SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 658

WHEREAS, Residents of Garland are gathering on April 11, 2015, for the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker recognizing the Travis College Hill Addition; and

WHEREAS, Officially platted by the Interurban Land Company on January 3, 1913, the Travis College Hill Addition encompasses a two-block area along South 11th Street between Avenues B and D; the area was previously designated as Garland's first historic district by the city council in May 2014; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of the past century, the Travis College Hill Addition has been home to some of the city's most prominent civic, political, and religious leaders, including three Garland mayors and five city council members; the Republican Party gained its first foothold in the formerly Democratic city on South 11th Street, where several early Republicans lived; this group included Dixie Crossman, who founded the Garland Republican Women's Club in 1955, as well as Mable Wheeler, a "Bush Belle" who served as a party precinct chair, as president of the Garland Republican Women's Club, and as a National Federation of Republican Women convention delegate; furthermore, Charles and Winifred Stokes held numerous events for Republican politicians such as George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush in their home on 11th Street; and

WHEREAS, In addition to its political significance, the neighborhood features the recently relocated Pace House; built at the turn of the century, this Queen Anne style dwelling was donated to the city in 1985; though it served as an important community event center for many years, downtown development caused the city to donate the structure to local residents Louis and Kay Moore in 2014; the house was then moved to the Travis College Hill Addition, where it now shares its street with five other historic homes that date from 1915 to 1918; and

WHEREAS, Recognition by the Texas Historical Commission is a testament to the importance of this notable neighborhood, and the placement of a marker in its honor will help future visitors to better appreciate the rich heritage of the Garland community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker for the Travis College Hill Addition and extend to all the neighborhood's residents sincere best wishes for the future.

Hall

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 29, 2015.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate