News

Cruisin' in the Park 2013

On Saturday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Plano's Haggard Park was filled with fun for all ages at "Cruisin' in the Park" – a Plano Rotary Club event supported by The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. and the Historic Downtown Plano Association to celebrate Plano and National Historic Preservation Month.

An event highlight for kids was the non-sanctioned, open soap box derby race presented by Plano Rotary Club.  

The festivities also included a pinewood derby, tours of Plano's Interurban Railway Museum and Rail Car #360, a musical instrument "petting zoo", trackless train rides, face painting, a sidewalk chalk art area, cane pole fishing, stick horse races, cow roping, and much more.  

A classic car show took place in the parking lot just east of the Interurban Railway Museum.    

"This free, fun, family event was an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate the City of Plano and its heritage," said Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation Co-Director Russell Kissick.  "This event allowed us to gather for family fun, to educate guests about the historic preservation efforts underway in the city, and to make them aware of the rich history and culture that this area has to offer."

"This event would not have been possible except for the generous donations by Huffines Auto Dealerships and a lot of hard work by many great people," said Plano Rotarian and "Cruisin' in the Park," event chair Ben Criste. "It was a fun-filled day for kids and parents!"

Music sensation SaraBeth of Murphy performed at this year's event, as did local favorite group Vinyl Rewind. Texas native ALyX, who appeared on NBC's "The Voice" performed the national anthem and other favorites from her collection throughout the event. Chrissy Harrold, a rising young star from McKinney, took the stage at the event this year, after making her Plano debut at the 2012 Cruisin' in the Park event.

The event was being sponsored by Huffines Auto Dealerships, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Assistance Center of Collin County, nonPareil, Plano Family YMCA and the Plano Rotary Foundation.

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc: 

The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117. 

Interurban Railway Museum to feature "Rural Texas Women at Work" Exhibit -- The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. sponsors display in honor of Historic Preservation Month

Summer Camps 2013

The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. will offer a "Bridging the Gap" summer camp program at Historic Interurban Railway Museum in three sessions.

When:

June 17 - 20, 2013 - 9 a.m. - noon
July 22 - 25, 2013 - 9 a.m. - noon
August 5 - 8, 2013 - 9 a.m. - noon

Where:
Interurban Railway Museum
901 East 15th Street
Plano, TX 75074
in historic downtown Plano

Cost:
$65 per student.  Each class session is limited to 12 students.

Details:
This new summer camp program, created for ages 9 through 12, allows campers the opportunity to apply creativity and engineering skills to build a bridge model.  Based on the five E science model, which promotes the discovery method of learning, campers will engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate the design and function of different types of bridges.

The camp program will be conducted at Plano's Interurban Railway Museum, which provides a scientific and historical learning environment. Led by certified teachers, this program is designed for students entering grades 4 - 7 in fall 2013.

To register:
Visit www.planoparks.org and search for corresponding course number to register online.
Or register via phone at 972-941-7250.

June 17 - 20, 2013: course number 144048
July 22 - 25, 2013: course number 144057
August 5 - 8, 2013: course number 144058

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc:
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117. 

Interurban Features New Exhibits

Plano’s Interurban Railway Museum features two new, interactive displays

A pint-sized visitor at Plano’s Interurban Railway Museum presses a red button.  An arc-shaped flame jumps between a pair of electrodes in the new "Electric Flame" exhibit at Plano's Interurban Railway Museum, filling the room with a snapping, buzzing, crackling sounds and delighting museum guests.

"This engaging, interactive display is one of two new exhibits in the museum's Electricity Room.  The 250-pound Electric Flame display shows visitors how the arc of flame follows the path of an electric current between a pair of electrodes.  Our new Magnetic Suction display shows visitors a behind the scenes look at what makes a doorbell work, and how wire coil solenoids and iron plungers pair to move pinball flippers, power the starter in a car and close valves in washing machines," said Russell Kissick, Co-Director of The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. is responsible for museum staffing and display development and is also involved in a variety of historic preservation efforts throughout the city.

The Electricity Room explains the role of electricity in Plano’s historic Interurban Railway system.  The Electricity Room explains the electrical terms ampere, resistance, voltage and wattage and further explains the physical properties of electricity and how it powered the trains that once traveled to and from the Texas Electric Railway Station.

