H.R. No. 2988
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, In 2009 proud residents of Magnolia Park are
celebrating the centennial of this neighborhood, one of the first
Mexican American communities in Houston; and
WHEREAS, Magnolia Park traces its history back to 1890 when
John Thomas Brady developed a popular park dotted with thousands of
magnolia trees on approximately 1,300 acres along the Houston Ship
Channel; as the area grew increasingly industrialized, the Brady
family decided to sell the property for residential development,
and the Magnolia Park Land Company was chartered in January 1909;
four years later, the city of Magnolia Park was incorporated, its
two square miles bordered on the north and east by Buffalo Bayou and
the ship channel, on the south by Brays Bayou, and on the west by
rail lines; and
WHEREAS, Following the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in
1910, a wave of refugees from that country came to Texas; many who
made their way to Houston found employment connected to the
shipping industry and settled in Magnolia Park; these residents
developed a vibrant cultural life in clubs, schools, theatrical
troupes, sports and fraternal associations, and churches, most
notably Immaculate Conception, established in 1911, and Immaculate
Heart of Mary, founded in 1925; the Mexican Chamber of Commerce
prospered and the noteworthy Sociedad Mutualista Benito Juarez
provided mutual aid and a hall for social functions; and
WHEREAS, In 1926, Magnolia Park was annexed by the City of
Houston; the community continued to retain its ethnic character,
and by 1930, residents had established a private school, the
Escuela Mexicana Hidalgo, to preserve their heritage; such groups
as Club Femenino-Chapultepec provided recreation, promoted Mexican
American culture, and protested segregation, while Houston's first
branch of the League of United Latin American Citizens was
organized here in 1934; longtime landmarks and institutions still
enduring today include Hidalgo Park, which has served as a venue for
many Hispanic community events and festivals since 1927, and
American Legion Post No. 472, chartered in 1928, whose social
programs have included dances, concerts, and other functions; and
WHEREAS, With its strong sense of history and community,
Magnolia Park is one of the most distinctive neighborhoods in
Houston, and its residents have long contributed to the prosperity
and cultural vitality of the Bayou City; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of Magnolia Park and
extend to its residents sincere best wishes for a memorable
celebration; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association
as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of
Representatives.
Hernandez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2988 was adopted by the House on June
1, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House