THE COLONY MILESTONES (1840 – 2017)
Compiled by The Colony History Committee
Written by Don Beckel
Research assistance by
Alyce Rufi Joan Lux Christi Martin
The Colony Milestones 1 May 15, 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MILESTONE HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES - 3
MILESTONE HISTORIC INDIVIDUALS - 4
MILESTONE HISTORICAL LOCATIONS - 5
MILESTONE GOVERNMENT EVENTS -6
MILESTONE INFRASTRUCTURE - 9
MILESTONE LOCATIONS - 11
MILESTONE FIRST INDIVIDUALS - 12
MILESTONE EDUCATION - 13
MILESTONE BUSINESSES - 17
MILESTONES ARTS - 20
MILESTONE SPORTS - 22
MILESTONE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS - 24
MILESTONE CHURCHES - 25
MILESTONE LOCATION NAMES - 26
MILESTONE NAMED PARKS - 27
MILESTONE RANDOM FACTS - 29
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MILESTONE HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES
(MHC -1) BRIDGES SETTLEMENT - 1843 - Texas was the Republic of Texas. 1st settlement in Denton County and probably 2nd in Peters Colony (Dallas was first founded in 1841) Named after settlers John and Mildred Bridges (Bates, Ed F., “History and Reminiscences of Denton County”)
(MHC – 2) STEWARTSVILLE – 1844 – 1847 – Location of 2nd Peters Colony headquarters from 1844 to 1852, Location of 1st general store and tied for 1st post office in Denton County, Location of Hedgecoxe War. (Bates, Ed F., “History and Reminiscences of Denton County”)
(MHC -3) STEWARTS CREEK – 1859 – 1886, Location of US Post Office before and after Civil War and Confederate Post Office during the Civil War. Post Offices existed between 1860 -1867) (Handbook of Texas Online)
(MHC – 4) STOVERVILLE (Also called Stovers Grove and Stovers Store) – 1890 – 1891, (Wheat, Jim, “Postmasters & Post Offices of Denton County, Texas 1847- 1930”)
(MHC -5) RECTOR – 1891 – 1909, (Wheat, Jim, “Postmasters & Post Offices of Denton County, Texas 1847- 1930”)
(MHC – 6) CAMEY (Also called Camey Spur) 1896 – early 1940’s, (Handbook of Texas Online)
(MHC – 7) EASTVALE – 1957 – 1987 - Originally named Garza-Little Elm Lake Estates, (Handbook of Texas Online)
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MILESTONE HISTORIC INDIVIDUALS
(MHI – 1) WILLIAM PETERS – Primary promoter of Peters Colony and the first name listed on the list of investors in the Republic of Texas legislation that created the Peters Colony company. (“The Peters Colony of Texas”, Seymour V. Connor)
(MHI – 2) WILLIAM STEWART – Became the principal investor in Peters Colony and moved the company headquarters to Bridges Settlement in 1844. A small community formed around the land office named Stewartville. (“The Peters Colony of Texas”, Seymour V. Connor and “Elm Fork Settlement: Farmers Branch and Carrollton, Georgia Myers Ogle)
(MHI -3) HENRY O. HEDGCOXE – Land agent and chief surveyor for Peters Colony headquarters in Stewartsville. (“The Peters Colony of Texas”, Seymour V. Connor)
(MHI – 4) STEPHEN A. VENTERS – Clerk for Henry O Hedgecoxe at the Peters Colony headquarters in Stewartsville, (“History and Reminiscences of Denton County”, Ed Bates)
(MHI – 5) JOHN AND MILDRED BRIDGES – Among early settlers in Denton County and first settlement was named after their family. Bridges Settlement was the first settlement in Denton County and was on land that is now The Colony. (“History and Reminiscences of Denton County”, Ed Bates)
(MHI – 6) FRANCIS M. BRIDGES & SALLY ASHLOCK BRIDGES– Francis was the grandson of John and Mildred Bridges. Francis and Sally donated Bridges Cemetery to Denton County Judge in 1889. (“Bridges Cemetery, Denton County, Texas: Its Value as a Historical Landmark”, Norma Gamble)
(MHI -7) SAMUEL B. EVANS – Died in the battle of the Alamo. His heirs were granted land grants located within the city limits of The Colony. (Handbook of Texas Online)
(MHI – 8) MORRIS T. GRIFFIN – Early settler and landowner. Large portion of land purchased by Fox & Jacobs to build The Colony was purchased from Griffin’s heirs. (Ownership Maps and Real Estate Research Data” Denton County Mapping Company)
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MILESTONE HISTORICAL LOCATIONS
(MHL – 1) HISTORICAL CEMETERY - BRIDGES CEMETERY is named after the John Bridges family. It is the burial ground for many of the early settlers and their descendants in The Colony area. (“Bridges Cemetery, Denton County, Texas: Its Value As A Historical Landmark”, Denton County Historical Marker Narrative)
(MHL – 2) HISTORICAL MARKERS – There are three historical markers in The Colony. The historical narratives are available on the Denton County Historical Commission website.
HEDGCOXE WAR MARKER– Commemorates the burning of the Peters Colony Headquarters by land speculators who believed that Henry O. Hedgcoxe, Peters Colony’s agent and chief surveyor, was planning to defraud Peters Colonists’ land claims. The marker was dedicated May 27, 1978. (The Colony Courier, June 8, 1978)
BRIDGES CEMETERY MARKER – Commemorates the final resting place of many of the early settlers in southeastern Denton County. The marker was dedicated June 26, 1988. (The Colony Courier, June 29, 1988) Headstones were cleaned and repaired in 2017. (Minutes Community Development Corporation, July 13, 2017)
BELZ BRIDGE MARKER –Provides a history of a historical iron bridge donated to the city by Denton County. The marker was dedicated November 13, 2015. (The Colony Courier-Leader, November 8, 2015)
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MILESTONE GOVERNMENT EVENTS
(MGE -1) MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT – 1974 - Election conducted on March 28, 1974 to form MUD district, elect five directors and authorize the issuance of up to $11,350,000 in bonds. Vote was 12 for 0 against (Municipal Utility District Minutes March 29, 1974)
(MGE – 2) FIRE STATIONS – 1975 - Fire Station No.1 donated per agreement with Frisco by Fox and Jacobs and dedicated August 2, 1975 by Fox & Jacobs - (Dallas Morning News, July 27, 1975) Office addition added in 1989. (The Colony Leader, July 5, 1989) Fire Station No. 2 opened 2002 (The Colony Courier Leader, October 30, 2002) Fire Station No. 3 opened in 2007 (The Colony Courier Leader, November 14, 2007)
(MGE – 3) 1st AMBULANCE – 1976 - The Colony Volunteer Fire Department purchased a used ambulance from Pemberton Funeral Home in Frisco for $3,600. (Little Elm Tide, October 21, 1976)
(MGE -4) POLICE DEPARTMENT – 1977 - Police and Animal Control Departments approved by city council. (The Colony Courier December 29, 1977)
(MGE – 5) THE COLONY VOTES TO INCORPORATE AS A CITY – 1977 (Dallas Morning News, March 23, 1977) Vote 459 For, 37 Against (The Colony Courier, December 29, 1977)
(MGE – 6) 1st CITY COUNCIL MEETING – April 15, 1977, first two items of business were to agree to conduct meetings using Roberts Rules of order and appoint a city secretary. (The Colony City Council Minutes, April 15, 1977)
(MGE – 7) FIRE DEPARTMENT – 1978 - City Council voted to make the Colony Volunteer Fire Department a city department in 1978 (The Colony Courier December 28, 1978)
(MGE – 8) THE COLONY VOTES TO BECOME A HOME RULE CITY – 1979 - vote 175 for, 32 against (Minutes of the Board of Alderman of The City of The Colony, January 22, 1979)