Museum staff and volunteers with expertise in electrical engineering worked together to select the new displays, which were designed and fabricated by the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California.  The Exploratorium is a world-renowned children’s science museum and an innovator in presenting science principles in formats that are age appropriate in design and concept.

The project was funded through grant funds provided by the City of Plano and The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.

Located in downtown Plano, the Interurban Railway Museum is housed in a building that served as a primary stop on the Texas Electric Railway that ran from Denison to Dallas beginning in 1908. On December 31, 1948, the Denison to Dallas Interurban made its last run.

The station remained closed until early 1990 when a complete restoration of the building was completed, and the building was converted into a museum by the City of Plano. The museum exhibits contains many artifacts associated with the Interurban Line, as well as a history of Plano.

Rail transportation powered by steam first arrived in Plano in 1872 and changed the agrarian lifestyle of early settlers who had traveled to this area by covered wagon. In the late 1880's inventors discovered the wonder of electricity and devised ways to harness this marvel into driving trolley cars previously drawn by mules or horses.

Located in downtown Plano, the Texas Electric Railway Station served to bring people, goods, newspapers with worldwide coverage, and traveling salesmen together in a timely fashion. A contract signed with the United States Post Office in 1914 permitted mail to be carried and delivered to the many towns along the line via the Texas Electric Railway System. Three interurban cars were refitted with bins, sorting tables, mail slots and cancellation stamps enabling two postal employees, in a secured rear compartment, to process mail as the car traveled north and south on its daily schedule.

The Interurban building in Plano was also an electric sub-station that converted the high voltage alternating current to direct current in order to power the line. This is the only remaining sub-station open for public tours on the Interurban line, which served as a primary stop on the Texas Electric Railway, linking Denison and Dallas beginning in 1908. The Interurban's impact on rural life was dramatic as it ended the isolation of distant farm families. Trains ran hourly from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The Plano station closed on December 31, 1948, when the Denison to Dallas Interurban made its last run. The building was used in a variety of ways until 1982. It was then closed until 1990, when a complete restoration of the building was completed by the City of Plano. The dedication of this Texas Historical Landmark was held on June 17, 1991 and was opened to the public as a museum.

The Interurban Railway Museum is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can learn about regional history in the history room, explore interactive displays in the science and electricity room and experience the working "O" scale model train layout and other period artifacts. The museum also offers tours of Railway Post Office Car #360. Tours are guided by a uniformed rail car motor man and guests learn about the rail post office system, discuss period advertising in the train car and learn more about electric rail travel.

For more information, please call 972.941-2117 or visit www.planoconservancy.org

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc:
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-211

Dickens in Downtown 2012

The Plano Interurban Railway Museum was filled with holiday-spirited guests on Friday, November 30 during Plano's "Dickens in Historic Downtown Plano." Visitors enjoyed museum tours, two special children's story times, trackless train rides, carriage rides, live performers, photo opportunities and more.

"The downtown area was filled with music, carolers, concessions, shopping and holiday fun," said Maggie Sprague of Plano, co-founder of The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., the group that manages the museum.  "And this popular event gave us the opportunity to showcase the Interurban Railway Museum to guests who have not have had the chance to experience the museum before." 

The museum offered two special children's story times, featuring readings of "The Polar Express." Uniformed railway motormen were available for photo opportunities and to guide guests through the museum. Guests also met new "friend of the museum" Eugene the Motor Mouse, who will be part of children's programming at the museum now and in the future.  Guests also enjoyed The City of Plano's tree lighting ceremony in Haggard Park, just outside the museum.

During the event, visitors explored the museum, which features:
-train depot lobby including a ticket counter, pot belly stove and waiting benches
-history room features an overview of regional history and details about trains, cotton, cattle and crops
-science room features interactive displays that teach the principles of electricity
-artifact room features a working "O" scale model train layout, railroad track components, a model rotary converter, artifact cases and much more!

The Interurban Railway Museum is located at 901 E. 15th Street in historic downtown Plano. For more information call 972.941.2117 or visit www.planoconservancy.org

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc: 
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.   

