Municipal Archives

​City of Fruitdale, 1937-1964

​Collection 1991-063

Overview

Repository
Office of the City Secretary
Dallas Municipal Archives
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201
CreatorCity of Fruitdale, Texas
TitleCity of Fruitdale
Dates1937-1964
Quantity2.52 linear feet
AbstractCorrespondence, memoranda, financial records, meeting minutes, printed materials, and photographs.
Identification1991-063
LanguageRecords are in English


Scope and Content

Collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, financial records, meeting minutes, printed materials, and photographs documenting the history, local government, and annexation of the city of Fruitdale, Texas.

Fruitdale was three miles south of downtown Dallas in central Dallas County. The site is now bounded by Fordham Road on the north, the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas tracks to the east, Ledbetter Drive on the south, and Sunnyvale Street to the west. It was in the original land grants of J. K. Sloan and G. L. Haas.  Although the first settlers in the area named it Christian Valley when they arrived in the 1850s, the real influx occurred after the Civil War.  In 1886, the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway was extended through Fruitdale.

On April 17, 1937, Fruitdale incorporated to avoid annexation to Dallas.  It had a population of 432 and was sometimes called Fruitdale Acres. The citizens imposed deed restrictions that allowed no businesses within the city limits. 

By the 1960s, with a population of 1,418, residents no longer saw a need to remain an "island city" surrounded by the city of Dallas.  Large numbers of residents were moving in and out of the community, and there was a high turnover rate in city officials.  In early October 1964, residents voted to disincorporate.  Later that month, on October 12, Fruitdale was annexed by the city of Dallas (City of Dallas Ordinance Number 10669).

[Adapted from an entry in the Handbook of Texas (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1994), the Dallas Morning News, May 25, 1945, and the Dallas Times Herald, September 5, 1948, August 16, 1964.]

Organization

The collection is arranged by minutes and ordinances.  

Access

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

Citation

City of Fruitdale, 1937-1964 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Materials


Index Terms

Annexation (Municipal government) -- Texas -- Dallas
Dallas -- Texas -- History
Fruitdale (Dallas, Tex.)

