R-83-503 - 2/24/1983//- 9- 1.2,
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10 12040 to 0.,6-7.444
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RESOLUTION NO. 503R
WHEREAS, the State of Texas will celebrate it's 150th birthday in
1986; and
WHEREAS, the State fathers have established a Texas Sesquicentennial
Commission to oversee the festivities throughout the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, the Round Rock City Council appointed a committee to draft
and coordinate a master plan for Round Rock's participation in this
statewide event; Now Therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS
That the attached Master Plan for the 1986 Sesquicentennial Celebration
'1 be hereby adopted and forwarded to the State Sesquicentennial Commission
for official approval.
RESOLVED this 24th day of February, 1983.
ATTEST:
( I d..
J`�`NNE LAND, City Secretary
RY L. V N, M.yor
City of Round Rock, Texas
MASTER PLAN FOR SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS
In accordance with guidelines established by the Texas Sesquicentennial
Commission (Commission hereafter), a Sesquicentennial coordinating Committee
(Committee hereafter), for the City of Round Rock has been appointed by the
Mayor and City Council. This committee proposes the following master plan
for Round Rock's celebration of the Lone Star State's 150th birthday in
1986.
Planning shall be phased into annual segments beginning in January, 1983,
and concluding on December 31st, 1985. The execution phase shall be the
calendar year 1986.
1983
1984
1. Develop and refine a community master plan, secure its approval
by resolution of the City Council, and submit the approved plan
to the Commission for evaluation and sanctioning with the end of
being enrolled as a Texas Independence Community not later than
April.
2. Establish a theme for the overall celebration.
3. Publish project ideas not later than May to Merchants, Schools,
Historical Groups, Churches, Social Organizations such as Womans
Clubs, Ethnic Groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, and other Community
Organizations, and invite their participation.
4. Advertise the above invitation extensively in local newspaper,
radio, and television.
5 Incorporate Sesquicentennial theme in presentations of the Wells
Branch Pioneer project, both at the project and in schools, civic
group meetings, and other visits.
6. Organize support for and begin active planning for construction of
a Civic Center as a tangible and lasting reminder of the Texas
Sesquicentennial.
7. Establish liaison with the Commission and other Committees.
8. Call a preliminary coordinating meeting of all those invited to
participate and any other interested individuals and groups during
the month of September, 1983.
1. Assign projects and monitor and coordinate progress.
2. Hold quarterly meetings of participants, and publish progress
reports after each meeting.
Master Plan for Sesquicentennial Celebration
Page 2
Continued
1985
1986
3. Continue media emplasis focusing on individual projects.
4. Locate land, finalize funding, complete Architect's work and bid
construction on Civic Center.
5. Establish a preliminary calendar of events for 1986, and provide
this information to the Commission.
1. Monitor project progress and provide assistance as requested.
2. Establish catagories and plan appropriate recognition for best
projects in each.
3. Schedule presentations /project completion dates throughout 1986
and finalize calendar of events.
4. Insure that the 1986 Frontier Days Celebration incorporates
the Sesquicentennial Theme.
5. Insure increasing media coverage of Committee activities.
6. Begin construction of Civic Center to insure completion not later
than March 2, 1986.
7. Continue quarterly meetings and news letter.
1. Supervise calendar of events.
2. Judge and award prizes for various projects /events.
3. Complete and dedicate Civic Center at an appropriate time.
(March 2 /Frontier Days)
4. Prepare and dispatch a report of Round Rock's participation
in the Sesquicentennial project.
Project Ideas for Texas Sesquicentennial as published in the Commission
Handbook.
PROJECT IDEAS FOR THE TEXAS SESQUICENTENNIAL
This project ideas section is simply a device to help local planners start designing their own unique
celebrations of the Sesquicentennial. It is not intended es the "by all and end all" of community program
development. We hope that these project ideas serve that purpose. Good luck!
1. Research and design a self - guiding "historical tour map" of the community. The map would
take in all of the significant historical sites of the community and surrounding countryside,
and would include such things as historic old homes, commercial and municipal buildings,
places where significant events occurred, etc. For community members and visitors, the "tour
map" would function as a basic resource for anyone interested in local history.
2. Print a special Sesquicentennial edition of the local newspaper -- a commemorative edition
focused upon the community's unique history, its present, and its future, with special
emphasis on the past dimension of the community's life. Local historical societies, public
libraries, and public schools might work with the newspaper staff to preparea long - remembered
Sesquicentennial edition. The special edition could serve as a permanent teaching resource for
community history in local schools.