(MGE – 9) PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT – 1980 - TC Park and Recreation Department authorized by city council. (The Colony Ordinance 103, April 21, 1980) The city council approved an agreement with the University of North Texas to organize the citys’ first summer recreation program. (The Colony Courier, April 24, 1980) The first office was in a trailer located behind the city’s second city hall. (The Colony Courier, December 12, 1981)
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(MGE – 10) WET/DRY LIQUOR SALES VOTE – In 1980 The Colony voted to allow liquor sales in city by a vote of 1082 for and 813 against (The Colony Courier, November 13, 1980)
(MGE – 11) THE COLONY PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1982 - Opened February 1982 – shared space with Park and Recreation Department in the Colony Square shopping center (The Colony Courier, February 18, 1982)
(MGE – 12) THE COLONY HIGH SCHOOL – 1983 - Voters voted 1019-40 to trade Office Creek Park to the Lewisville Independent School District for land that is now B.B. Owen Park so Office Creek parkland could be used for building a high school. (The Colony Courier, December 29, 1983)
(MGE – 13) WATERWAY ANNEXATION -1985 - City ordinance passed that authorized a 500 ft water annexation from Stewart Creek Park to Wynnewood Peninsula that allowed the city to annex Wynnewood Park, Wynnewood Peninsula and Hidden Cove Park. (Ordinance 364, August 12, 1985)
(MGE – 14) MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT (MUD) MERGED WITH THE COLONY – 1986 - September 30, 1986 (The Colony Courier, January 1, 1987) (The Colony City Secretary Office, Historical Document, MUD/City Consolidation Judgment, June 12, 1986)
(MGE – 15) AQUATIC PARK – 1986 – Grand opening June 1986 (The Colony Courier, June 5, 1986) The Park includes an outdoor lagoon pool and an indoor lap and diving pool. (The Colony Courier, January 1, 1987) Spray Park added 2003 (The Colony Courier Leader April 30, 2003)
(MGE – 16) THE COLONY RECREATION CENTER -1987 – Grand opening September 1987. (The Colony Courier, October 1, 1987)
(MGE – 17) EASTVALE AND THE COLONY CONSOLIDATE – 1987 - The Colony vote: 999 for, 267 against, Eastvale vote: 75 for, 71 against. (The Colony Leader August 12 and 19, 1987)
(MGE – 18) 1st CIVIC CENTER – 1988 - Located in city hall next to Fire Station No. 2 on North Colony Blvd. (The Colony Leader, April 28, 1988)
(MGE – 19) 1ST SENIOR CENTER – 1988 – Located in 1st civic center. Moved to Denton County metal building when its was vacated when a new building was built in 1996. (The Colony Leader, April 3, 1996) Moved to first municipal complex when library and city hall moved to new location in 2004. (The Colony Courier-Leader, September 29, 2004)
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(MGE – 20) BICYCLE PATROL – 1996 - Formed by The Colony Police Department (The Colony Courier, September 23, 1998)
(MGE – 21) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EDC) AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORTTION (CDC) – 1998 - Approved by voters on January 17, 1998. Vote: EDC For 1225, Against 973, CDC For 1290, Against 914. (The Colony Leader, January 23, 1998)
(MGE – 22) DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION (DARE PROGRAM) – 1998 - The Colony Police Department was the first department in the Lewisville Independent School District to offer the DARE program in middle schools. (The Colony Courier, September 23, 1998)
(MGE – 23) CITY HALL LOCATIONS – 1st city hall leased from Fox & Jacobs located next to Stop & Go on southeast corner of South Colony and Main St. June 30, 77. (The Colony Courier, June 30, 1977)
In 1979 city hall moved to a brick farmhouse on the northeast corner of South Colony Blvd and Main Street. February 12, 1979 (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979) The Police Department was housed in a mobile home behind the farm house, the one man Public Works Department worked out of the farm house garage and the first animal shelter was in the barn. City council meetings were held in the living room, the finance department was located in the front entry hall and the city manager worked out of the master bedroom. (“Notes from Patti Hicks”, January 10, 2002, The Colony Public Library)
June 1980 city hall moved to a modular building that had been purchased from North Texas Bank in Lewisville relocated on north side of North Colony Blvd by the gas easement. (The Colony Courier, June 12, 1980)
August 1987 city hall moved to a new municipal complex at 5151 North Colony Blvd. (The Colony Leader, October 7, 1987)
December 1999 city hall moved to a renovated Food Lion grocery store at northeast corner of North Colony Blvd and Main Street. (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 9, 1999)
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MILESTONE INFRASTRUCTURE
(MI -1) 1st TRAFFIC LIGHT – 1977 - Adding a left turn lane to north bound 121, positioning a flashing amber light facing 121 and a flashing red light facing 423 traffic. (Little Elm Tide, January 15, 1976)
(MI -2) DALLAS WATER – 1984 – A pipeline was completed that allowed The Colony to supplement its well water supply with water purchased from Dallas. (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1984)
(MI – 3) FM 423 WIDENING #1 – 1985 - Construction to widen FM 423 (Main Street) from two to four lanes from 121 to Eastvale city limits opened in 1985. (The Colony Courier, December 29, 1983)
(MI – 4) STEWART CREEK BRIDGE – 1987 - The Texas Department of Transportation replaced Stewart Creek Bridge located on the north boundary of Eastvale with a four-lane bridge. The old bridge was prone to flooding and the new bridge was elevated 18 feet. (The Colony Courier, April 9, 1987, April 23, 1987) Due to flooding, the bridge was closed during most of October thru December 1981. (The Colony Courier, December 17, 1981)
(MI – 5) PLANO PARKWAY – 1988 - Was first major direct thoroughfare going south out of The Colony towards Plano and Dallas. (The Colony Leader, April 13, 1988)
(MI -6) TELEPHONE SERVICE –1998 – The Texas Public Utility Commission approved mandatory metro telephone service in April 1998. Prior to this change residents most locations in the Dallas metro area were required to pay a higher rate for unlimited calls to Dallas or the calls were billed as long distance. (The Colony Courier, April 9, 1998)
(MI – 7) STATE HIGHWAY 121 – 1993 - Construction to widen Hwy 121 from two to four lanes completed in 1993 (The Colony Leader, November 3, 1993)
(MI – 8) WINDHAVEN PARKWAY – 1999 - Opened October 1999. The road provided an additional access to Dallas North Tollway. (The Colony Courier – Leader, November 11, 1999)
(MI – 9) JOSEY LANE – 2000 - Josey Lane, the city’s second major southern thoroughfare opened in May 2000. (The Colony Courier-Leader, January 4, 2001)
(MI – 10) STATE HIGHWAY 121/Sam Rayburn Tollway – 2008 - SH 121 was expanded from a four-lane to a 6 lane limited access North Texas Tollway Authority toll road in August 2008. (The Colony Courier-Leader, September 3, 2008)
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(MI – 11) FM 423 WIDENING #2 – 2017 - Widened Main Street from 4 to six lanes began October 2014 (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 28, 2014) and road opened in fall of 2017.
