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
Creator City of Fruitdale, Texas
Title City of Fruitdale
Dates 1937-1964
Quantity 2.52 linear feet
Abstract Correspondence, memoranda, financial records, meeting minutes, printed materials, and photographs.
Identification 1991-063
Language Records 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, and August 16, 1964.]

Organization

The collection is arranged first by minutes and ordinances and secondly chronologically by subject.

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. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.​

Citation

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

Related Materials

Collection 1991-064—City of Kleberg, 1956-1978
Collection 1991-087—City of Oak Cliff, 1891-1904, 1930
Collection 1991-108—City of Renner, 1953-1977
Collection 1992-015—Oak Lawn Heights and Related Annexations, 1929
Collection 1991-114—Town of Honey Springs, 1937-1947
Collection 1991-110—Town of Preston Hollow, 1939-1945

Index Terms

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

Container List

Box Folder Description, 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, 1937
 3Ordinance #2 - providing that the fiscal year of the town of Fruitdale, Texas, shall begin the first day of July of each year, 1937
 4Ordinance #3 - providing for the levying of Ad Valorem taxes, 1937
 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
 7Ordinances #s 6-7, #s9-12, 1937 [# 8 is missing] - see index in Box 2 folder 1
 8Ordinance #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, 1937
 9Ordinance #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
 10Ordinance #15 - regulating the rate of speed on public streets
 11Ordinance #16 - providing that the Board of Equalization meet on set days, within the corporate limits
 12Ordinance #17 -  providing for the adoption of the provisions of Chapter 10 of Title 122 of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas (R. C. S.), 1925 to enforce the collection of delinquent taxes
 13Ordinance #18 - appointment of officers of election
 14Ordinance #19 - building code, 1939
 15Ordinance #19A - further part of ordinance 19 prohibiting the establishment operation and maintenance of any kind of commercial business, 1939
 16Ordinance #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
 17Ordinance #21 - temporary zoning
 18Ordinance #22 - prohibits burning of grass and weeds, 1948
​ 19Ordinance #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
 20Ordinance #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
 21Ordinance #25 -  Linfield Drive
 22Ordinance #26 - depository bond
 23Ordinance #27 - blackout and air raid protection, 1949
 24Ordinance #28 - amendment to building code and zoning ordinance, 1954
 25Ordinance #29 - franchise for Dallas Power and Light
 26Ordinance #30 - accepting provisions of Title 28 revised civil statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended, in lieu of the existing charter
 27Ordinance #31 - setting city council meetings to be held on the Second Tuesday and Fourth Monday
 28Ordinance #32 - waterworks wax bonds, 8/27/53
 29Ordinance #33 - waterworks tax bond and levy, assessment, and collection of a tax
 30Ordinance #34 - waterworks revenue bonds
 31Ordinance #35 - amendment waterworks revenue bonds
 32Ordinance #36 - fixing water rates
 33Ordinance #37 - one-way traffic on Infield Drive in front of W. W. Bushman School and providing parking restrictions
 34Ordinance #38 - waterworks rates, rules, and regulations for waterworks department
 35Ordinance #43 - regulations for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving
 36Ordinance #44 - monthly sanitary sewer rates
 37Ordinance #45 - sanitary sewer tap charges
 38Ordinance #46 - sewer Bonds
 39Ordinance #47 - platting and subdividing land, 1956
 40Ordinance #48 confinement of dogs
​​31Ordinance #50 - (not written by the City of Fruitdale; it is adopted Dallas Ordinance 6254) regulating the use of water for sprinkling watering of lawns, gardens, and shrubbery
 2Ordinance #51 - prohibiting housing of trailer vehicles, 1958
 3Ordinance #52 - regulating the care of vacant lots, 1957
 4Ordinance #53 - regulating garbage containers
 5Ordinance #55 - fixing rates for gas services
 6Ordinance #56 - emergency ordinance
​ 7Ordinance #57 - office of the City Secretary to be filled by appointment by the City Council
 8Ordinance #58 - marshal appointed by city council, 1963
 9Ordinance #59 - boundaries of Highway 246
 10Ordinance - building codes for gas and plumbing, 1959
 11Ordinance - moving of pre-assembled houses, 1960
Subjects
 12Agreement with the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad, 1939
 13Contract with the City of Dallas for water services, 1948-1958
 14Council actions, 1951
 15City Secretary correspondence 1, 1952-1966
 16City Secretary correspondence 2. 1952-1966
 17Contract: Jones, Phillips and Watkins, 1953-64
 18Employees and other insurance, 1953-1060
41Revenue Bonds–waterworks, 1953
 2Agreement between Fruitdale and Harry Breymer, 1954
 3Ledger - City of Fruitdale, 1954-1961
 4U. S. Civil Defense, 1954-1956
 5Fruitdale Annual Reports, 1954-1962
 6Fruitdale Acres, 1955
​ 7Notice to citizens concerning sewer tap and connection charge, November 28, 1955
 8Dallas ordinance 6972 (lawn watering), 1956
 9David Graham Hall Foundation Public Health, 1956-1959
 10Masonic Lodge Petition, 1956
 11Texas Bank and Trust 1, 1956-1964
 12Texas Bank and Trust 2, 1956-1964
 13Ledger - water interest and reserve fund, 1956-1962
 14City Elections files, 1957
 15Dallas Power and Light proposed substation, 1957
 16Fireworks sales permits, 1957-58
 17Harold Davis Surety Bonds, 1957
51Income tax 1, 1957-1962
 2Income tax 2, 1957-1962
 3Inventory of property for gas, telephone, and light companies, 1957
 4Police Department bids for vehicular items, 1957-1960
 5Zoning petitions, 1957
 6Ben Griffin Tractor Company, 1958
 7J. E. Frazer, Volunteer firefighter, 1958
 8Police payroll, 1958
 9Fire Department reports, 1959-1964
 10Fruitdale Acres Muriel Murphy, Murphy Warranty Deed, 1959
 11Oaths o​​f Office, 1959
 12State of Texas Health Department, 1959
 13Budget, 1960-1963
 14County Fire Contracts, 1960
 15Agreement - City of Fruitdale and Dallas Power and Light Company, 1962
 16Correspondence, 1962-64
 17Building Permit fee book, 1962-1963
 18Ledger - General Fund, Fire Department Fund, Water Revenue Fund, 1962-1964
61Financial Reports, 1963-64
 2Police department, 1963
 3Election to "abolish the town of Fruitdale," August-September, 1964
 4Social Security, 1964
 5Texas Municipal Reports, 1964
 6Official picture file, undated
 7Map - Fruitdale Improvement District, undated
 8Street project, undated
7 Court clerk journal, 1956-1964
  Payroll ledger, 1955-1961
  Payroll ledger, 1962-1963
8 Financial ledger, undated
  Financial ledger, undated
9 Financial ledger, undated