3. Begin an oral history project of early days in the community. The project could be based in
the public secondary schoolfsi, or in the community at large. Tapes gathered during the
Sesquicentennial Oral History Project could be prepared for permanent usage in community
public libraries and public schools.
4. Gather a file of volunteer speakers on Sesquicentennial - related topics. After listing the topic
or topics about which they are interested and knowledgeable, speakers might be called upon to
appear before a variety of local groups. They would discourse on their chosen topics and help
prepare the community for its Sesquicentennial celebration.
5. Establish a special local history wing, archive, or collection in the community library. This
might include: published works relative to the locality, family histories, genealogical reference
materials, documents, historic photographs, oral history tapes, etc.
6. Begin a community "artifact museum" -- a museum of tools, farming and ranching implements,
household technology, the common objects of 'daily life at the turn of the century or before.
This would not be a "fine arts" museum, but a "museum of everyday objects," objects that
have not for the most part attained the status of costly antiques. A legacy to future genera-
tions, the artifact museum would function as a "hands on" reference tool to all interested in
daily life of the community's past.
7. Plan a full-dress historical reenactment of some event, or series of events, in the community
past: the founding of the town, a famous trial, an Indian battle, etc.
8. Start a "museum of living history." Within a small replica of the earliest settlement in the area,
the practitioners of a variety of folk arts, crafts, and technologies would ply their trades:
candlemakers, wheelwrights, chairmakers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, shingle makers, etc. and
etc. -- whatever trades and crafts are appropriate to the area. The craft areas would be manned
on weekends for local people and tourists, and the craft items might be sold.
9. Hold a "local folklife festival" modeled upon the highly successful statewide festival of the
Institute of Texan Cultures. On a given weekend, the practitioners of a wide variety of local
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folk crafts would demonstrate their skills. Storytellers could spin tales, house derri+,rtt
strate home canning techniques, folk, country, and gospel groups could play, etc. Arlain, rho-
model fur this community event is the Institute's I olkfife Festival. (Note that such an uv■:rr
would include many similar crafts displayed in the "museum of living history," hut the latter
envisionsa permanent location for the event, replica buildings, etc.)
10. Hold a "Sesquicentennial Run" during the celebration year. It could be 1500 meters, 5000
meters, a mile, or a marathon.
11. Hold a special "Old Times Community Reunion" during the Sesquicentennial Year. Encourage
all the community families to plan family reunions at the same time, and -- just once — get
everybody back for a memorable occasion to celebrate family history, community history,
and Texas history, all at the same time.
12. Embark on a program to create permanent memorials of the 1986 Sesquicentennial. Such
projects might include the erection or restoration of statues, rededication (with needed
improvements) of historic grave sites, placement of cornrnumoralive markers a plaques,
restoration and dedication of historic structures or sites, commemorative tree plantings, a
special Sesquicentennial library or museum, etc. The Sesquicentennial is an excellent time to
plan a permanent legacy from this generation to those yet to come.
13. Begin an ambitious downtown revitalization program along the lines of the "Texas Main _
Street Project." With the help of the National Main Street Center in Washington, D.C., Texas
has launched a program promising economic, social, and cultural revitalization of small towns
and cities across the state. Called the Texas Main Street Project, this pilot effort in selected
communities will test techniques for rejuvenation within the context of historical preservation.
As now projected, by 1986 some 25 communities will be actively participating in the Main
Street program, and other Texas towns and cities are encouraged to adapt the Main Street
model to revitalization within their own communities. (For information on the Texas Mairi
Street Project, write: Texas Main Street Center, Texas Historical Commission, P.O. Box 12276,
Austin, Texas 78711.)
14. Seed area roadsides and private fields with native wildflower species as a beautification project
commemorating the Texas Sesquicentennial. Fall is the best time for a seeding program, and,
once seeded, the native wild flowers propagate themselves. The State Department of Highways
and Public Transportation will be pleased to work with you on this. For information on wild-
flower seeds and supplies, planting procedures, and advice on which flowers will du best in your
area, write: Herbert Neimann, Landscape Architect, State Department of Highways and Public.
Transportation, 11th and Brazos, D -18L, Austin, Texas 78701. For additional advice, and
possible assistance in seed dissemination, be certain to contact the maintenance engineer in
your area office of the Highway Department. Help make 1986 a "Year of Wildflowers!"