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MILESTONE LOCATIONS
(ML – 1) FIRST VOTING LOCATION – Texas constitution election – 1975 - The Elm Community Center, November 4, 1975 (Little Elm Tide, October 30, 1975) First in TC May 1976 primary election held at Fire Station #1 (Little Elm Tide, April 29, 1976)
(ML – 2) LISD SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION – 1976 School Board Election held in Lewisville (Little Elm Tide, April 8, 1976), First in The Colony at Camey Elementary – 1977, (Lewisville Independent School District minutes, March 14, 1977)
(ML – 3) 1ST LARGE COMMERICIAL LAND PURCHASE – 1979 - IBM purchased 445 acres of land from Fox & Jacobs on the southeastern boundary of The Colony. (The Colony Courier December 27, 1979) The land was later sold and developed as the Legends Neighborhood.
(ML – 4) POST OFFICE – 1980 - A branch of the Lewisville Post Office was opened in the Peters Square Shopping Center. (The Colony Courier January 1, 1981). The permanent post office opened on April 12, 1986 (The Colony Voice, April 20, 1986)
(ML – 5) DENTON COUNY SATELITE GOVERNMENT CENTER – 1986 – First building was a temporary metal building. (The Colony Courier, March 13, 1986) Permanent building opened in 1996 (The Colony Leader, April 3, 1996) Office moved to Frisco in 2017 (The Colony Courier-Leader, June 4, 2017)
(ML – 6) LEGENDS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT – 1999 - Infrastructure work began in 1998 first homes opened in 1999 (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 30, 1998)
(ML – 7) AUSTIN RANCH DEVELOPMENT -1998 – Austin Ranch begins construction of first 300-unit apartment complex (The Colony Courier, December 30, 1998)
(ML – 8) TRIBUTE DEVELOPMENT – 2007 - A 1500-acre master planned lakeside golf and resort community located in the northern portion of The Colony. (The Colony Courier-Leader, May 17, 2006)
(ML – 9) CASCADES OF THE COLONY – 2005 – A 100-acre mixed-use development located on the eastern boundary of The Colony and SH 121. (The Colony Courier- Leader, October 19, 2005)
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MILESTONE FIRST INDIVIDUALS
(MFL – 1) 1ST HOMEOWNERS TO MOVE TO THE COLONY – 1974 - In October 1974 the first homeowners to move into The Colony were John and Bobbi O’Laughlin, Hector and Gloria Sanchez, John and Nancy Juliana. (Dallas Morning News October 20, 1974)
(MFL – 2) 1ST HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT – Gary Shipman -1975 - (Little Elm Tide, June 9, 1975)
(MFL – 3) 1ST PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR – 1980 - Rick Herold was a part- time student at the University of North Texas and was initially hired as an intern in 1980. He later became a full time employee. (The Colony Courier, November 18, 1998)
(MFL – 4) 1ST MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT DIRECTOR – Jesse Harris (Organization Meeting of The Colony Municipal Utility District No. 1, March 1, 1974)
(MFL – 5) 1ST MAYOR – 1977 - Luis Guerrero (Minutes of The City of The Colony, April 15, 1977)
(MFL – 6) 1ST VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF – 1975 - Allen Springer (Little Elm Tide, June 24, 1975).
(MFL – 7) 1ST PAID FIRE CHIEF – 1981 Ronnie Gothard - (The Colony Courier, December 31, 1981))
(MFL – 8) 1ST POLICE CHIEF – 1977 - Jim Beltran (The Colony Courier, 9/23/98)
(MFL – 9) 1ST CITY MANAGER – 1978 - Tom Hart hired May 15, 1978 (The Colony Courier December 28, 1978) Replaced Joel Larkin who had been hired to be a part- time consultant/city administrator November 1, 1977 (The Colony Courier, December 29, 1977)
(MFL – 10) 1st CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT– 1979 - Steve Hines (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979
(MFL – 11) 1ST PUBLIC LIBRARY LIBRARIAN – 1982 - Ann Beckel (The Colony Courier, January 28, 1982)
(MFL – 12) 1ST RESIDENT ELECTED TO LEWISVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTIRICT BOARD – 1984 - Charlie Parker (The Colony Courier, April 12, 1984) The first resident to run for LISD Board was Connie Niemi in 1976. The incumbent defeated her by a vote of 488 to 308. (Little Elm Tide, April 8, 1976)
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MILESTONE EDUCATION
(ME – 1) LEWISVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (LISD) – The school district in the area of The Colony that is in LISD was formed in 1884 and named Camey Spur. Camey Spur consolidated with LISD in 1947. (Denton County School History, Myrtle Watson)
(ME – 2) LEWISVILLE ISD SCHOOLS
CAMEY ELEMENTRY SCHOOL -1977 – First Principal Ron Underwood, new building opened in December 2015
PETERS COLONY ELEMENTRY SCHOOL - 1979 – First Principal David Spence, new building opened in 2010
STEWARTS CREEK ELEMENTRY SCHOOL – 1981 – First Principal Connie Gall
GRIFFIN MIDDLE SCHOOL - 1982 – New building opened in 2016, First Principal Ben Swearingen
ETHERIDGE ELEMENTRY SCHOOL – 1985 – First Principal Phyllis White
BB OWEN ELEMENTRY SCHOOL – 1986, - First Principal Marilyn Spence
THE COLONY HIGH SCHOOL – 1986 – First Principal Malcolm Dennis
LAKEVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL – 1989 – First Principal Ben Swearingen
MORNINGSIDE ELEMENTRY SCHOOL – 1993 – First Principal Jan Quisenberry Gailey
(ME – 3) LITTLE ELM SCHOOL DISTRICT (LEISD) - The school district in the area of The Colony that is in LEISD was formed in 1884 and named Hackberry. The district consolidated with LEISD in 1927. (Denton County School History, Myrtle Watson)
(ME – 4)LITTLE ELM ISD SCHOOL
PRESTWICK K-8 STEM ACADEMY – 2014 – First Principal Christine Gibson
(ME – 5)THE COLONY HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
(ME – 5A) BAND
1988 – First band in LISD to advance to regional and state–level competition. (The Colony Leader, November 9, 1988) The Colony Milestones 13 May 15, 2018
1995 SUDLER FLAG - Awarded by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation to recognize outstanding high school bands in the United States, Canada and Japan. (The Colony Leader, February 1, 1995)
1997 – Over 300 band members marched in the 1997 Rose Bowl Parade, (The Colony Courier, November 4, 1998)
1997 – Texas Honor Band (The Colony Leader, January 10, 1997)
2001 – TCHS Wind Symphony played a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. (The Colony Courier-Leader, April 5, 2001)
(ME – 5B) CHOIR
1997 – A 60 member combined choir of TCHS and Lewisville High School choir members performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. (The Colony Leader, May 2, 1997)
(ME – 5C) THEATER
2015 – STATE CHAMPIONS - One Act Play - scenes from The Lost Boy (www.uiltexas.org/archives) 2016 – FIRST RUNNER UP - One Act Play –scenes from The Hands of its Enemy (www.uiltexas.org/archives) 2017 – STATE CHAMIONS - One Act Play - scenes from Second Samuel (www.uiltexas.org/archives)
(ME – 6) ATHLETIC STATE CHAMPIONS –
(ME – 6A) GIRLS
1995 – Chessna Davis – Track 100-meter hurdles state champion – First state track champion in school history.
