Elgin turns 150 years

Elgin will be 150 years old in 2022 –the Sesquicentennial is an opportunity to recognize our history, document and preserve important oral histories, documents, share our community’s unique aspects and develop existing and new events for the whole community. Elgin City Council appointed a Sesquicentennial committee to develop a plan for celebrating the 150th anniversary, which includes projects and events in partnership with organizations and businesses throughout the community.

Save the Dates!!

Check out the event details

Sesquicentennial work plan and Event details available www.ETX150.com

Meet the 150th Committee

Forest Dennis, Council Member Ward 4, co-chair
Debbie Cartwright, community member, co-chair

Click here to see the full list of committee members.

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Email community@ci.elgin.tx.us

Sharing our stories

Throughout the year we will share short stories about the history of Elgin provided by local historians and educators. Check out two stories here:

Main Street is Paved

Work on paving Main Street began in early January 1936 after the Works Projects Administration employed millions of job seekers to carry out public works projects. Here is the project explained as part of Elgin's 150th celebration continues.

"Homeless Eagles" Win State

The Booker T. Washington Eagles of Elgin won the state basketball championship of the Prairie View Interscholastic League (PVIL) in 1946, despite not playing a single game that season in their home town. The PVIL was the governing body for academic, athletic, and music competitions for Black high schools in Texas during the state's segregationist era.

Washington High, which was located on Elgin’s south side, had no indoor athletic facility and was the segregated school for Black people. In 2020, the “Homeless Eagles” were inducted into the Elgin Athletic Hall of Honor. Five players from the team are pictured on the 1946 photo that the City of Elgin has selected as a graphic for the city’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

And see all the stories so far at www.elgintx.com.

Elgin Oral Histories Project

Capturing our stories through oral histories with the Elgin Oral Histories Project - help capture oral histories or share your stories
https://www.facebook.com/ElginOralHistoryProject

Celebrating Elgin's Most Senior Citizens

Help us meet and celebrate those who are 70, 80, 90 plus - Elginites we want to hear your stories and celebrate you as part of the Elgin Sesquicentennial - complete the google form or call Elsie Williams at 512-281-6322. Deadline to submit is April 1, 2022.

Elgin City Council declares 2022 as the Sesquicentennial year for Elgin with a proclamation

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the City of Elgin was established in 1872 on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad as a one square mile area around the H&TC Depot and named for Robert Morris Elgin, the railroad’s land commissioner; and

WHEREAS, in 1879 Elgin was described as a “thriving depot town” of 400 with a newspaper, a gin, and a gristmill; and

WHEREAS, today, Elgin has a population of 10,598, and is a thriving community with a newspaper, multiple major employers producing bricks, sausage and more, with significant residential and commercial growth; and

WHEREAS, the City Council appointed the Elgin Sesquicentennial Committee to develop a plan for celebrating this historic anniversary of our city; and

WHEREAS, the Sesquicentennial Committee through partnerships with organizations and businesses and dedicated volunteer efforts will recognize our history, record and preserve oral histories, develop an Elgin history book to share our community’s unique aspects, and develop existing and new events for the whole community; and

WHEREAS, an Elgin Founders Day Celebration will be held Saturday, August 20, 2022; and

WHEREAS, a time capsule will be created and dedicated at a New Year’s Eve gala on Saturday December 31, 2022; and

WHEREAS, contests throughout the year will involve our youth in celebrating the Sesquicentennial through words and art; and

WHEREAS, the City of Elgin will be 150 years old in 2022 and events during the Sesquicentennial year will celebrate Elgin’s history, community and future,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ron M. Ramirez, Mayor of the City of Elgin, do hereby proclaim this, the year of 2022 be known as
Elgin Sesquicentennial Year
in Elgin, Texas and call upon the people of Elgin to join their friends and neighbors throughout this community in celebrating the history and the future of our town.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Elgin, Texas to be affixed this 4th day of January 2022.

Ron M. Ramirez, Mayor City of Elgin, Texas

Hatitude 2022 Salutes Ruby J. Simms

Hatitude 2022 honored Sister Ruby J. Simms on Feb. 4, 2022. Everyone showed up in their best attire at the elegant event.

Follow us online!

Facebook: @etx150
Details and more information at www.etx150.com.