15. Survey your community's needs and develop a "Year 2000 Plan" to be announced on the eve
of the Sesquicentennial. The Plan, based upon thorough research conducted in the years pre-
ceding 1986, would assess the community's present needs, problems, and resources, as well as
project current trends up to 2000 AD. The Year 2000 Plan would set community goals for the
year 2000 and suggest practical strategies for attaining them. It would be a functional "20-
year growth plan," a gift to the community in the year of the Sesquicentennial,
16. Develop a "Native Wildlife Zoo" displaying animal species present in the general area of your
community during 1836, For much of Texas, the Native Wildlife Zoo could include the
American bison, the black bear, the red wolf, the grey timber wolf, ancl the cougar, as well as
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the more familiar current species. Another
species. possibility, the Texas Longhorn, ran wild
much of the southern part of the state in 1836. fhe Zoo should display the native st *cis., na
as "named" a habitat as pusihle,
17. Hold a contest to design an official community flag of the Sesquicentennial. Display it, along
with the Lone Star Flag, in public and private, places during 10211
18. Invite each local church to research and write its official history in honor of the Sesquie:erdeii
nial. Compile those histories in a book for community libraries. (This same pattern col bl bn
followed for local businesses, clubs and organizations, media, etc.) Local communities need
their own history -- history designed for local use -- and the Sesquicentennial is a good lime
to see to its creation.
19. Encourage teachers and curriculum specialists in local public schools to develop special "loo ;n1
studies /local history" units as permanent legacies of the Sesquicentennial year. These matt:riale
would supplement curriculum in Texas and United States History courses and link the "bid
picture" history of school textbooks to the unique experiences of local folks, i.e. "bring hir,tor y
home." (1 he Texas Sesquicentennial Commission publishes a pamphlet of project ideas on this
theme, "Bringing History Horne: Classroom Projects for the Sesquicentennial. ")
20. Encourage local secondary schools to begin publishing a local oral history /folklore magazine
patterned upon the student journal, Foxfire. Work on the magazine could go on during Texa.
History, journalism or English classes, or in special classes set up to research and publish the
magazine. Over 200 Foxfire•patterned magazines exist around the country, many with a good
deal of commercial success. For information about starting a local "Foxfire project," interested
persons may contact any of the excellent Texas -hasnd Fox fires. For example: Loblolly, (lary
High School, Box 88, Gary, Texas 75643; Old Timer, Albany High School, Box 188, Albany,
Texas 70430; Chinquapin, Douglass School, Box 38, Douglass, Texas 15943.)
21. Collect taped reminiscences from the area's oldest settlers to preserve the oral history ul the
community for future generations. Segments from the tapes could he aired periodically on
radio "talk shows," published in the local newspapers, and otherwise used to stimulate interest
in local history and the Sesquicentennial.
22. Establish sister-city relations with a similar -sized community in one of try.: eight European
countries that recognized the independent Republic of Texas. Invite them to participate in the
community Sesquicentennial celebrations by sending a special group of delegates to plan
various exchange programs for the Sesquicentennial year.
23. Establish a "heritage farm," a pioneer homestead, typical of the area in the late Nineteenth
Century. This working farm, manned by volunteers, would provide an educational experience
in a recreational setting. A living museum of rural life in the area a century ago, the "heritage
farm" might well develop into a considerable tourist attraction.
24. Using the facilities and teaching personnel of the public school system, hold a special adult
education course in Texas and Community History for all who wish to attend. This might be
held at night in a school building. It would educate Texans ofd and new about the unique
heritage being celebrated in the Sesquicentennial year.
25, Set up a "living history" program in which elderly volunteers from the area go into classroom;,
for informal discussions and interviews about early days in the community. This is another
powerful strategy fur "bringing history home."
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26. Ring every bell in town on Texas Independence Day (March 2), San Jacinto Day (Ann! 21),
and the day of Statehood (December 29).
27. Hold a contest to design the best store window display on a Sesquicentennial theme. Foatere
the winner, selected by a committee from the local chamber of commerce, on the front pnja
of the local newspaper.
28. Hold a Sesquicentennial poster contest to develop an "official" community poster to be
displayed during the Sesquicentennial year and sold as a commemorative item.
29. Hold a contest to develop an additional graphic symbol, trademark, or logo of the community's
Sesquicentennial, to be displayed along with the official Sesquicentennial logo on all cor-
respondence, to appear on the masthead of the community newspaper during this t_tee,reii,.en
tennial year, etc.