2007 – GIRLS SOCCER – State Champions (The Colony Courier-Leader, April 18, 2007)
2016 GIRLS WRESTLING – Charliette (Charlie) Hamer, 95 lbs, First girls’ wrestler state champion. (The Colony Courier, February 28, 2016)
2017 GIRLS WRESTLING – Charliette (Charlie) Hamer, 95 lbs, Named Class 5A tournament “Most Outstanding Wrestler” (The Colony Courier Leader, March 5, 2017)
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2017 – GIRLS SOFTBALL – State Champions - (www.uiltexas.org/archives)
2017 – GIRLS SWIMMING – Emma Garfield – Gold Medal State Champion, 100-yard breaststroke (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 31, 2017)
2018 – GIRLS SWIMMING – Emma Garfield – Gold Medal State Champion, 100-yard breaststroke. Texas State Class 5A record time 1:01:74. (The Colony Courier-Leader, February 25, 2018)
(ME – 6B) BOYS
1990 – WRESTLING - Wayne Robinson, Heavyweight - First TCHS state champion in any sport (The Colony Leader, February 14, 1990) . 1993 WRESTLING - Cedric Young, 130 lbs (The Colony Leader February 10, 1993)
2000 – POWER LIFTING - Chauncey Cooper – Dead lift 347.5 lbs - Set American and world record for 15 year-olds. (The Colony Courier-Leader, May 11, 2000)
2008 - Power lifting team placed second at state meet. (The Colony Courier Leader, April 2, 2008)
(ME – 7) JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (JROTC)
2006 – 1st Place U. S. Orienteering Federation National Championship
2006 –Won Burton Cup for 1st Place high school national JROTC orienteering championship.
1999- 2000 - State champions nine years in a row. (The Colony Courier-Leader, date unknown)
(ME – 8) VISUAL ART
2013 – TCHS, Griffin and Lakeview Middle Schools art students turned common everyday dumpster enclosures into vibrant works of art when they painted water themed murals at Stewart Creek Park. (The Colony Courier-Leader, May 19, 2013)
(ME – 9) MIDDLE SCHOOLS – GRIFFIN
1993 – Griffin Middle School band selected as the 1993 Texas UIL honor band. (The Colony Courier-Leader, February 17, 1993)
1997 –Griffin Middle school selected to be the Texas UIL Honor Band. (The Colony Leader, February 21, 1997) The Colony Milestones 15 May 15, 2018
1997 - Griffin Middle School Band – In 1997 GMS Band was the John Phillip Sousa Foundations’ Sudler Cup winner. Awarded by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation to recognize outstanding middle school bands in the United States, Canada and Japan. (The Colony Courier, January 29, 1998)
2009 - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE CHAMPION – Griffin Middle School 7th grader Eric Yang won the 2009 National Geographic Bee in Washington, DC. (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 31, 2009)
(ME – 10) 2014 – PRESTWICK K-8 STEM ACADEMY – The school is Little Elm ISD’s first science, technology, engineering and math school and North Texas’ first and only K-8 STEM school. (Dallas Morning News, December 15, 2014)
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MILESTONE BUSINESSES
(MB – 1) 1st STORE – STOP & GO – 1976 (Dallas Morning News, December 28, 1975)
(MB – 2) 1st NEWSPAPER – 1976 - The Colony Courier was a spinoff of the Little Elm Tide that was the first newspaper to report The Colony news (The Colony Courier, August 19, 1976)
(MB – 3) 1st DOCTOR – 1976 - Dr. Kenneth H. Baldwin, (Little Elm Tide, July 8, 1976)
(MB – 4) 1st RESTAURANT – 1978 - Larry’s Family Restaurant (The Colony Courier, October 19, 1978)
(MB – 5) 1st AC & HEATING – 1977 - Colony AC & Appliance (The Colony Courier, August 12, 1998)
(MB – 6) 1st PIZZA RESTAURANT – 1978 -Pizza Inn (The Colony Courier, August 12, 1998)
(MB – 7) 1st INSURANCE AGENCY – 1978- Randy Truelove State Farm Insurance (The Colony Courier, August 12, 1998)
(MB – 8) 1st SHOPPING CENTER – 1979 - The Colony Square Shopping Center (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979)
(MB – 9) 1st DENTIST – 1979 – Dr William Manning and Dr. Kevin Seidler (The Colony Courier, December 6, 1979)
(MB – 10) 1ST VETERNARIAN – 1979 – Dr. Fred Holt, Colony Animal Clinic (Colony Animal Clinic records)
(MB – 11) 1st GROCERY STORE – 1979 - Winn Dixie (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979)
(MB -12) 1st DRUG STORE – 1979 - Eckerd Drug (Now CVS N. Colony and Main) (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979)
(MB – 13) 1st BARBER SHOP – 1979 - Silver Shears 1979 (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979)
(MB – 14) 1st BANK – 1979 - The Colony Bank, (Name changes: 1985 - First Colony Bank (The Colony Courier, June 6, 1985), 1994 - First State Bank, (The Colony Courier, August 12, 1998) and 2002 - Wells Fargo (Wells Fargo)
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(MB – 15) 1ST HARDWARE STORE – 1979 – (The Colony Courier, September 13, 1979)
(MB – 16) 1st OPTOMISTRIST – 1979 - Colony Vision Center (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979)
(MB – 17) 1st Washateria – 1980 – Colony Wash and Dry (The Colony Courier, April 10, 1980)
(MB – 18) 1st TV CABLE – 1981 - Cable Systems – (The Colony Courier, June 18, 1981)
(MB – 19) 1st WAL-MART – 1982 (The Colony Courier, December 2, 1982) Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in 1998 (The Colony Courier October 28, 1998)
(MB -20) 1ST McDONALDS – 1986 - Located on southwest corner of South Colony and Main Street. (The Colony Courier, February 13, 1986)
(MB – 21) 1st MINI-GOLF COURSE – 1987 – Island Mini-Golf was located along electrical easement in Bridges Park. This was the first public/private partnership in The Colony where city land was leased to a private business.