Bowman Cemetery: Restoration

John Lance of Plano didn't want to follow in his brothers' footsteps when choosing his Eagle Scout project.  

John's brothers Andrew and Ryan both completed work at Plano's Heritage Farmstead Museum to satisfy their Eagle Scout project requirements.

John - who is a member of Boy Scout Troop 181 and Venture Crew 1000 - was looking for something different. His research led him to contact Candace Fountoulakis, a board member with The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. who is very involved with cemetery preservation in the City of Plano. 

"John and I discussed what he would like to see in an Eagle Scout project, and determined that his repainting of the original wrought iron fence at Bowman Cemetery would be a historic preservation project that would both meet his Scouting requirements and have lasting historical impact," said Fountoulakis.

"I enjoy history, and I thought [this project] combined my interest in history and parks," added John.

After John decided to participate in the cemetery improvement project, he had to wait for a few things to happen before he could begin his part.

Many monuments at the cemetery had been damaged by vandalism and the effects of time, weather and exposure.  The City of Plano had undertaken restoration work in the 1990s, but repair techniques and materials have been improved upon dramatically since that time.   

Recognizing the important need to restore dignity and peace to this heritage resource, The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation obtained grant funds made available through the City of Plano’s Heritage Commission in 2012 that allowed for the services of a professional cemetery restoration company to be retained.  Scope of work included leveling and properly cleaning all markers, mending broken stones and completing an inventory of interments at the site.  

"Monument repair is quite a process," explained Fountoulakis.  "We tried to find photos of Bowman Cemetery before the late 1990's to help us put the mismatched pieces of broken markers back together correctly."

After marker renovation and repair was underway, John had to wait for the results of a lead paint test on aging paint that was originally used on the fence. After the test came back negative, John could finally begin work.

"John did fund raising to pay for the paints and supplies he needed for this project," added Fountoulakis.  "Part of his effort in this project was to organize a team  to  do the work under his direction . He provided excellent leadership of this undertaking."

"The Conservancy  donated $100 toward my project, and I applied for and received a $100 grant from Lowe's through BSA Circle Ten Council," added John.  "I solicited donations from friends and my relatives for the rest of the money to fund the project."

Markers in the cemetery were covered to prevent any damage from dust and paint during John's work.  Many hours were spent sanding the old paint off of the cemetery's wrought iron fence, then carefully applying new primer and paint.

"The sanding process was long and tedious, because there was not a lot of progress to be seen," explained John.  "The priming and painting was better, because of the ability to see the work done.  I feel like I have now played an important part in the community by preserving its heritage and important history. I would like to thank The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, the City of Plano, my friends, family and fellow Boy Scouts who either donated or came out to help and make this project possible."

After John's portion of the project was completed, Fountoulakis said she and several Collin County Master Gardeners planted iris, horseherb ground cover and will oversee the scattering of buffalo grass seed in spring to further enhance the location.  The plant materials were provided in part by The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.  

The final step in the overall renovation project is currently in process.  Through a program sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission in Austin, a Historic Texas Cemetery Medallion will be installed along with new wayside signage provided through the grant funds obtained by The Plano Conservancy.

"A very satisfying component of the cooperative effort was the partnership of so many different groups to achieve a successful outcome," said Fountoulakis.  "The combined talents of historic preservationists, the City of Plano, and the Boy Scouts of America have created a model that can be employed at other neglected pioneer cemeteries within the Plano community."

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc: 
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.   

Archaeology Fair 2012

(Note: Plano TV Network coverage of this event can be found here.)

On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Plano's Bob Woodruff Park was filled with pint-sized explorers, budding artists and junior archaeologists...all visiting the park for the 2012 Archaeology Fair, an event sponsored by The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., GeoMarine, Inc., and the City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department.

"This free event is always great fun for all involved.  Children, parents, grandparents, volunteers and educators all enjoyed a day full of unique learning opportunities," said Plano Conservancy Co-Director Maggie Sprague of Plano. "This event is a wonderful learning experience and features fun for the whole family."

The fair featured a variety of activities and exhibits including rock painting, corn husk doll creation, face panting, a petroglyph site, a pictograph wall, atlatl throw and more. Guests also participate in hands-on excavation activities. and a "creek walk" to explore the area.

"Our guests had the opportunity to participate in hands-on excavation, enjoy the Native American Bearclaw singers and dancers, see a variety of exhibits and demonstrations and much more," Sprague added. 

About the Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation

The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.

Traveling exhibit on display at Haggard Library

Have you been to Haggard Library recently? This display in the lobby is the result of combined efforts by The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., curatorial staff of Plano's Interurban Railway Museum, and the Waxahachie Chautauqua Preservation Society. The project was first used at the annual Chautauqua in Waxahatchie about three years ago, and was then donated by the Waxahachie Chatauqua Preservation Society to the archives at the Interurban Railway Museum where it has become a traveling display for use by museums and libraries in the North Texas region. This display will be in place through the end of September. Those interested in rental can call the Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation at 972-941-2117.

About Chautauqua: This was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day. 

New Interactive Display at Interurban Railway Museum

Plano's Interurban Railway Museum now features an enhanced Rotary Converter display that creates a visual representation of the generation of electricity in a power plant, and the process through which electricity was transmitted via wires to a substation, converted from Alternating Current to Direct Current and then sent along more wires to interurban cars. 

"This new, interactive exhibit, combined with our original rotary converter display, the "Zero to 60" interactive display in the electricity room and the model train layout all explain and illustrate the process of powering the interurban railway. Each display uses a different format, so that our visitors can experience multiple ways of learning about a concept that is rather complex," explained Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. Co-Director Maggie Sprague.

Museum staff and volunteers with expertise in electrical engineering worked together to develop the new display.  Displays Fine Art Service in Fort Worth, Texas took the ideas and converted them into an interactive panel.

"Many hours were spent on developing this concept and reviewing each stage of the process," Sprague said. "The entire team was dedicated to making this the best possible.

The project was funded through a partnership with the City of Plano and a grant from the Collin County Historical Commission.

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc: 
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.   

2009 Scholarship Winner: Katerina Paletykina

Currently, Katerina is a senior at Texas Tech University majoring in Architecture. She will graduate in December 2012 with honors.

She recently returned home from South Korea, where she studied research in architecture and urban studies, through a study abroad course provided by Texas Tech. 

"This was a great experience as it provided me with a new prospective on architecture and culture," she said. 

Katerina plans to apply to Rice University upon graduation from Texas Tech 
to pursue master's degree in architecture.

Plano Conservancy Awards Dinner 2012

The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc. today announced the winners of the Conservancy's three student scholarships, and also announced the winner of the group's volunteer of the year award.

The honorees were recently recognized at an awards dinner conducted at Ye Olde Butcher Shop in historic downtown Plano.

Scholarship winners are Sara Palagyi, Ayla Jenson and Chloe Hosid, all of Plano.

The group awards scholarships to Plano Independent School District seniors seeking to study historic preservation, architecture, archaeology, anthropology, urban planning or certain fields of engineering.

Sara Palagyi received the Norwood M. Brenneke Scholarship, named in honor of Mr. Brenneke who was a founding board member and first treasurer of The Plano Conservancy. Palagyi recently graduated from Plano West Senior High School and will study architecture and environmental design at Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a select team softball pitcher and accomplished cellist, is involved with Girl Scouts and volunteers with groups such as Habitat for Humanity and Threads of Hope.

Ayla Jenson received a Plano Conservancy scholarship.  Jenson recently graduated from Plano East Senior High School and will study anthropology and biology at University of Texas at Dallas. While at Plano East, she founded the school's photography club, and she also is a member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Unicycle Club.

Chloe Hosid also received a Plano Conservancy scholarship.  Hosid recently graduated from Plano Senior High School and will study architecture at the University of Kansas.   While at Plano Senior, she was very involved with technical theater and the Future Architects, Designers and Engineers group at the school.

"We are pleased to recognize the hard work of these three individuals - one from each of Plano's three senior high schools," said Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation board member and scholarship committee member Harry Kepner of Plano. "Our annually awarded scholarships provide students with financial assistance towards their college education. We seek to assist students like Sara, Ayla and Chloe who wish to further their education in historical preservation and related fields."