30. Research and compile a general community history tracing events from settlement limos to the
Sesquicentennial year. Use both documents and oral history in its preparation. (Note that Ulf:
Texas Historical Commission in Austin has prepared an excellent guide on how to go about
this: "The Voice of Experience: On Publishing a County History" by Quillian Garrison. Writr:
for it to THC, P.O. Box 12276, Austin, Texas 78711.)
31. Plan a special celebration of the "Charter" or "founding day" of the community -- the clay of
official incorporation as a town.
32. Plan special festivities around the sequence of days that are of such central importance to the
Texas Republic: Texas Independence Day (March 2), San Jacinto Day (April 21), and the el,ry
the Republic became a state (December 29).
33. Sponsor a special "historic photograph exhibit" in the public library. Encourage families lo
bring in their heirloom photos for a period of public display in honor of the Sesquicentennial.
Offer prizes for the oldest photo, best family photo collection, best street scene of the early
days of the town, etc. If possible, copy the historic photographs for permanent library re-
sources before returning the originals to their owners.
34. Prepare a series of programs on the most important events in community history (the big
fire of 1906, the coming of the railroad, the great flu epidemic of 1918, etc.) and present them
to community schools, organizations, and clubs. This traveling exhibit would greatly aid the
Sesquicentennial Coordinating Committee in its efforts to stimulate interest and involvement
in the plans for 1986.
35. Hold a one -act play competition to award a prize for the best presentation on an historical
theme, the winning entry to be performed at the high school.
36. Keep a formal scrapbook on all Sesquicentennial activities and events- Place the completed
scrapbook in the public library as a permanent record of the community's Sesquicentennial
celebrations.
37. Hold contests in the public elementary, junior high, and high schools for the best themes, shurt
stories, and paintings on Sesquicentennial subjects.
38. Arrange for the reprinting, perhaps in facsimile form, of an important early historical work
about.the community, county, or region.
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39. Publish (perhaps as a fund - raising enterprise) a cookbook of treasured family recipes from
area. For general interest, include some of the personal and social information that giv :. i •r :
recipes special significance to the contributing family, and possibly to the community at tut -,.
For example, what about various "make do" recipes from the hard days of the Great Der,:
sion? Special recipes linked to important holidays such as Christmas, New Year's Day.
Juneleenth, the Cinco de Mayo, etc.? This can be both a functional cookbook and a nio;Vr :,t
social history of the community. You can have your history and eat it too!
40. Create an art /antique show of "community heirloom treasures" to be displayed in some public
place for a week or a month.
41. Embark on a no- holds- barred clean -up, paint -up, fix -up campaign for the whole community.
Involve everybody. Make it a real occasion!
42. Restore an historic building in the community for use as a permanent local history museum.
Historic old homes, abandoned railway depots, one or two - room school buildings, early
business structures in the downtown area, etc., provide good restoration candidates.
43. Design, mint, and sell a special community medallion to commemorate the Sesquicentennial
and to raise funds in support of other local projects.
44. Bury a "time capsule" containing characteristic objects of the 1980's. Designate i t "nut to b :
opened until March 2,2036" -- Independence Day of the Texas Bicentennial Year.
45. Hold a "community firsts" contest to determine the oldest living native, the oldest house,
oldest family photograph, oldest tree, family living longest in the same place, etc. Acknuwl;.uhp:
and honor these "community firsts" in the local newspaper.
46. Hold a contest to design an appropriate cover for the 1986 community telephone directory -
the best cover design on a Sesquicentennial theme. Make numbered editions of the nuvrir
available for purchase as a special commemorative item.
41. In horror of the community's earliest settlers, build a "founder's park" in the cornrnunily tor
perpet int use by all community residents, present and future.
48. Publish a hook entitled "Daily Life in Longview in 1920" (or etc.). Based upon oral hi,tnry,
newspaper accounts, municipal records, etc., sketch a thorough picture of the common details
of daily community life some 60 years ago -- streets, municipal lighting, athletic u.arri5, rJ' :usil,
of home and business technology -- a snapshot social history of the things formal history often
neglects.
49. As a fund- raising enterprise to support other Sesquicentennial projects, hold a series of special
arts and crafts (or antique) shows during the Sesquicentennial year.
