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News and Views
This is the place where I share news with you about Richardson's history. It's also the place where I get to share my opinions, suggestions, and so on with the community at large.
So Much More Could Be Done (and I hope that it will be)
(posted Monday, June 23, 2025)
"Probably the most important step taken in the history of Richardson was Monday, when by a vote of 112 to 10, the citizens of Richardson voted to incorporate our little town."
--The Richardson Echo, June 26, 1925
Yesterday, Sunday, June 22, 2025, was the 100th anniversary of a milestone event in our city's history: the election in which the City of Richardson, as an incorporated governmental body, was brought into existence by the votes of 112 citizens, who also elected our first mayor--35-year-old Thomas Franklin McKamy--and true to his word, our current newly-elected Mayor, Amir Omar, made good on his promise to me that the fact of that matter would receive some sort of public recognition.
Unfortunately, Mayor Omar had very little time--a month at best--to work on keeping his promise. Consequently, although there was a big banner hanging from the building (at 100 E. Main Street) where the election of 1925 took place, welcoming people to "Historic Downtown Richardson," and also a tent where the owners and staff of Beyond the Bar (Richardson's new non-alcoholic drinks establishment) served refreshing, cool drinks, and even though about 3 dozen Richardson residents showed up to join me for a guided tour of the 100 block of East Main Street, the event fell short of what I thought could have been done, and should have been done, to celebrate such a milestone anniversary.
Don't get me wrong: I am not blaming Mayor Omar. Far from it. I have nothing but good things to say about him. He lived up to his promise. As I said, he has been in office barely a month. As I see it, the failure to do more rests squarely on the shoulders of the previous administration, which under the leadership of Mayor Dubey apparently wasn't going to do anything at all until I reminded the City, back in early February of this year, of the approach of this historic anniversary. To their credit, my suggestion that a plaque commemorating the 1925 election be cast was approved. In fact, it is going to be unveiled today, at 4 p.m. at Fountain Park, in downtown Richardson. But until I, a private citizen, spoke up, it appears that nothing at all was being planned.
Remember the Sesquicentennial Celebration of two years ago? For this latest milestone anniversary, that's the sort of thing that should have been done this year, and more. There could have been a parade. There could have been a carnival. The City of Richardson could have used the occasion to showcase and call the public's attention to all the good things our local government has done to make Richardson a nice place to live and work and play--and to its credit, there are great many things to point to. But it didn't.
The Dubey administration can't even be credited with the Sesquicentennial celebration. Bob Dubey may have officiated at the event, which took place almost exactly two years ago, but he was then a brand-new mayor himself. Credit for the Sesquicentennial events must rightly go to the administration of Dubey's predecessor, Paul Voelker. And even then, there could have been more. I suspect, although I have no proof of it, is that the reason there wasn't more was because even the Voelker administration was unaware of the coming 150th anniversary of the founding of Richardson, until my Sesquicentennial History was published and I presented complimentary copies of Volume One to the Mayor and City Council in April 2022. As a result, they had more than a year to prepare.
I am happy to report that Mayor Omar has given me reason to hope that things are going to change, that under his leadership, the City of Richardson is going to be more cognizant of our community's shared history and also take concrete steps to make sure that our citizenry is not only aware of it, but will benefit from that cognizance in both tangible and intangible ways.
In keeping with that hope, here is a list of specific things that the City of Richardson could do in that regard, a sort of "wish list" of things that I know are doable, because many other Texas towns and cities have already done them. To be clear, no one has promised me that any of these things will be done. I'm just putting them out there, for consideration:
Officially designate old downtown Richardson as "Historic Downtown Richardson" and put up signage to that effect.
Erect signage or attach plaques to historic buildings to inform the public as to their significance in the city's history.
Paint a mural on the west side of the building at 100 E. Main, welcoming people to "Historic Downtown Richardson," with appropriate historic pictures, such as an old steam locomotive, an Interurban car, cotton wagons, interior and exterior scenes of bygone businesses, etc.
Pass an ordinance making it unlawful to demolish or significantly alter the appearance of any building or structure in Richardson that is 75 years old or older without a public hearing and permission of the city council.
Purchase the old 1898 Odd Fellows Building at 111 E. Main street, restore it to its orginal appearance, and use the bottom floor as a visitor's center and free meeting space for civic organizations, and the top floor (which was a city hall during the early 1930s) for a museum of Richardson history.
Encourage the establisment of the sort of businesses that would attract more visitors to the historic downtown area, such as restaurants, galleries, antique shops, live theater or comedy clubs, and specialty shops of various kinds.
Hold a regular street market in Walton's Alley once a month where vendors of various kinds could sell their wares or food products.
Hold an annual festival celebrating Richardson's history in Historic Downtown Richardson, with music, dancing, carnival rides, fireworks, etc. In short, revive the community fairs that used to be held in Richardson in the past.
Build a replica railroad depot on the site of the 1873 depot and use it as free meeting space for civic organizations, etc., such as the City of Allen has done. Perhaps also purchase and restore an old steam locomotive as Allen has done. (See photo below.)
Change the name of Fountain Park to Heritage Park and erect a bust or statue of Alfred Stephen Richardson, the city's namesake, there.
There are probably lots of other things that could be done to preserve and protect the few remaining historic buildings we have in old downtown Richardson, to make people more aware of our shared history, while at the same time enlivening the place so that it will regularly attract both residents and visitors from other places. All it will take, I think, is a little imagination, some money, and most importantly, the will to get it done!
But will Richardson do the sorts of things that Plano, Allen, McKinney, Denison, Paris, and lots of other Texas towns and cities have already done to turn their historic downtown areas into places that people will want to go and spend money and have a good time, while at the same time preserving the best of the past?
Check back here from time-to-time, and I'll let you know! And hopefully, our city government will also let you know.
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