(MB – 22) 1st APARTMENT COMPLEX – 1998 - Bristol Oaks (The Colony Courier, March 5, 1998)
(MB – 23) 1ST GOLF COURSE – 1998 - Stewart Peninsula Golf Course opened 1998. (The Colony Courier, September 30, 1998)
(MB – 24) 1st MOTEL – Budget Suites – 1999 – (The Colony Courier, November 4, 1998)
(MB – 25) 1st INDOOR SOCCER FACILITY – 2000 - Blue Sky Sports Center. (The Colony Courier-Leader, August 17, 2000)
(MB – 26) 1st HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE – 2001 -The Colony Home Depot – Is the company’s 100th store in Texas (The Colony Courier-Leader, May 17, 2001)
(MB – 27) 1st CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS – 2001 - Pizza Inn relocated its national headquarters and distribution center to Austin Ranch (The Colony Courier- Leader, September 14, 2000)
(MB – 28) 1st WATER PARK – 2004 - Hawaiian Falls Water Park (The Colony Courier-Leader, June 2, 2004)
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(MB – 29) 1ST GOLF ENTERTAINMENT CENTER – 2013 - TOP GOLF – Opened November 2013 (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 29, 2013)
(MB – 30) NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART/ GRANDSCAPE – 2015 – (The Colony Courier-Leader, April 26, 2015)
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MILESTONE ARTS
COMMUNITY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
(MA – 1) LAKESIDE COMMUNITY THEATRE (LCT) (formerly LAKESIDE PLAYERS (LP) formed in 1985)(LP Articles of Incorporation, The Colony Public Library). Formed to host melodrama shows at the Sail Fair community festival. In 2001 group reorganized as Lakeside Community Theatre. (Lakeside Community Theatre)
(MA – 2) CULTURAL ARTS LEAGUE– 1988-1992 - The League sponsored Sail Fair, the city’s first lakeside festival at Stewart Creek Park to promote the arts and the community. (The Colony Courier Nov 4, 1998) (The Colony Courier, August 26, 1998)
(MA – 3) ART BY THE LAKE ASSOCIATES - 1995- (originally organized as The Colony Women’s Fine Arts Collective) – (The Colony Courier Nov 4, 1998)
(MA -4) LAKESIDE ARTS FOUNDATION – 2003– The primary purpose of the foundation is to support and promote the fine arts and arts organizations in the local and surrounding community and encouraging community participation. (Lakeside Arts Foundation)
(MA -5) THE COLONY PLAYHOUSE – 2009 – 2014 (children plays) (The Colony Courier-Leader, July 15, 2009)
ART SCULPTURES
(MA – 6) Art Sculptures at Austin Ranch –
(MA – 6A) Busby Steel Horses, - 2000 – Artist Peter Busby’s “Steel Horse” created out of woven and welded steel represents freedom, power and life. (The Colony Courier-Leader, October 19, 2000)
(MA – 6B) Other artworks in Austin Ranch created by:
John Skurja (1993) George Sherwood (2003) Madeleine Lord (2003) Thomas Jones and Adam Paddon Jim Budish (2005) Margo Sawyer (2009) (Thousand Oaks/Austin Ranch website – toapt.com/integrated-art.aspx)
(MA – 7) Art Sculpture at The Colony City Hall
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(MA – 7A) KALEIDOSCAPES – 2009 – The artwork, funded by the Lakeside Arts Foundation, included three towers. Local residents inserted the colored glass into three metal frames. The sculptures titled Peace, Hope and Love are dedicated to:
Reverend Christa Dixon who designed the sculptures. Her vision was that ugliness and despair represented by broken glass could be transformed into beauty and healing.
Dick Ledesma a local artist who created art projects for the city, The Colony High School and opened The Art Zone, a children’s art studio, in The Colony.
James Althaus was a dedicated city volunteer. His accomplishments included being a founding member of Lakeside Community Theatre, member of The Colony Public Library Board for more than 24 years and inducted into The Colony’s Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievements in 2004. (The Colony Courier Leader, February 25, 2009)
(MA -8)MAIN STREET SOUNDWALLS – 2017 – Each panel is a “window” depicting the history and various activities that are special about The Colony. Artist Janice Hart Melito created the 20 cast-stone sculptured relief panels. The panels on the west side of the road facing the lakeside of town are images related to The Colony’s shores and activities on Lake Lewisville. The panels on the east side reflect some of The Colony’s history and current day activities. At intersection locations where there is a panel on both sides the panels were designed to carry a scene from one side of the intersection to another. (Park and Recreation Department)
Intersection panel names: “Catching The Big One” “The Wake” “Afternoon At The Shoreline Trail” “Working the Rector Homestead” “Taking Flight”
Single panel names: “Migration Of The Monarchs” “Perfect Day, Perfect Swing” “The General” “Children’s Sport I” “Children’s Sport II” “Sailing Away” “Expressions” “Surveying The Lewisville Lake Excavation” “At Play In The Park” “Soaring Above The TreeTops” The Colony Milestones 21 May 15, 2018
MILESTONE SPORTS
(MS – 1) 1ST YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS SOCCER ASSOCIATION – 1978, The Colony Leader, July 20, 1988) LITTLE LEAGUE - circa 1979, The Colony Courier, October 14, 1998 FOOTBALL mid 1980’s, The Colony Courier October 14, 1998
(MS – 2) 1st ATHLETIC FIELDS
Temporary baseball and soccer fields across the street from Fire Station #1 (Little Elm Tide, May 6, 1976) 1ST Permanent fields: Baseball/ Softball – Camey Elementary School field Soccer – Camey soccer fields (Little Elm Tide, February 24, 1977)
(MS – 3) YOUTH SOCCER
First teams were organized in 1975 and teams played in the Lewisville Soccer Association. (The Little Elm Tide, August 14, 1975)
The first teams were The Colony Tornado, Boys U8, The Colony Sharks, Boys U10, The Colony Cougars Boys, U12, The Colony Cougars, Girls U10, Name unknown, Boys and Girls U6. (Little Elm Tide, September 18, 1975)
(MS – 4) MENS SLOW PITCH BASEBALL
Two teams played their first league games in April 1976. The Colony Blues defeated Little Elm 11-3 and The Colony Reds defeated Eastvale 423 Club-Café 19-6. (Little Elm Tide, April 29, 1976)
(MS – 5) YOUTH BASEBALL
1ST Team - Boys 8 & 9 (Little Elm Tide, May 27, 1976)
(MS – 6) WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Redneck Mothers were organized in the spring of 1976. They were probably the most successful, well known and note worthy team in their league and the area. Following their first spring season four members of the team were named to their leagues all-star team. (Little Elm Tide, March 18, 1976 and June 24 1976)
The North Texas Bank in Lewisville sponsored the team in their first fall league. The bank featured the team in large ads during the season in The Colony Courier newspaper. In 1977 a song was recorded for the team named “Mothers” that was The Colony Milestones 22 May 15, 2018 played each time the team scored making them the only team in the league that had their own song. (The Colony Courier, September 9, 1976 and March 3, 1977)
(MS – 7) MEN’S SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL
1st Softball tournament – Melvin Mann and Associates of Frisco sponsored the first softball tournament in The Colony. The Dark Blue team beat Light Blue team 13-3. (The Little Elm Tide, June 3, 1976)
The Colony Softball Association league formed in 1976 included five teams from The Colony and one from Eastvale. The initial TC teams were: Dark Blue, Light Blue, Gold, Green and Red.
