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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Oak Cliff, the venerable community on the south bank |
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of the Trinity River, marks the 104th anniversary of its annexation |
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to Dallas on March 17, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally known as Hord's Ridge, Oak Cliff traces |
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its roots to the 1845 arrival of the William H. Hord family and to |
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the farming community that subsequently grew in the vicinity; in |
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the 1880s the area of Hord's Ridge was bought by Thomas Marsalis and |
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John Armstrong, who dreamed of creating an exclusive residential |
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development there and who gave the site its present name; and |
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WHEREAS, After the pair successfully launched the sale of |
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lots, Thomas Marsalis gained control of the project and undertook |
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several ventures to add to the new town's attractiveness; these |
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included the introduction of a steam-powered railway to connect the |
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development with downtown Dallas, the establishment of a 150-acre |
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park, now known as Marsalis Park and Zoo, and the erection of a fine |
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hotel featuring several mineral baths; and |
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WHEREAS, Oak Cliff enjoyed a period of favor as an upscale |
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residential and resort community before the depression of 1893 |
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drove Mr. Marsalis into bankruptcy; a number of lots once owned by |
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his company were then subdivided and sold; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1903, after rejecting several overtures from |
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Dallas and still struggling with a sluggish economy, Oak Cliff |
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voters finally agreed to annexation to their larger neighbor; |
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development over the next several decades included hundreds of |
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modest homes as well as the grand residences of Kessler Park; and |
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WHEREAS, Set on rolling hills a few miles from downtown |
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Dallas, Oak Cliff today is home to a broadly inclusive population, |
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with residents representing a variety of ethnic and cultural groups |
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and economic backgrounds; and |
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WHEREAS, These citizens are acting through a number of |
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organizations, such as the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Old Oak |
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Cliff Conservation League, Oak Cliff Foundation, and various |
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neighborhood groups, to promote the preservation and |
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revitalization of their community; their efforts have figured |
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prominently in the rebirth of Jefferson Boulevard, West Davis |
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Street, and Fort Worth Avenue, in the renovation of the historic |
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Texas Theater, and in the flowering of the Bishop Arts District; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of close-knit communities within the larger |
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embrace of Oak Cliff, the residents of this unique section of Dallas |
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are holding fast to their rich history while forging an ever |
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brighter and more promising future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the citizens of Oak Cliff on the |
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104th anniversary of their community's annexation to Dallas and |
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extend to them sincere best wishes as they build on their notable |
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heritage. |
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Alonzo |
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Mallory Caraway |
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Davis of Dallas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 127 was adopted by the House on |
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February 22, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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