By: Kleinschmidt (Senate Sponsor - Ogden) H.C.R. No. 45
(In the Senate - Received from the House March 31, 2011;
April 7, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
Administration; April 26, 2011, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 26, 2011, sent to printer.)
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The development of Texas in the late 1800s and early
1900s was shaped in important ways by the railroad, with
communities all across the state being transformed by the arrival
of this revolutionary mode of transportation; and
WHEREAS, Sadly, many of the historic depots that were
integral to railroad operations have not survived the passage of
the decades, and the disappearance of these structures deprives
Texans of a tangible link to the state's past; and
WHEREAS, In certain places, however, residents have had the
foresight to preserve the vintage architectural treasures related
to train travel, and the town of Giddings stands at the forefront of
this trend; this historic crossroads in Central Texas has three
original depots, each of which has been restored and put to use in
ways that help illuminate the community's heritage; and
WHEREAS, The resurrection of these buildings is especially
fitting for Giddings, a city that was founded when the Houston and
Central Texas Railway was built through the area in the early 1870s
and that grew into an important rail junction; over time, the city's
downtown became home to three depots: Union Station, which dates to
the 1880s, a freight depot from the 1890s, and a brick passenger
facility, built circa 1920; all three had closed by the 1960s due to
the decline in train transportation, but each would survive to see a
brighter day; and
WHEREAS, A downtown revitalization plan drafted in the late
1990s called for the restoration of the depots, and work was
completed in 2009; today, Union Station houses the Rural Texas
Tourism Center and the Union Station Transportation Museum, the
brick passenger facility serves as the site of the Giddings
Economic Development Corporation and the Giddings Area Chamber of
Commerce, and the freight depot contains additional displays
related to railroad history and memorabilia; the revitalization
project also prompted the establishment of a walking tour of the
historic area in Giddings; and
WHEREAS, This admirable undertaking has once again made the
depots a focal point of the downtown area, sparking a broader
renaissance in the city and also publicizing the attractions of
other small towns in the state through the efforts of the Rural
Texas Tourism Center; moreover, the restoration of these historic
train facilities provides visitors with a unique opportunity to
gain deeper insight into the rich history of rail transport and the
ways in which it helped build Texas into the dynamic state we know
today; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate Giddings as the official Depot Capital of Texas.
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