HomeMy WebLinkAboutInterurban State Marker 120303
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tation's community newspaper since 1966
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Texas
Bryan
His,torical Marker to recognize
and College Interurban Railway
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The Brazos County Historical
Commission will unveil a Texas
State Historical Marker recognizing
the significance of the Bryan &
College Interurban Railway will be
dedicated at the city limits of Bryan
and College Station nhrthe inter-
section of College Main and Spruce
Streets at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
Nov. 14.
The railway operated passenger
trolleys between Bryan and Texas
A&M for 13 years beginning in
1910 and provided convenient
transportation between the two
entities as well for those living be-
tween them. It enabled students to
travel to Bryan to shop and made it
possible for A&M faculty members
living off campus to get to the
campus with ease. It also provided
convenient transportation for citi-
zens of Bryan to A&M football
games and other events on campus
and made it convenient for Bryan
residents to commute to their busi-
nesses near the Texas A&M cam-
pus.
November.9,1995
Speaker at the event will be Jack
Zubik. He and his father regularly
rode the Interurban from Bryan to
College Station, where they oper- ,
ated a tailor shop at which Aggies
were frequent customers. Zubik will
relate his memories of riding the
Bryan & College Interurban Rail-
way.
Making application for historical
markers and dedicating those mark-
ers are a couple of the many activi-
ties of the Brazos County Historical
Commission to make citizens of
the county aware of the significant
historical events, people, structures
and organizations. These activities
also help the Commission to earn
the Distinguished Service Award of
the Texas Historical Commission.
All interested citizens are invited
io attend the dedication ceremonies.
Funds for the purchase of the
marker were provided by the Col-
lege Station Historical Committee
and the city of Bryan.
The marker for the Bryan & Col-
lege Interurban Railway is the 41st
official Texas State Historical
Marker to be dedicated in Brazos
County and is one of nearly 14,000
such markers throughout Texas.
Other markers recognize historical
houses, churches, communities,
educational institutions, cemeteries,
individuals and various organiza-
tiollS. Nine, or nearly a fourth of
those markers, have been dedicated
since 1990. This is evidence of a
growing interest in the history of
Brazos County and increased sup-
port for historic preservation by the
citizens of the county.
All of these markers except the
one for Brazos County are easily
located by the use of the brochure A
Guide to Historic Brazos County,
which Was produced by the Brazos
Heritage Society with some assis-
tance from the Brazos County His-
torical Commission and is available
at the Bryan-College Station
Chamber of Commerce Con'vention
and Visitors Bur.eau on University
Drive in College Station.
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J~~ 11f, 1995
BRYAN & COLLEGE STATION
INTERURBAN RAILWAY
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BRYAN MAYOR J.T. MALONEY AND THE CITY'S
RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
THE BRYAN & COLLEGE INTERURBAN RAILWAY COM-
PANY IN 1909. THE COMPANY WAS CREATED TO
ESTABLISH AN INTERURBAN RAILWAY SERVICE BE-
TWEEN BRYAN. A TOWN OF ABOUT 4.000 PEOPLE.
AND THE TEXAS AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL
COLLEGE (TEXAS A&M). WITH A STUDENT AND FAC-
ULTY POPULATION OF ABOUT 750.
DAILY SERVICE CONSISTING OF TEN 3D-MINUTE
TRIPS BEGAN IN 1910 WITH PASSENGER TROLLEYS
AND GASOLINE POWERED RAIL GARS. ALONG THE
ROUTE LANDOWNERS BUILT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVI-
SIONS AND SMALL FARMS. AND TO PROVIDE AN
ATTRACTION THE CITY CREATED DELLWOOD PARK.
FREIGHT SERVICE BEGAN IN 1918 TO HELP BOLSTER
AN OPERATION BESET WITH LABOR PROBLEMS AND
, THE LOSS OF PASSENGERS TO AUTOMOBILE RIDER-
SHIP. IN, 1922 THE BRYAN & COLLEGE INTERURBAN
RAILWAY WENT INTO RECEIVERSHIP AND IN 1923 ITS
ASSETS WERE SOLD AT AUCTION TO THE S.S. HUNTER
ESTATE. THE LAST RECORDED TRIP OF THE INTERUR-
BAN TOOK PLACE ON APRIL 13. 1923.
DURING ITS 15 YEARS OF OPERATION THE INTERUR-
BAN RAILWAY GREATLY INFLUENCED THE COURSE
OF BRYAN'S AND COLLEGE STATION'S URBAN DE-
VELOPMENT. TODAY THE TWO CITIES MERGE INDIS-
TINGUISHABLY AT A POINT ON THE FORMER BRYAN
& COLLEGE INTERURBAN RAILWAY ROUTE.
SESQUICENTENNIAL OF TEXAS STATEHOOD 1845-1995
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Welcome & ............................................... Dr. Charles Schultz,
Recognition of Guests Chairman, Brazos County
Historical commission
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Introduction .......................................... Dr. Paul Van Riper
of the Speaker
Speaker....................................................... Mr. Jack Zubik
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Presentation ........................................................... Cities of
College Station and Bryan
Acceptance.................................................... Brazos County
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~lLM.datJ1 'Dlo~ 1 If, 1995
10:30 anv
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For more information call:
College Station Parks & Recreation Department
(409) 764-3773
.