DECEMBER IN ROUND ROCK (dates in history)

A special thanks the Round Rock Leader for letting the museum  
post these wonderful articles.
The Time Capsules stories are prepared by Bob Brinkman
Texas Historical Commission

1842: The struggle between Texas President Sam Houston and the people of Austin over the state archives comes to an end at Kenney's Fort along Brushy Creek. Houston had ordered Major Thomas Smith and Captain Eli Chandler to load the documents onto wagons and take them east after the Mexican army had recaptured San Antonio in the fall. Austin citizens chased the men to Kenney's Fort, and during a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve, Dr. Kenney allowed the two factions to burn his fencerails to keep fires burning. In the morning the officers allowed the citizens to take the archives back to Austin.

1876:   The Burnet Bulletin reports that "Round Rock has got temperance on the brain now”

1884:   The Round Rock Social and Musical Club advertises that they "propose to bid farewell to the old year and greet the New with an entertainment for their friends".

 1897:   The Baptist Church calls on Rev. W. B. Kendall of Waco as pastor for the next year

 1909:   The countywide election for issuing $100,000 in construction bonds for a new courthouse passes overwhelmingly, but nowhere more enthusiastically than in Round Rock, where the vote is 115 for and 1 against; and Old Round Rock, where the vote carries 33 to none.

 1912:   The citizens of Round Rock vote 67-46 to incorporate for the second time (Round Rock was first incorporated from 1877 to the 1890s).  Jack Jordan is elected Mayor, with Sam Loving as City Marshal and J.A. Nelson, Dr. W.G. Weber, J.C. Jackson, E.J. Walsh and W.A. Gantt as Aldermen.

 1938: The Dragons of Hopewell High School (Round Rock's African-American school) defeat Elgin 37-0, rebounding from a loss to the Georgetown Terrapins.  Also, Round Rock native Vander Broadway, better known as "Barbette", brings award-winning French movies to an Austin film festival, including "Carnival in Flanders" and "The Grand Illusion". Broadway gained fame as a trapeze aerialist and entertainer in the 20s and 30s in New York City and Europe.

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