. Another trust factor would be in a particular niche. Imagine you are operating a website for your locksmith business. A citation link from a business directory site that focuses on the locksmith trade, such as www.nationslock.com, would pass the trustworthiness…

The growth and transformation of Allen

This article originally appeared on sixtybyeighty.jll.com in Feb 2018.

The growth and transformation of Allen Despite the ups and downs of the national economy, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex expands. I find it hard to believe that at the beginning of the tech boom in the 1990s, our job base totaled 2.6 million versus 3.7 million today. At that time, our telecom corridor was rapidly expanding and Legacy was in its toddler years. Those 1.1 million new jobs fueled the expansion and creation of many business hubs. As we look around DFW today, new development continues to flow into established areas to accommodate our growth. Other areas, however, are also emerging as potential new submarkets. One of those is Allen. Currently, Allen and McKinney are included in the broader Richardson – Plano submarket. Although that combination makes sense today, it probably doesn’t in the not too distant future. Of all the next tier suburbs in the path of …

Bid 2017 Farewell With These Fun Festivities

Here are some words from the Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau. What do you think about fun things to do for 2017 NYE celebrations in Allen TX? 2017 is rapidly coming to a close, but we’ve got the scoop on how to make your final moments of the year memorable and kick off the new year on the right notes. Looking to celebrate the New Year with style? Bar Louie’s NYE bash is going to be popping (and not just the bottles, either!) with your favorite hits playing, your beers of choice on tap, and piquant plates being cooked up and dished out to you from 8 PM to 2 AM. Click here for tickets to guarantee a great night. Sports fans can cheer on the Allen Americans on New Year’s Eve as they take on the Wichita Thunder. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you watch our hometown hockey heroes try to claim their fifth championship at Allen Event Center. Don’t miss out on the action -- score your tickets today! Dance your way into the New Year at Kelly’s at The Villag…

Stacy Rd Fast Food Lane

With the The Village at Allen on one side and The Village at Fairview on the other, Stacy Rd is quite the happening shopping area. Let's not forget Premium Outlets on the west side of Central. These mega-draw retail areas bring thousands of shoppers and with their shopping tasks, they get hungry. To fill this need to feed, in steps the fast food cartel with their various offerings of quite bites and beverages. This is where Fast Food Lane comes in. From the west we have In-N-Out Burgers, Raising Cane's Chicken, Panda Express, Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Taco Bell, El Pollo Loco, Whataburger and Jack In The Box. Last, but not least, is Taco Bueno. I have them listed last because they are actually on Greenville Ave, not Stacy Road. Chick-fil-a Chick-fil-a, is open 6 days a week. Sunday is closed for employees to have family time. They have a play area for the kids, convenient drive through, outdoor seating during nice weather and a very courteous staff. They also provide cate…

Allen Eagle Football – Varsity Schedule

Texas UIL State Champions 2008, 2012, 2013, & 2014 Date Opponent Location Time/Result 8/19 Arlington Martin* Eagle Stadium 10:00 a.m. NA 8/26 Hoover, Alabama Eagle Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 9/2 Evangel, Louisiana Eagle Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 9/9 Coppell Buddy Echols Field, Coppell 7:30 p.m. W 9/16 open open open 9/23 McKinney Boyd Ron Poe Stadium, McKinney 7:30 p.m. W 9/30 Plano West** Eagle Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 10/7 Plano Clark Stadium, Plano 7:30 p.m. W 10/14 Denton Guyer Eagle Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 10/20 McKinney Ron Poe Stadium, McKinney 7:30 p.m. W 10/28 Plano East Kimbrough Stadium, Plano 7:30 p.m. W 11/4 Wylie*** Eagle Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 11/11 Euless Trinity Eagle Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 11/18 Belton Mesquite Memorial Stadium 7:30 p.m. W 11/25 San Angelo Central San Angelo Stadium 4:00 p.m. W 12/3 …