Abilene marks 116th birthday at Grace today

On March 15, 1881, an event of no small significance occurred - the town of Abilene was born, literally created out of the plains beside the newly completed railroad. That day, a total of 187 lots were sold, and overnight, Abilene leapt into existence.

In all the excitement about fabricating a handy rest stop for travelers headed west by rail from Fort Worth, nobody apparently noticed the new town of tents and chalk lines was devoid of an adequate natural water supply. Fortunately, 116 years later, Abilenians seldom give a second thought to turning on their faucets and letting the water run.

It's as good a reason as any to celebrate the city's birthday.

A citywide birthday party, in fact, is being held today from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Grace Cultural Center - an appropriate setting, considering the Grace is a historical landmark of those days when the city's growth and prosperity were so dependent on the railroad tracks across the street and that its restoration and renovation into the Museums of Abilene exemplifies the city's characteristic of preserving the past for the creative functions of the present and future.

Mayor Gary McCaleb has invited the entire community (even former City Council members) to join the festivities, at which local businesses will be recognized for their longevity. Displays will be set up with old photographs of the city and of equipment city workers used in bygone days.

At the city party, the oldest and youngest residents present will be recognized, along with those whose birthdays are the same as the city's. And at 5 p.m., all the children at the party can traipse over to Everman Park next to the old railroad depot to have their picture made with the mayor at the "Childhood's Great Adventure" sculpture.

All together, it should be a fun afternoon to serve as a fitting close to the week of spring break, an afternoon of reminiscing about the past and projecting about the future - and of being thankful for our modern plumbing in the present.