50. Promote and publicize 1986 as a special year for family reunions in the community. As .r
regular feature, recognize these reunions in the local newspaper. A prize might be awarded
for the largest family reunion during the Sesquicentennial year.
51 Develop a comprehensive, "twenty -year plan" for community beautification and clean up,
beginning in 1986. This might include the improvement of parks, the planting of roadside
shrubbery and flowers, the revitalization of downtown areas, etc.
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52. Research, compile, and publish an historic photograph album of the community as a special
Sesquicentennial publishing project. Historic photos may be found in local r tg.:on ; anti
libraries, in newspaper files, and in the files of longtime community photographers. In adoi: ion,
on a series of weekends, persons with large family photograph collections may be persuaded to
bring them in for selective copying. A "visual history" of the community might then be sold
as a local commemorative item.
53. Develop a step -by -step process for securing the means to preserve historic buildings -- the
"best" procedure for accomplishing this in your community. This method of raising funds
would include a list of agencies or groups willing to finance or supplement preservation and
restoration costs.
54. Establish an "Ethnic Historical Council." The Council, composed of reprr :enialivrr; front all
ethnic groups contributing to community history (i.e. Germans, Swedes, Blacks, Mexicans.
etc.), would encourage the collection of data to document these contributions.
55. Establish a special Sesquicentennial Historic Marker -- a special marker for presentation to
persons instrumental in the restoration and preservation of historic community buildings.
56. Hold a "Brotherhood service" -- a Sunday morning, non - denominational religious scrvict: for
the whole community in a local sports stadium or other public place.
57. Hold a "festival of the confluence of Texas cultures" to celebrate and honor those culture;;
which have made contributions to the community. This would be a fest night, or nighu ;, wiIli
the evening's entertainment including music, dance, and food representing these local ethnic.
groups.
58. Develop and produce a yearly historical outdoor drama similar to The Last Colony," "Unto
These Hills," or "Texas."
59. Incorporate existing celebrations, activities, and festivals in the Sesquicentennial by encoi Iraqi rig
all organizations sponsoring an annual event to plan programs with appropriate Sesquicenten-
nial themes. Make these established celebrations bigger and better than ever before.
60. With the aid of the high school bands, sponsor a series of "old- fashioned band concorls in the
park" In addition, schedule community sing- songs, gospel or country music concerts, Blue-
grass festivals, barbershop quartet singings, etc. Make the Sesquicentennial a "year of music"
in the community.
61. Set up (with the aid of high school and college biology classes) a "self-guiding nature trail" in
the community and its environs.
62. Sponsor a combination "farmers' market" /arts- and - crafts fair to be held on one weekend each
month during the Sesquicentennial year.
63. Plan a Sesquicentennial Fair featuring any or all of these "old- time" events: an opening day
parade, Miss ? beauty contests, talent contests, fishing tournaments, an old fiddlers' contest,
horseshoe pitching contests, a strongest man event, wrist - wrestling competitions. hush puppy
fry -offs, chili cook -offs, bake -offs, pie (or cow chip) throwing contests, watermelon for jalapeno,
etc.) eating contests, greased pole climbs, tug - - wars between large teams, a battle of loud
bands, pony rides, fire truck rides, quilting bees, etc. You name it!
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64. Research, record, and publish a comprehensive cemetary survey of all conrrnunity (or r •, ;,,;yj
cemetaries.
65. Locate, purchase, and renovate a one -room school in the locality. Set it up as a special i r r:: ■n
of the old common school district system, and fill it with "Texas education artifacts" from the
county schools.
66. Using the facilities of the local TV station, produce a TV or radio show on community history
as a special project for the Sesquicentennial year. This would be intended for local viewing
during 1986 and for permanent use in community schools.
67. Hold a Sesquicentennial Ball with participants dressing (more or less!) in the frontier style of
1836.
68. Get together a comprehensive collection of local folklore. The forms collected might include_
riddles, folk songs, folk remedies, "ghost stories," legends, old sayings, tall tales, hunting and
fishing stories, etc. (Consult a good folklore text for the many other possibilities, and don't
neglect ethnic variations in folklore.) The folklore project might be centered in the high school
English and social studies classes, and much of the material may be collected by lelenliune.
The folklore collection might then be placed in the public library. (For an account of ju.,i aur,li
a community project, see Richard and Laurna Tallman, Country Folks: A Handbook for
Student Folklore Collectors, Arkansas College Folklore Publications, Batesville, A, k;uc,c,,
1978.)
