EV History Center to host program on ‘Dexfield Park Shootout’

Dallas County historian Rod Stanley, Dexter, will present “The Dexfield Park Shootout” at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the English Valleys History Center, North English.

Stanley is a retired schoolteacher who taught for 35 years, mostly in history classes. He worked at Dallas County Conservation as an assistant curator for five years after he retired from teaching and began doing programs about Dallas County history on various subjects.

A Dexter native, he grew up hearing about Bonnie and Clyde and the shootout at the Dexfield Park. He researched this subject extensively and gives an accurate account of the event that took place on July 24, 1933.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were two criminals who struck fear in the lawmen of the Midwest. They were ruthless killers who were responsible for the deaths of 13 people including nine lawmen. They went to Dexter, where they hid at an abandoned amusement park three miles north of town. Historians think they stayed there for around five days after being involved in another shootout at Platte City, Mo.

They started making trips into town and went to several stores, buying food, medicines and clothes. Their campsite was discovered by a farmhand hunting blackberries and was reported to the local constable, who in turn contacted the county sheriff. A posse was organized, and on the morning of July 24, 1933, the Barrow gang was ambushed by that posse.

The English Valleys History Center is located at 108 N. Main Street in North English. The public is invited to this free event. Donations are accepted.