Heritage Crossing hosted a fun, festive party Saturday, Sept. 28 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Landmark Museum (393 North Sixth Street). There were games and good food, along with some great music. The popular disco band Le Freak wowed attendees with their renditions of
memorable disco songs.
In addition, Mike Hayslip, one of the original Landmark Society board members, was honored.
The Landmark Society was established in 1972 by City Manager Charles Duckworth when he assembled a group of volunteers to help preserve the city’s history. In addition to Hayslip, other original board members were Joann Bardin, Wayde Cloud, Cecil Cooper, Curtis Crossman, Jr., Duane C. Holford, J. Elmer Newman, W. E. Peavy, Jr. and Dorothy O. Range. Cooper was elected to be the society’s first president, but he died soon after, and Hayslip became the next president.
The city of Garland soon acquired the 1901 Santa Fe depot which provided the space for a museum so that the society could display artifacts and exhibits to the public.
“Over the past 50 years, the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors, displayed way too many artifacts to count and helped provide insight and understanding through special exhibits,” said Mayor Scott LeMay. “The Landmark Museum has taught us about the businesses that built Garland, the recreational activities that we’ve participated in. But more importantly, it has taught us about the people. Maybe more than anything, the museum has helped us appreciate that it’s not so much the artifacts or the buildings, but honestly it is the people that help connect us to the past and to the present and to each other.”
LeMay added that volunteers have spent countless hours to collect artifacts that will be there for future generations. They have also worked to identify individual photos and capture special stories to preserve and pass on to the next generation.
The mayor thanked the Landmark Society board members that have helped the Landmark reach its 50th anniversary. He also thanked city of Garland employees Kim Nurmi and Emily Gray.
He began the special recognition of Mike Hayslip this way:
“Every town has a keeper of the stories, an old timer who remembers “back when” or a person who is the source. In Garland, that is Mr. Mike Hayslip,” LeMay said.
He added that 50 years ago when City Manager Duckworth was working toward preserving Garland’s history, he recruited a young Mike Hayslip to serve with a group of elders.
“Through the years, Mike Hayslip has dedicated more time, more energy and more effort to express his deep love for Garland…On behalf of the city of Garland, and the Landmark Society, it is our pleasure to celebrate Mike’s half-century investment in our city,” LeMay said.
The honoree received a plaque, along with another special gift.
As his standard uniform is bib overalls and big hats, Hayslip was given a new pair of overalls.
LeMay said that he expected Mike to be on hand at the 75th anniversary celebration wearing the overalls.
His reply was, “I’ll do my best.”
The society’s mission/purpose according to its website:
The Landmark Society collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets historical elements of our community’s unique heritage. Inside it are Garland-specific historical artifacts and documents, all donated to and maintained by the Society.
Source: www.garlandhistorical.org