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