(MS – 8) WOMEN’S SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL
1st Teams –The Bluebirds and The Colony Fireballs formed in 1976. Formed league at same time that included teams from The Colony, Frisco and Little Elm. (Little Elm Tide, July 1, 1976)
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MILESTONES COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
(MCO – 1) 1st HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION – June 1975. (The Colony Courier, June 6, 1985)
(MCO – 2) PETERS COLONY REPUBLICAN WOMEN CLUB - 1976 (Little Elm Tide, February 5, 1976)
(MCO – 3)) EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA (ESA) SORORITY -1976 (The Colony Courier August 19, 1976)
(MCO – 4) NEWCOMERS CLUB – 1976 (The Colony Courier August 19, 1976)
(MCO – 5) LIONS CLUB – 1979 (The Colony Courier, December 27, 1979)
(MCO – 6) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – 1979 - (The Colony Courier, September 27, 1979)
(MCO – 7) VFW POST – 1980 -The Colony Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5622 (The Colony Courier, January 3, 1980)
(MCO – 8) FRIENDS OF THE COLONY PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1980 (The Colony Courier, June 5, 1980)
(MCO -9) KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #8493 – 1983 (Holy Cross Catholic Church)
(MCO – 10) SENIOR CITIZEN ORGANIZATION – 1984 - (Senior Center Scrap Book)
(MCO – 11) MASONONIC LODGE – circa 1986 - (The Colony Courier, January 15, 1987)
(MCO – 12) AMERICAN LEGION POST – 2007 - Holley-Riddle Post #21 (Holley- Riddle Post 21 website)
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MILESTONE CHURCHES
(MC – 1) UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – Dedicated 12:30 PM on September 9, 1976, First Pastor Rev. Ray Denton
(MC 2) 1ST BAPTIST CHURCH – Dedicated at 3:00 PM on September 9, 1976, First Pastor Dr. Bill Tinsley
(MC – 3) THE COLONIAL BAPTIST CHURCH – 1977 – First Pastor Rev. Jim Wallace
(MC – 4) TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – 1979 – church closed in 2016
(MC – 5) GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERN CHURCH – 1982 – First Pastor Rev. Bill Metting
(MC 6) HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH – 1982 – First Priest Fr. Tom Wiggington
(MC – 7) LAKEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH – 1988 - First Pastor Montia Setzier
(MC – 8) THE CALVARY CHRISTIAN CHURCH –(CAVARY TEMPLE CHURCH) – 1987 – First Pastor Rev. C. L. Pearce
(MC – 9) CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS – 1989, Bishop Stu Alleman
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MILESTONE NAMES
(MLN– 1) THE CITY’S NAME – The Colony was the name of a housing development begun by homebuilders Fox & Jacobs in 1974. The name The Colony was chosen to recognize the contribution made by Peters Colony, a land grant company authorized by the Republic of Texas and to honor and memorialize the Peters Colonists who settled in North Texas. (The Colony Courier, November 22, 1979) After The Colony incorporated two resident polls were conducted and the top name choice for the new city was The Colony. The city council approved the name The Colony in a unanimous vote. (City Council Minutes May 16, 1977)
(MLN – 2) Holley-Riddle Post #21, Chartered 2007. Named after two residents of The Colony and heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Mathew Holley and Jimmy Riddle. (Holley-Riddle Post 21 website)
(MLN – 3) THE COLONY SENIOR CENTER – When the senior center was located at 6301 Main Street the building was renamed the Dick Weaver Senior Center. Weaver was a leading proponent and instrumental in acquiring a building for use as a senior center. Weaver was twice elected to the city council, first in 1977 and again in 1988. He also served on the Municipal Utility District Board before it became part of The Colony, an ex facto member of the Metrocrest Hospital and a director of the First Colony Bank. (The Colony Courier-Leader, June 17, 1999)
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MILESTONE PARK NAMES
(MPN – 1) BB OWEN PARK – 1986 - The Park is named in memory of successful Dallas businessman Bennie Bryan (B. B.) Owen (1897-1972) (The Colony Courier, May 13, 1982.)
(MPN – 2) BILL ALLEN MEMORIAL PARK– 1994 – The Park is named in honor of Bill Michael Allen who was president of the Dallas North Division for Centex/Fox and Jacobs and was the driving force behind Centex’s donation of the land to the city for the park. (The Colony Leader, October 24, 1990.)
(MPN -3) BRIDGES PARK – 1981 - Bridges Park was named to recognize John W. Bridges and his family for whom Bridges Settlement was named. Bridges Settlement, founded in 1843 during the time of the Republic of Texas, was the first settlement in Denton County. (The Colony City Council minutes, August 17, 1981)
(MPN – 4) DAVE COWAN PARK – 1981- This park is named in memory of Dave Cowan a founding member of The Colony Jaycees and an active member of the Texas state Jaycees association. Cowan (age 32) was killed in a head–on traffic accident in Lewisville on Hwy 121 near the Trinity River Bridge in 1978. (The Colony Courier, March 16, 1978) (The Colony City Council Minutes, January 5, 1981)
(MPN – 5) FIVE STAR SPORTS COMPLEX – 2003- Reasons the name was chosen: – The Star is commonly used as a symbol in Texas. – The notion that a “five star” establishment is of the highest quality. – The five points of the star represent five ways the complex will benefit residents: sports, community, environment, recreation and culture. (The Colony Courier-Leader, 9/10/2003)
(MPN – 6) FRIENDSHIP PARK - 1985 - The Beta Sigma Phi Sorority who proposed the park name suggested Friendship Park. (The Colony City Council minutes, June 3, 1985)
(MPN – 7) KIDS COLONY PLAYGROUND – Elementary students in The Colony selected the park’s name. (The Colony Leader, March 3, 1993)
(MPN – 8) PAWSOME DOG PARK – 2016 – A citizen group that promoted the building of the dog park suggested the parks’ name. (The Colony Courier-Leader, October 16, 2016)
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(MPN -9) PERRYMAN PARK – The Park was named after Chuck Perryman, Fox & Jacobs’ first sales manager for The Colony (Little Elm Tide, July 8, 1976). Fox & Jacobs to The Colony Homeowners Association donated this land. (Denton County Clerks Office, Special Warranty Deed, DR/00828/399, March 30, 1977 and City of The Colony, Resolution 78-01, January 9, 1978)
(MPN – 10) STEWART CREEK PARK – 1953 - The Corp of Engineers named the park and it is believed the park was named after nearby Stewart Creek. (Dallas Morning News, March 9, 1953). Stewart Creek was named after Isaac F. Stewart an early settler in the area. Isaac was the brother of Willis T. Stewart the principal investor in the Texas Emigration and Land Company, more commonly known as Peters Colony. (Bates, Ed F., History and Reminiscences of Denton County). The road in the park is named Sparks Road after James Lewis Sparks a local landowner in The Colony area. Sparks had several careers’ in the area including being a schoolteacher, post master and Justice of the Peace. (Beckel, Don, Bridges to the Future: The Pre- Incorporation History of The Colony, Texas)
(MPN – 11) HIDDEN COVE PARK – 1995 - The name was the winner of a “name the park” contest sponsored by the Park and Recreation Board. (The Colony Leader, April 12, 1995)
(MPN – 12) EASTVALE PARK – 1960 – The Park was named by the Corp of Engineers and the origin of the name is unknown. (Dallas Morning News, October 10, 1960)
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MILESTONE RANDOM FACTS
(MRF – 1) LAKE LEWISVILLE – 1957 -The lake and dam were completed in 1957 (The Colony Courier, August 26, 1998)
(MRF – 2) CENSUS POPULATION
2010 - 36, 586 2000 - 26,531 1990 - 22,113 1980 - 11,586 1973 - 0 (US Census Bureau)