Harold Larson of Plano, received the group's Sam Mania volunteer of the year award, an award which was named after the Plano Conservancy's first volunteer. Larson serves weekly at the Interurban Railway Museum located in historic downtown Plano, dressing as a rail car motor man and leading tours through the museum's rail car and varied exhibits.

"Harold has been instrumental in helping us in such a variety of ways.  He works with the children so well during our field trips and Friday story times," said Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation Co-Director Russ Kissick of Plano.   "Harold and all of our volunteers have provided such a great contribution and really made our work successful. Without the volunteers we have, we would not survive.  We have been doing this for 11 years.  Our volunteers are like family to us...Harold has been instrumental in helping us sort through exhibit work and so much more."

While daily seeking new ideas and avenues to enhance the city's Interurban Railway Museum and striving to further interest in historic preservation through scholarships and other educational programming, The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation has also been successful in offering historic preservation initiatives such as an annual city-wide archeology dig, National Preservation Week activities and much more.

"We do not only work at Plano's Interurban Railway Museum, we are also very involved in historic preservation and provide a variety of related programming," explained Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation Co-Director Maggie Sprague of Plano.  "But no matter what our project, without our wonderful volunteers, we would not be able to do all of the amazing things we do!"

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc: 

The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.  

Dallas Morning News feature 6/22/12

On Friday, June 22, the Dallas Morning News featured an article about The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation and volunteer of the year Harold Larson.

Click here to read the full text of the story, and click the photos to the left to see the full newspaper coverage.

Plano Star Courier features tree "cookie"

Branching through time: "Cookie" tree reflects Plano history
Plano Star Courier, Sunday, June 3, 2012
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com

Haggard Library is boasting a sweet treat rich in Plano history thanks to a local Eagle Scout candidate.

With the help of family and friends, Daniel Duncan of Richardson recently installed a "cookie," or tree cross-section, from a 79-year-old pecan tree that was cut down near the 10th hole of Pecan Hollow Golf Course.

The Plano Senior High School senior said luck had a little bit to do with the endeavor, as he had been researching potential Eagle Scout service projects in the area since last summer. After going through what he called a "dry spell," Duncan contacted the city of Plano in August and was told about the long-standing tree which had been cut down.

"It kind of all just fell into place," Duncan said. "The typical [Eagle Scout] project is building a park bench or planting trees, so this was kind of neat. I'd never heard of anyone do this. This is something I can show my kids and it'll be there for a long time."

Labels on the rings of the "cookie" detail dates of local historic significance between 1932 and the present day, including the price of gas in 1955, Plano's 100th anniversary in 1973, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the Haggard Library in 1989, and when the DART Rail began running in Plano in 2002.

A dedication ceremony took place on May 4, the "cookie" is currently on display on the lower level outside the Genealogy, Texana and Local History archives.

"There are so many people that dedicated their time, energy and resources to make this project possible," said Candace Fountoulakis, a data collection technician with the city's parks and recreation department, who also volunteers in a variety of area historic preservation pursuits, including The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation and the RIP Guardians of Young Cemetery. "We also thank Haggard Library for agreeing to accept this donation of this enormous piece, which was no small feat to fit in its resting place."

A committee submitted ideas, then Fountoulakis chose the ultimate labels, which had to fit in the space allowed on the surface. The width of the rings varies with the growth of the tree, reflecting conditions of weather, rainfall and temperature while it was growing. In the end, Fountoulakis said, it was a combination of local history, natural history and a bit of artistic selection.

"The tree cookie idea is one that has been done in the past to show how a tree's rings reflect its annual growth and makes a natural timeline to link to events that occur during a tree's lifespan," she said. "Museums all over the world have used cross sections taken from famous, huge or unique trees and used them to show their visitors events 'witnessed' by the tree while it continued to grow."

The major challenges Duncan faced pertained to the initial drafting and planning, which included acquiring the materials, coming up with a procedure and getting it approved, all the while coordinating with others who could lend their professional expertise to the project. The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation helped by consulting with Duncan on the stand's construction, and allowed Duncan to review the blueprints from a similar stand in their collection.

