City of Elgin Removes Jefferson Davis Highway Marker For Immediate Release Elgin, Texas June 26, 2020 Amy Miller, Public Information Officer, [email protected] 512-229-3213 Friday June 26, the City of Elgin removed the Jefferson Davis highway marker that was placed at Taylor Road and Main Street in 1937 by the Texas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The highway marker was brought to the attention of the City Council at the September 3, 2019 City Council meeting during citizen comments. The text of the marker was: “Jefferson Davis Highway Marker Erected by the Texas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy 1937”. The September 17 City Council meeting included this agenda item “Discussion and possible action to staff regarding the highway marker currently located within Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) right of way at the intersection of Main Street and Taylor Road.” The Texas Historic Commission was contacted about this marker they noted that it was not part of the Texas Historic Commission Marker program and they had no authority over the marker. The Texas Department of Transportation noted that it was located in TXDOT Right of way and under their rules they consider it a marker not a monument. TXDOT provided approval for the marker to be removed at any time, but they did not have any staff or resources to put towards removing it. At the November 5 City Council meeting, the council discussed the highway marker concluding with this motion: Council member Penson moved to remove the Jefferson Davis marker, Council member Gonzalez seconds the motion. Motion carried 5-4. At each of the three city council meetings where this item was discussed, many citizens participated and shared comments for and against removing the highway marker. From the Elgin Courier, November 13, 2019 “The marker appears to have been erected in 1937 to designate a piece of the Jefferson Davis Highway, a planned roadway stretching from Virginia to California that was sponsored by the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) in the early 20th century.” On June 25 the Texas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy asked the City to remove the marker and place it in a secure area until they can move it. On Friday, June 26 city forces carefully removed the marker and have placed it at a secure location for storage. END 310 North Main Street PO Box 591 Elgin, Texas 78621 Phone 512.281.5724 Fax 512.285.3016 www.elgintx.com .