(MRF – 3) THE COLONY LAND AREA - 14.02 acres (US Census Bureau)
(MRF – 4) 1st VISIT BY A US REPRSENTATIVE -1976- Representative Jim Collins was a speaker at the March meeting of the Peters Colony Republican Women Club. (Little Elm Tide, March 11, 1976)
(MRF – 5) 1st PUBLIC VISIT OF SANTA CLAUS – Made a surprise visit to The Colony on December 20, 1975. (Little Elm Tide, December 26, 1975)
(MRF – 6) 1st TEEN CENTER – 1976 - Referred to as the Green House located across the street from Stop & Go, southwest corner of Main and South Colony Blvd. First used as MUD office. F&J made it available for use as a teen center. (Little Elm Tide, May 13, 1976) By May of 1977 the center had lost many of its chaperones and the City Council closed the center and voted to move the city hall into the home. The same night as the vote the building was destroyed by suspected arson fire (The Colony Courier, June 2, 1977 & September 1998)
(MRF – 7) PURPLE HOUSE – In the early years of The Colony the house was a landmark on Main Street (Hwy. 423) south of South Colony overlooking the lake. Originally built around 1965 as a two -bedroom lake house. Additional bedrooms were added. It was rumored it was used as a gathering place for ladies from a Dallas escort service to get their “beauty rest”. When the city tried to collect over-due property taxes the owner painted the house purple. The color was supposedly picked because it was Willie Nelson’s favorite but locals believed it was picked to annoy city hall. The home was torn down in 1999. (The Colony Times, December 3, 1999) (The Colony Courier, July 29, 1998)
(MRF – 8) 1ST RAID FOR MOST WANTED FUGITIVE – PURPLE HOUSE – April 9, 1977 FBI agents raided house seeking James Ray Renton, sought in a 1975 slaying in Arkansas. Raid was unsuccessful but Renton was later arrested in Colorado on May 9th. (The Colony Courier, December 29, 1977) The Colony Milestones 29 May 15, 2018
(MRF – 9) 2nd City Hall – 1979 - When parking lot was poured for building city hall employees signed their names in the wet concrete parking lot. (The Colony Courier, July 3, 1980)
(MRF – 10) 1st Guiness Book of World Records – 1980 - Marvin Bruner, a local barber, shaved 144 persons in an hour to put The Colony in the Guiness Book of World Records (The Colony Courier, September 4, 1980)
(MRF – 11) CITY INCORPORATION POPULATION RECORD - In 1977 the population of The Colony was 3500. At the time it was the largest city in population in Texas to become incorporated. (Texas Municipal League email November 20, 2006))
(MRF – 12) THE COLONY PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1982 - The library collection on its opening day consisted of 8,000 donated items. (The Colony Leader, April 18, 1982) In 2017 the library’s collection consisted of 67,540 physical items. (Source: The Colony Public Library)
(MRF – 13) LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES – 2016 - The Colony Public Library began a Little Free Libraries program in memory of Diane Kruzich a longtime library and community volunteer. (The Colony Courier Leader, May 15, 2016)
(MRF – 14) FILMING A TV SHOW AT PUBLIC LIBRARY – 2002 – The library was used for a scene of the TV show WALKER TEXAS RANGER staring Chuck Norris. The scene at the library involved co-stars Judson Mills (Gage) and Nia Peeples (Sydney Cooke)(The Colony Times, August 5, 2000)
(MRF – 15) HOME CONSTRUCTION – 1980 - Construction of the first homes west of 423 began in 1980 (The Colony Courier, April 17, 1980)
(MRF – 16) CAMEY ELEMENTERY – 1976 - The Colony Homeowners Association voted to request LISD to change the name of the city’s first school to The Colony Elementary School following LISD’s decision to name the school Camey Elementary. The LISD Board denied the request. (Little Elm Tide, January 15, 1976)
(MRF – 17) PARK FUND RAISER –1982 - The Park and Recreation Department earned $1,000 when 400 residents participated in an advertising photo shot for a Big A Auto Parts advertisement. (The Colony Courier, August 12, 1982 and August 19, 1982)
CITY FESTIVALS -
(MRF – 18) FUNFEST - 1984 The Colony Courier, October 11, 1984)
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(MRF - 19) SAIL FAIR 1988-1993 – The Colony’s first lakeside festival and sponsored by the Cultural Arts League (The Colony Leader, September 14, 1994)
(MRF – 20) PIRATE DAYS – 2008 & 2009 - Sponsored by The Colony Chamber of Commerce, (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 31, 2008)
(MRF – 21) LIBERTY BY THE LAKE – 1998 - First year the city hosted a multifaceted extravaganza combining all the city’s July 4th activities including the Liberty 5K Run, parade, city festival, The Colony Aquatic Park’s Inland Beach Party and fire works display. (The Colony Courier, July 1, 1998)
(MRF – 22) AMERICAN HEROES FESTIVAL - 2008 – In 2007 the July 4th Liberty by the Lake Festival fireworks show and festival was rescheduled to Veterans Day due to flooding at Stewart Creek Park. Due to positive citizen input the Park and Recreation Department began hosting an annual Veterans Day event in 2008. (The Colony City Council Minutes, July 21, 2008)(The Colony Courier-Leader, November 5, 2008)
(MF 23) OLDEST RESIDENCE – 2006 - Spencer House – Billingsley Company moved home from Lewisville and was dedicated in Austin Ranch in 2006. It took two years and nearly a million dollars to renovate. Used as an extended stay hotel for travelers or events. (The Colony Courier-Leader, July 26, 2006)
(MRF – 24) SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SPORTS CITY USA – 2003 - The Colony was selected as the Texas winner of this prestigious award. The award was presented as part of the grand opening of Five Star Sports Complex. (The Colony Courier-Leader, September 10, 2003, Sports Illustrated, September 29, 2003)
(MRF – 25) TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLECTIC FEDERATION (TAAF) – 2002 & 2009 - The Colony Park & Recreation Department won the TAAF Member City Award in 2002 and 2009 for cities with a population of less than 75,000. The award is given based on a city’s advancement of amateur athletics. (The Colony City Council Minutes, November 4, 2002 and October 6, 2009)
(MRF -26) TEXAS RECREATION AND PARK S (TRAPS) – 2002 – The Colony Parks & Recreation Department was awarded TRAPS CLASS IV GOLD MEDAL AWARD. The award is given based on the performance of the department over 3 year periods. (City Council Minutes, March 18, 2002)
(MRF – 27) THE COLONY HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM – 2002 – Named Tommy E. Briggs Cougar Stadium to honor the school’s first football coach. (The Colony Courier-Leader, August 28, 2002)
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(MRF – 28) TREE CITY USA - 2009 – City named a Tree City USA community for the first time by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to community forestry. (The Colony Courier-Leader, April 22, 2009)
(MRF – 29) PLAYFULL CITY – 2011- City received its first Playful City USA designation sponsored by KABOOM! (The Colony Courier Leader, September 8, 2011)
(MRF – 30) BICYCLE FRIENDLY – 2017 – City received its first Honorable Mention designation from League of American Cyclists’ Bike Friendly Community Program (The Colony Courier Leader, May 28, 2017)
(MRF – 31) WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDING – 2000 - The Maharishi Global Development Fund (MGDF) announced they were going to build the world’s tallest building on property they owned on the southeastern corner of the intersection of Plano Parkway and SH 121. The building was to be over 1600 ft tall. Maharishi Magesh Yogi, who introduced Transcendental Meditation in the 1960’s, started the MGDF investment fund. (The Colony Courier-Leader, September 21, 2002 and October 26, 2000) The land was later sold and developed by Nebraska Furniture Mart and the Grandscape Development.