69. In honor of the Sesquicentennial, organize an honorary chapter of Junior Historians in thn
public schools, and /or a Webb Chapter in the local collage or university. (For infot rear iorr rirr
how to go about this, write: Texas Historical Association, 2/306 Sid Richardson Hall, fhe:
University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712.)
70. Design a special community bumper slicker. Sell it as a commemorative item to raise nrors y
for other Sesquicentennial projects.
7 1 . Embark on a fund - raising drive to drastically upgrade the slate arid local history h Piing. of
local libraries. Link this to a general campaign to increase the "historical literacy" nl area
school children and citizens.
72. Prepare and publish an "historical site map" for the community and its environs. (Note that
the standard USGS "topographic maps" are often readily adaptable to this pnrl,o!ie.) I'Irrr!,
this basic reference tool in community classrooms and libraries.
73. In honor of the Sesquicentennial, lay out walking (jogging), bicycling, and bridal paths in the
area.
74. Hold a "Texas Film Festival," showing films made in and about the State of Texas.
75. Organize a "Sesquicentennial Horse -Drawn Parade" -- a living panorama of horse -drawn
vehicles and equipment which played a major role in the development of early economic
and social life. The parade might include: riders on horseback, wagons (agricultural wagons,
freight wagons, etc.), buggies, fire - fighting equipment, beer delivery rigs, etc.
76. As a special Sesquicentennial feature, publish a weekly column on community /county history
in the local newspaper. Volunteers from the local historical society and public schools could
14
C
help research column materials. At the end of the Sesquicentennial year, the column
cornpiled and published as a commemorative item.
77. To publicize the approaching Sesquicentennial celebrations, hold a treasure hunt over e.
of several weeks. Hide a valuable prize somewhere in the community, arid give sup:- .:essive
clues -- all linked to local history -- to aid the search. The clues would hecurue mr,ru :avi rc. r,t
"explicit" until someone figured it out, located the treasure, and won the contest- - f his is mt
excellent way to raise peoples' awareness about their local history as the Sesquicentennial
approaches.
78. In every way possible, promote the community as a meeting site for trade and profm Tonal
associations, clubs, hobby leagues, and church groups during the Sesquicentennial 'prig
79. As an attention getter, stage a dramatic recreation of a famous and flamhoyant local co'11' 0511.
80. With the aid of local 4 -H clubs, rodeo clubs, and FFA -FHA organizations, sponsor -, bps.ial
Sesquicentennial Youth Rodeo (or "games day ") for ,the young people of the commonil /.
Promote it as a fund - raiser for other projects.
81. After community -wide competitions to select the winning designs, paint comrnnrnorative
murals on the blank walls of downtown buildings, or on community water towers.
82. Plan a "culinary arts festival and cookbook" -- local housewives donate their best recipes for
a special "Sesquicentennial Cookbook" to be published arid sold. For the fe rival, ow:if pr:r .t,rr
cooks the recipe they contributed to the Cookbook.
83. As a fund - raiser for other Sesquicentennial projects in the community, hold a ""mantes rti'tl t"
competition to determine winners in bingo, checkers, dominoes, chess, monopoly, suuLbie,
etc.
84. To raise money, hold e Sesquicentennial Walkathon. Pledges are given to the Sr,:;ttui !sr v a aiial
Project Fund for every mile sponsored contestants walk.
85. As 1 funding project to support other Sesquicentennial activities, hold a giant, community
-
wide "white elephant sale and flea market. "
86. Hold a local crafts fair and sale, which might include homemade quilts, handwoven iU:nc„
braided rugs, needlework, wood carvings, etc. If possible, include a live exhibit of folk r:r:,lt•,
persons demonstrating their respective crafts.
87. Is your community located along the Mexico border? If so„ give your Sesquicentennial an
international flavor by planning joint celebrations with a sister -city on the Mexico side of the
Rio Grande /Bravo. (For an excellent model, get in touch with the planners of the El Paso/
Juarez Quadcentennial. Write: "4 Centuries 81," 3 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, Texas 77901.)
88. As a Sesquicentennial project in the arts, compile and publish an anthology of short Shona,,
poetry, and /or essays from creative community writers. The selection process, which might
begin with previously published materials, could include a special contest to attract now
writings.
89. With the assistance of the local historical museum and /or public library, develop a spacial
museum exhibit on the theme: "Your Town /Community /Region In 1836."
