Bill Text: TX HR73 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the 113th anniversary of Oak Cliff's annexation to Dallas in 2016.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-01 - Reported enrolled [HR73 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR73-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 73 |
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WHEREAS, Oak Cliff, the venerable community on the south bank | ||
of the Trinity River, marks the 113th anniversary of its annexation | ||
to Dallas on March 17, 2016; 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 113th 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. 73 was adopted by the House on | ||
February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||