(MRF – 32) CITY LOGO – 1993 – Designed to incorporate the lakeshore, a sailboat and the city’s motto “City by the Lake”. The logo color was changed from a brown tone to a three-color burgundy, blue and green in 2007 (The Colony Courier-Leader, November 21, 2007)
(MRF – 33) 1ST NAME OF EASTVALE – Garza Little Elm Estates (Property Platt Denton County Commissioners Court, Map Records V. 2: Page 80, July 29, 1957)
(MRF - 34) EASTVALE FUND RAISER –In 1984 Eastvale sold a small residential lot to the Eastvale Chamber of Commerce so they could administer a “Land Sale” fund- raiser. The Chamber sold one-inch squares of land to the public for $10.00 each and the money was donated to the city. The project raised $2,700. (November 20, 1984, Resolution 107 and Eastvale Board of Alderman minutes, June 18, 1985)
(MRF – 35) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION – DART - 1983 - Voters rejected joining Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) by a vote of 527-468 (The Colony Courier, December 29, 1983)
(MRF -36) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION – DENTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (DCTA) – 2002 – The Colony City Council voted 5-1 not to take part in DCTA. (The Colony Courier-Leader, August 7-123, 2002)
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(MRF – 37) POST OFFICE – 1986 -The city council and residents opposed the first sign for new US Post Office that read “The Colony Substation Lewisville, TX”. With the assistance of The Colony’s US congressman Dick Army the Postal Service was persuaded to change the sign language to read “United States Post Office, The Colony, TX” (The Colony Courier, March 27, 1986)
(MRF – 38) WET/DRY LIQUOR STORE - 1999- Centennial Express Mart located at Standridge and SH 121. Due to an error it was discovered it was not legal to sell alcohol in a portion of the store because the land had been annexed into the city after the wet/dry election in 1980. The problem was solved when the owners agreed to only sell liquor in the part of the store located in the legal wet area. (The Colony Courier-Leader, December 30, 1999)(The Colony Times, October 29, 1999)
(MRF – 39) BEST PLACE TO LIVE – In June, 2002 D magazine, a Dallas based publication ranked The Colony as the sixth-best overall place to live in the DFW area. The Colony ranked second in having the highest number of parkland acres per 1,000-population out of the 50 DFW cities ranked. (The Colony Courier-Leader, June 5-11, 2002)
(MRF – 40) CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR – 2007 - Volunteers designed and built a computerized holiday lights and music debuted that encompassed the Fire Station No. 1. The first show used 60,000 lights. (The Colony Courier-Leader, November 28, 2007)
RUNNING EVENTS –
(MRF – 41) The Colony Catholic Community sponsored a 4.3-mile race on October 4, 1980 at Lions Club Park. (The Colony Courier, October 9, 1980)
(MRF – 42) The Colony Park & Recreation Department sponsored a 2-mile Turkey Trot running race on November 1980 at Lions Club Park. (The Colony Courier, November 27, 1980)
(MRF – 43) LIBERTY 5K, 10K and One Mile – One of the longest continuous running events in the Metroplex. Founded in 1986 by the Holy Cross Knights of Columbus to help celebrate Texas’ Sesquicentennial. In 1999 and 2000 the run was selected to be one of 13 races around the country to be part of the Tommy Hilfiger Fragrances “Tommy’s American Running Series”. Among other participating cities in the series were New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C. ”. (The Colony Leader, April 2, 1999 and The Colony Courier Leader, April 6, 2000)
(MRF – 44) 1ST TRIATHOLON - The Colony Parks & Recreation Department hosted The Colony’s first Triathlon in 1987. (The Colony Leader, September 30, 1987)
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(MRF – 45) SCHOOL DISTRICTS – The Colony city limits are in two school districts. The central and southern section of the city is in the Lewisville Independent School District. The Tribute neighborhood in the northern section of the city is in the Little Elm Independent School District.
(MRF – 46) SAME BUSINESSES – First businesses in Bridges Settlement were the Peters Colony Land Office and a general store. (Bridges to the Future) The first businesses in The Colony were a sales office for Fox & Jacobs and a Stop & Go convenience store. (Dallas Morning News, December 28, 1975)
(MRF – 47) SAME NAME – In 1975, the first season of youth soccer a girls and boys team selected the name the Cougars. The Colony High School selected the Cougars as their mascot when the high school opened in 1986. (Little Elm Tide, September 18, 1975)
(MRF – 48) VETERANS MEMORIAL – 2003 – The Colony’s Veterans Memorial located at the Five Star Complex opened. (The Colony Courier-Leader, November 5, 2003)
(MRF – 49) 1ST FIRE TRUCK –Built in 1952 and named “The General” the truck is considered an antique by the North Texas Historical Fire Society. The truck was purchased by the Dallas Fire Department in 1953 and was in service for 21 years. F&J bought the truck in auction and donated it to The Colony Volunteer Fire Department in 1975. (The Colony Leader, December 6, 1995)
(MRF – 50) 1st MAJOR FIRE – July 3, 1978, Kings Drive, eight houses under construction and worth $300,000 were destroyed by fire. (The Colony Courier, December 28, 1978)
(MRF – 51) FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICE – 1984 - The designation plaque on the administrative office section of fire station No. 1 is dated 1984. This section of the building was actually not constructed until 1989. Fire Department verbal history says the 1984 date was used because that was the year the Fire Departments administrative offices were moved from Fire Station No. 2 to Fire Station No. 1.
(MRF – 52) STEEL BEAM FROM 9/11 – 2011- The Colony Fire Department presented a piece of steel from the September 11, 2001 New York World Trade Center terrorist attach to the city council in remembrance of the first-responders who perished that day. (The Colony Courier-Leader, September 8, 2011)
(MRF – 53) DALLAS BURN (FC Dallas)– Used Blue Sky Soccer Complex as the site for their 2000 season training facility. (The Colony Courier-Leader, August 17, 2000).
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(MRF – 54) ULTIMATE DISC GOLF - 2016 – Dallas Roughnecks an American Ultimate Disc League team played their 2016 season at The Colony’s Five Star Sports Complex (The Colony Courier Leader, March 27, 2016)
(MRF – 55) RED BULL SOAPBOX RACE – 2009 – 67,000 spectators watched forty 2- man teams from around the United States race homemade soapbox crafts down Windhaven Hill in Austin Ranch. The 2009 race was the 13th held in the United States and the first in Texas. The race is a global event that began in 2000. (The Colony Courier-Leader, September 19, 2012)
(MRF – 56) BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB ASSOCIATION – 1977 – Unincorporated area that was annexed by The Colony in 1986 and de-annexed in 1989. Began as a vacation homes on Beach Club Row for some Highland Park residents in the 1960’s. (City Council Minutes, November 4, 2002)
(MRF – 57) DAVE FOX – President of Fox and Jacobs residential homebuilders and developer of The Colony, (Oral History The Colony Public Library)
(MRF 58) RUSTY NICHOLS – Developer of Stewart Peninsula Neighborhood that was the first upscale residential golf course neighborhood in The Colony.
(MFR – 59) DERON WILLIAMS – 2009 – Recognition sign dedicated to Williams who was a 2002 graduate of The Colony High School. The sign recognizes Williams as a member of the 2008 US Olympic Basketball team that won the Gold Medal in Bejing, China. (City Council Minutes, June 1, 2009)
(MRF – 60) DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADER- Kimberly Lawrence a 1992 graduate of The Colony High School became a member of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in 1998. (The Colony Courier, September 2, 1998)
(MFR – 61) TV STAR – In 1995 TC resident Keith Lehman played the role of Cal Borland, brother of Tim Allen’s tool-savvy sidekick Al Borland on ABC’s hit situation comedy TV show Home Improvement. (The Colony Courier, December 25, 1997)
(MFR – 62) 2018 - FIRST PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNMENT – Hosted the Volunteers of America Texas Classic Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golf tournament at the Old American Golf Club. (The Colony Courier-Leader, May 6, 2018)
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