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90. Form a group to rejuvenate a creek or stream in or around the community, Frre Iloviir ;
streams provide important scenic and environmental resources, but are often neglected. 1✓i;r'ra
your local stream a community showplace in 1986 by cleaning the banks and strearalwi,
setting up a volunteer program to improve water quality, reintroducing native species of plant ,
and aquatic animals, develupiny a nature trail along the stream banks (ur a canoe 'jail, 11 ih.d
seems more appropriate), etc.
91. Rename a street after a pioneer or leading citizen of the town. The person should have exenrrI
a significant influence on community history. Rededicate the street on an important celebra-
tion day during the Sesquicentennial year.
92. Hold a special Texas Sesquicentennial Fireworks Display incor Tdreting -ttte Texas St;ru: 1 lurl
and the Sesquicentennial Logo.
93. Recognize a local woman for women) for significant contributions to community and State
history. Make the presentation during a special "Sesquicentennial Woman's Day" in 1986.
Groups might commemorate the day women acquired voting rights and /or similar milestones.
Along with this develop a history of "Women in the Community."
94. Does one of the famous Texas cattle trails pass close to your community? If so, plan a special
"Sesquicentennial Trail Drive" retracing some local portion of the trail during Spring, 1901),
culminating in a community "Round -up" celebration.
95. Promote a dramatic presentation of community history by school children. They would
interview old - timers and examine old newspapers and documents for their material. Scrip t%,
costuming, and staging would be done by the children themselves, with assistance; from
teachers, and performances would be held for the entire community. Stand back and really let
the children do it!
96. To raise money, hold a Sesquicentennial Rockathon. Solicit pledges to the Sesquicentennial
Project Fund for every minute sponsored contestants rock in their rocking chairs.
97. Hold a county -wide contest for the best family history written especially for the Sosgnicon-
tennial. Contestants should use both written documents and oral traditions in their research.
Compile all entries into a larger "Sesquicentennial Family History Collection" for permanent
inclusion in the local library.
98. Plan a botanical garden to include various native plant species of the area. Interested partici-
pants, perhaps from school science classes, garden clubs, and the parks system, could spend
several Saturdays transplanting native trees and plants from the surrounding countryside to the
garden. The space provided will depend on cost and availability, but could range all the way
from a very small plot featuring only the most common native species to a very large space
with ponds, footpaths, etc. This project would provide a celebration of the community en-
vironment during the Sesquicentennial year, as well as a permanent educational and aesthetic_
resource for the community.
99. Celebrate the Sesquicentennial by plotting a new tourist route through the city, linked to one
of the regional state highway trails. The route, beginning where the state trail passes closest
to the area, could guide visitors through the community and return them to the state trail at
or near the point of departure. Directive signs would mark the starting point of the community
trail, pinpoint each successive turn in its course, and identify local sites of interest along the
way. The following Texas Trails travel throughout almost every region in the state: Brazos
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c
Trail, Forest Trail, Forts Trail, Hill Country Trail, Independence Trail, L::ku:: krrii, P1r,nniau
Trail, Pecos Trail, Plains Trail and the Tropical - frail. Maps of each rn,,ybr:
charge from the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, Travel and Infr nnT•∎
tion Division, Austin, Texas 78763.
100. Plan a community "Folk Crafts School" once a month during the Sesquicentennial year. At
the school, local persons especially competent in a folk craft would teach mini- courses to those
interested in learning their skill. This would not only provide a demonstration of the folk s4:i11,
but also a brief hands -on training session in "how to do it." Community folk might learn how
to: rive shingles, construct log houses, whittle, construct folk toys, make sunbonnets, build
brush brooms churn milk to make butter, make a basket out of white oak splits, sew e quilt,
preserve vegetables and fruits by canning, make lye soap, use herbal remedies, shrn:k
plow with a mule, weave on a loom, wash clothes in an iron pot, tan hides, rnakr, dipper
gourds, make cornshuck mops /dolls /hats, identify wild plant foods, build a dry stony; wall,
make bird traps /deadfalls /rabbit boxes, make folk instruments, construct a homemade water
jug, and do simple blacksmithing. What else? Ask folks in your community what they know!
101. From here on, it's up to you! What are your good ideas for celebrating Texas' 150th birthday?
We hope to hear from you and to feature your ideas in the pages of the Texas National Dispatch.
Write to Thad Sitton, Editor, Texas National Dispatch, P.O. Box 1986, Austin, Texas 78/6/.
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