Container List

BoxFolder/ItemTitle, Date
​​Minutes
11Memorandum to E. Lynn Crossley, City Auditor [City of Dallas] from John McArthur, concerning an audit of books and Records for the City of Fruitdale, November 11, 1964
​1Minutes of Board of Alderman, City of Fruitdale, Book 1: 1937-1947
​2Minutes of Board of Alderman, City of Fruitdale, Book 2: 1948-1958
​3Minutes of Board of Alderman, City of Fruitdale, Book 3: 1959–1964
​​Ordinances
21Index to Ordinances
​2Ordinance #1 - adoption of By-Laws and Designating Elective Officers
​3Ordinance #2 - providing that the fiscal year of the town of Fruitdale, Texas shall begin the first day of July of each year
​4Ordinance #3 - providing for the levying of Ad Valorem taxes
​5Ordinance #4 -providing for the levying of an annual occupation tax in the Town of Fruitdale for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1937
​6Ordinance #5- declaring a misdemeanor to obstruct streets or alleys with brush, wood, dirt or filth from the cleanings of the home or any other thing calculated to obstruct the free passage of the streets
​7Ordinance #5
​8Ordinances #6 - #12 [#'s 6 and 8 are missing] - see index in Box 2 folder 1
​9Ordinance #2-6–photocopies
​10Ordinance #13 - providing that whosoever shall deposit or place in or on any premises public or private, any vegetable or animal matter or slop, or etc. shall be fined
​11Ordinance #14 - providing that persons called upon by the marshal or his deputy who refuse to assist him in any matter in which by law, he may be rightfully called upon to assist in the execution and duty incumbent upon him as an officer, shall be fined
​12Ordinance #15 - regulating the rate of speed on public streets
​13Ordinance #16 - providing that the Board of Equalization meet on set days, within the corporate limits
​14Ordinance #17 -  providing for the adoption of the provisions of Chapter 10 of Title 122 of the R. C. S. of Texas, 1925 to enforce the collection of delinquent taxes
​15Ordinance #18 - appointment of officers of election
​16Ordinance #19 - building code
​17Ordinances Building Code, see also Ordinance #19
​18Ordinances Building Code, see also Ordinance #19
​19Ordinance #19A - further part of ordinance 19 prohibiting the establishment operation and maintenance of any kind of commercial business
​20Ordinance # 20 granting H. A. Rudd the right to use the streets, avenues and public thoroughfares for operating omnibuses and other passenger motor vehicles for the transportation for hire of persons and property
​21Ordinance # 21 - temporary zoning
​22Ordinances #s 13, 16, 17, and 21 photocopies
​23Ordinance # 22 - prohibits burning of grass and weeds
​24Ordinance # 23 - provides for the regulation and controlling the planting cutting, trimming and caring for trees and shrubs within the limits of the highways and streets or the city
​25Ordinance # 24 - providing for the regulation and controlling of all the dry closets within the city limits and prohibiting the building and/or erection of any type of dry closets within the city limits
​26Ordinance # 25 - providing for the reconstruction of the portion of State highway 246
​27Ordinance # 25 -  Linfield Drive
​28Ordinance # 26 - depository bond
​29Ordinance # 27 - Blackout and Air Raid protection
​30Ordinance # 28 - amendment to building code and zoning ordinance
​31Ordinance # 29 - franchise for Dallas Power and Light
​32Ordinance # 30 - accepting provisions of Title 28 revised civil statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended, in lieu of the existing charter
​33Ordinance # 31 - setting city council meetings to be held on the Second Tuesday and Fourth Monday
​34Ordinance # 32 - waterworks wax bonds, 8/27/53
​35Ordinance # 33 - waterworks tax bond and levy, assessment, and collection of a tax
​36Ordinance # 34 - waterworks revenue bonds
​37Ordinance # 35 - waterworks revenue bonds
​38Ordinance # 36 - fixing water rates
​39Ordinance # 37 - one-way traffic on Infield Drive in front of W. W. Bushman School and providing parking restrictions
31Ordinance # 38 - waterworks rates, rules, and regulations for water works department
​2Ordinance # 43 - regulations for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving
​3Ordinance # 44 - monthly sanitary sewer rates
​4Ordinance # 45 - sanitary sewer tap charges
​5Ordinance # 46 Sewer Bonds
​6Ordinance # 47 - platting and subdividing land
​7Ordinance # 48 confinement of dogs
​8Ordinance # 50 - (no Fruitdale ordinance, adopted Dallas Ordinance) regulating the use of water for sprinkling watering of lawns, gardens and shrubbery
​9Ordinance # 51 - prohibiting housing of trailer vehicles
​10Ordinance # 52 - regulating the care of vacant lots
​11Ordinance # 53 - regulating garbage containers
​12Ordinance # 55 - fixing rates for gas services
​13Ordinance # 56 - emergency ordinance
​14Ordinance # 57 - office of the City Secretary to be filled by appointment by the City Council
​15Ordinance # 58
​16Ordinance # 59
​17Ordinances Building Code, see ordinance #19
​18Ordinance - General Rules Platting and Subdividing
​19Water Works
​20Building Code for Gas and Plumbing
​21Agreement - City of Fruitdale and Dallas Power and Light Company
​22Muriel Murphy
​23Fruitdale Acres Muriel Murphy, Murphy Warranty Deed
​24Notice to citizens concerning sewer tap and connection charge, November 28, 1955
​25Fruitdale Ordinances Index and envelope
​26Envelopes ordinances #1-5
​27Envelopes ordinances #7, 9-12
​28Envelopes ordinances #13-19A
​29Envelopes ordinances # 20-24
​30Envelopes ordinances # 25-29
​31Envelopes ordinances # 32-37
​32Envelope ordinance #38: Prescribing rates, rules and regulations governing the water works department, January 4, 1954
​33Envelopes ordinances # 43-48
​34Envelopes ordinances # 50-53
​35Envelopes ordinances # 55-59
​36Envelope: Moving Buildings for Dwellings
41Election to "abolish the town of Fruitdale", August-September, 1964
​2City Elections files, 1957
​3Petitions against City of Fruitdale spending, 1953
​4Oaths of Office, 1959
​5Oaths of Office, 1959
​6City Secretary correspondence 1952-63
​7City Secretary correspondence 1962-1964
​8Fire Department reports, 1959-1964
​9Official picture file
​10Agreement with the Missouri Kansas Texas railroad, 1939
​11State of Texas Health Department
​12Masonic Lodge Petition, 1956
​13David Graham Hall Foundation Public Health
​14J. E. Frazer, Volunteer firefighter, 1958
​15County Fire Contracts, 1960-6
51Harold Davis Surety Bonds
​2Agreement between Fruitdale and Harry Breymer
​3Ben Griffin Tractor Company
​4Inventory of property for gas, telephone, and light companies
​5Fireworks sales permits, 1957-58
​6Map - Fruitdale Improvement District
​7Employees and other insurance
​8Police department
​9Income tax
​10Social Security
​11U. S. Civil Defense
​12Building Permit fee book
​13Revenue Bonds–waterworks
​14Budget, 1963-64
​15Financial Reports, 1963-64
​16Contract: Jones, Phillips and Watkins, 1955-64
61Texas Bank and Trust
​2Texas Bank and Trust
​3Contract with the City of Dallas for water services
​4Annual Report of the Treasurer, 1957-1961
​5Dallas Power & Light proposed substation, 1957
​6Police Department bids for vehicular items
​7Zoning petitions
​8Petitions for Releases
​9Texas Municipal Reports
​10Ledgers, 1954-64
​11Ledgers, 1954-64
​12Ledgers, 1954-64
71Ledger Book 1953-1964
81Payroll Book 1962-63
​2Payroll Book, 1955-1961
​3Court Clerk Journal, 1956-1961
91Payroll book, 1964