Dipping Vat

Before discovery of a dip (1894) and vaccine (1898), the American cattle industry faced ruin, as it lost $40 million annually from cattle tick fever. In 1918, tick eradication began in East Texas, with colorful, exciting "dipping days" enforced every two weeks from spring to fall. Sometimes citizens resented the compulsory dipping, and dynamited vats or held shootouts with authorities. This dipping vat is typical of 50 built in Van Zandt County. It was on the property of G. M. Hilliard (1856-1931), pioneer rancher and merchant. His estate in 1968 sold this park site to the city of Canton. (1973)