Bill Text: TX HR72 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the 112th anniversary of Oak Cliff's annexation to Dallas in 2015.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-01 - Reported enrolled [HR72 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR72-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 72 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Oak Cliff, the venerable community on the south bank | ||
| of the Trinity River, marks the 112th anniversary of its annexation | ||
| to Dallas on March 17, 2015; 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 Marsalis | ||
| Park, home of the Dallas 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 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the 112th anniversary of Oak Cliff's | ||
| annexation to Dallas and extend to the citizens of Oak Cliff sincere | ||
| best wishes as they build on their notable heritage. | ||
| Alonzo | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 72 was adopted by the House on | ||
| February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