"The first step was the hardest, and the stand had to be professionally welded," he said. "Luckily, my dad works at Addison Airport, and he knew a fellow employee who did the welding. I learned that cutting at 45-degree angles was so challenging, and making that base square was a pain."

In addition to involvement from the parks department, other players had a role in transforming the tree into a historical display. For example, Arborilogical Services recommended a sealant to slow down the drying process while Duncan and his team decided how to proceed with the "cookie," finding a donor and a woodshop to tackle re-cutting and finishing the piece. The entire project, from stand construction to tree preservation and installation, took roughly four months to complete.

"It looks so good and I felt so proud," Duncan said. "It's a very memorable experience and it's going to be there for years [to come]; I think it's pretty neat."

(To read more about the project, click here.)

Field Trip: Plano's Faith Lutheran School

On Tuesday, May 22, Kindergarten students from Plano's Faith Lutheran School experienced history brought to life at a field trip at the Interurban Railway Museum.

Students enjoyed a tour of Railway Post Office Car #360 (complete with a stamped, souvenier "ticket to ride"). The tour was guided by a uniformed rail car motor man.  The children had the opportunity to learn about the rail post office system, discuss period advertising in the train car and learn more about electric rail travel.

The field trip also included a tour of the Interurban Railway Museum, where students learned about regional history in the history room, where students talked about Indians, teepees, wigwams and cotton farming. Students had the opportunity to touch cotton plants and talk about how cotton is farmed to make clothing and other items.  Students also explored interactive displays in the science room and talked about the principles of electricity and have the opportunity to experience the museum's working "O" scale model train layout and other period artifacts.

"Cruisin in the Park" 2012

Tree "Cookie" at Haggard Library

There's a new kind of cookie on display at Plano's Haggard Library . . but it's not sweet and it's not to eat.  

The tree "cookie" - the nickname for a tree cross-section - was recently installed by Eagle Scout candidate Daniel Duncan of Richardson (from Boy Scout Troop 262), his father Ian Duncan and a team of volunteers.

The pecan tree cross section is on display in Plano's Haggard Library on the lower level outside the Geneology, Local History, Texana and Archives.

The tree cross-section is from a pecan tree that was cut down near the new 10th hole of Plano's Pecan Hollow Golf Course. The tree was estimated to be about 79 years old at the time of removal.

Labels on the rings of the "cookie" detail dates of local historic significance.  Dates between 1932 and 2011 are highlighted.

A dedication ceremony took place on Friday, May 4.

"There are so many people that dedicated their time, energy and resources to make this project possible," said Candace Fountoulakis of Plano, a data collection technician with the City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department who also volunteers in a variety of area historic preservation pursuits including The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation and the RIP Guardians of Young Cemetery. "Robin Reeves and Ron Underwood of the Plano Parks Department helped us save this piece of a big, old pecan tree.  Arborilogical Services recommended a sealant to slow down the drying process while we decided how to proceed with the 'cookie.' Clint Haggard stored the piece for us while we searched for a donor and a woodshop to tackle re-cutting and finishing the piece. Robert and Mary Jo Hamrick were instrumental in funding this project, with the support of the Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation who allowed their donation to go toward the preservation of this chunk of Plano history). Bill Steuwe of Georgetown cut, sanded and sealed the piece. Kym Hughes, Duane Peter and The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation were instrumental in moving the piece to and from its destinations."

"I also want to thank Daniel Duncan for tackling this project.  He built the stand, which was based on a design from the Mayborn Museum in Waco, Texas," she added. 

The museum allowed Duncan to review their blueprints from a similar stand in their collection.  Sid Wall from The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation consulted with Daniel regarding technicalities of the stand's construction.

"We also thank Haggard Library for agreeing to accept this donation of this enormous piece, which was no small feat to fit in its resting place!" said Fountoulakis.

About The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc:  The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., a Texas  corporation 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is an organization dedicated to promote civic pride in the past, to increase preservation awareness through education and public outreach, and to provide financial assistance to protect and preserve our heritage resources for this and future generations. For more information, please visit
www.planoconservancy.org or call 972-941-2117.

Note: 

Plano Television Network video coverage of this story is available here. 

Plano Star Courier coverage of this story is available here.