2nd Annual Western Heights Cemetary Fundraiser

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    • White Rhino Coffee Roastery (map)

Gateway Pecan Tree – Historic Landmark Dedication

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      • Base of Commerce Bridge (map)

Texas Historic Tree Coalition – Historic Tree Proclamation

WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan has served as an important waypoint marking the trail from central Dallas across the Trinity River to points south and west for over 175 years;

 AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan sits where many trails converged near a low-water crossing of the Trinity River that was used by both the bison herds and their hunters prior to the settlement of Dallas and cattle drives on the Shawnee Trail in the early years of Dallas;

AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan saw the construction of the first Commerce Street bridge in 1855 and sits at the junction of the old Eagle Ford Road and the old Fort Worth Pike taking early settlers and traders to all points west of Dallas;

AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan sat in the Trinity River floodplain prior to construction of levees and served as a rescue point for people on the west side of the Trinity during major floods in 1866, 1871, 1890, and 1908;

AND WHEREAS, West Dallasite C. W. Heppner lived adjacent to the West Dallas Gateway Pecan in a three-story house with a pier on the side used for rescue boats during the floods and helped organize the Trinity River Levee and Drainage Club to adopt plans for channeling the Trinity River and building levees to protect both downtown and West Dallas;

AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan served as a shady gathering place for vendors to sell food and goods to the people of West Dallas and has survived the construction of the levee, construction of roads, and multiple impacts from passing vehicles;

NOW THEREFORE, the Texas Historic Tree Coalition does hereby proclaim the West Dallas Gateway Pecan to be an official Historic Tree, which will be listed in our Historic Tree Registry as a living legend and testament to our history as a nation, ON THIS DAY, November 4th, 2022.

West Dallas Gateway Historic Pecan Proclamation

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        • Base of Commerce Bridge (map)

The Fort Worth Avenue Development Group is pleased and proud to announce historic recognition for the West Dallas Gateway Pecan Tree, located at the base of the Commerce Street Bridge.

Please join us 1:30PM on November 4, 2022 * at the southeast corner of Beckley and Commerce for presentation of the West Dallas Gateway Pecan Tree’s Proclamation by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition and hear about the rich and remarkable times that this pecan tree has witnessed and survived. (Full proclamation below)

We hope you can come to help us celebrate and commemorate this West Dallas Gateway Pecan!

*Parking available across the street, courtesy of Blanks Printing & Imaging, Inc.

Texas Historic Tree Coalition – Historic Tree Proclamation

West Dallas Gateway Pecan

WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan has served as an important waypoint marking the trail from central Dallas across the Trinity River to points south and west for over 175 years;

 AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan sits where many trails converged near a low-water crossing of the Trinity River that was used by both the bison herds and their hunters prior to the settlement of Dallas and cattle drives on the Shawnee Trail in the early years of Dallas;

 AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan saw the construction of the first Commerce Street bridge in 1855 and sits at the junction of the old Eagle Ford Road and the old Fort Worth Pike taking early settlers and traders to all points west of Dallas;

 AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan sat in the Trinity River floodplain prior to construction of levees and served as a rescue point for people on the west side of the Trinity during major floods in 1866, 1871, 1890, and 1908;

 AND WHEREAS, West Dallasite C. W. Heppner lived adjacent to the West Dallas Gateway Pecan in a three-story house with a pier on the side used for rescue boats during the floods and helped organize the Trinity River Levee and Drainage Club to adopt plans for channeling the Trinity River and building levees to protect both downtown and West Dallas;

 AND WHEREAS, the West Dallas Gateway Pecan served as a shady gathering place for vendors to sell food and goods to the people of West Dallas and has survived the construction of the levee, construction of roads, and multiple impacts from passing vehicles;

 NOW THEREFORE, the Texas Historic Tree Coalition does hereby proclaim the West Dallas Gateway Pecan to be an official Historic Tree, which will be listed in our Historic Tree Registry as a living legend and testament to our history as a nation,

 ON THIS DAY, November 4th, 2022.

Western Heights Cemetery Fundraiser

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          • White Rhino Coffee (next to cemetery) (map)

The Fort Worth Avenue Development Group is pleased to invite you to its First Annual Western Heights Cemetery Improvements Fundraiser for a major upgrade of this historic site!

Please join us for an evening of catering and coffee tasting by White Rhino Coffee, enjoying a beer from the Manhattan Project Brewery, meeting relatives of Bonnie and Clyde, visiting the grave-sites of veterans from the Civil War, WWI, WWII and the first female baby born in Dallas County, all while raising funds to return this West Dallas historic jewel to its former glory.

Three tax deductible ways to help fund a master landscaping plan and its implementation are:

  1. Event Ticket – $30/person

  2. Commemorative brick marker – $100, individualized for you, your family, or to honor a loved one, as part of a pathway from the Entrance Gate and Information Kiosk.

  3. Event Sponsorship – $300 (includes FWADG website recognition, event ticket and brick).

Additional sponsorship opportunities available.

Contact Louise Herfel at [email protected] or Linda Ward at [email protected]

If unable to attend, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution by donating online or mailing a check to Fort Worth Avenue Development Group, P.O. Box 225120, Dallas, Texas 75222-5120.

Event Sponsors

White Rhino Coffee

John Stolly Design

Blount Designs

Chad West

DFW Historical Tours

JD’s Tree Service

2nd2Nunn Photography