I want to give you a little history of my involvement in Travis Heights. My grandparents built their home on Alta Vista Ave. in 1926. It was a small white bungalow of approximately a thousand square feet, built in the style of the times. In 1953, they remodeled and expanded the home to around sixteen hundred square feet. This is the house I knew growing up in Travis Heights, visiting my grandparents, playing in the park and exploring the creek. In 1988, my wife, Tamara, and I moved in after our wedding. In 1990, Tamara and I decided to renovate, and the entire house went through a major remodeling. We completed the upstairs, added a new kitchen, a master suite and back deck. In 1995, our oldest daughter was born, followed by our youngest daughter in 1997. Our daughters attended Faith Presbyterian preschool where I served as the chairman of the board of directors. Our daughters attended Travis Heights Elementary where during nine years Iwas president of the PTA for a year, and was co-chair of the CAC (campus advisory committee) for 8 years, working closely with other parents living in our neighborhood, the administration and faculty of the school. In 2003, I formed a band consisting of myself and 5 talented teachers. the student body, through a school wide vote, named the band “The Thunderband.” For six years we played at all school functions and every friday assembly. Although I retired from the band in 2009, it is still performing today.

On the afternoon of january 16, 2006, our home was destroyed by fire. although the experience was horrific, we could never have lived in a better place than travis heights. Before the sun set, our family had a place to stay, thanks to the Ballards, food and clothing. Travis Heights Elementary supplied our family with nightly meals prepared by grade level. a fund was set up thanks to the Selcraigs and the clothes we were able to salvage were laundered by washing machines all around the community. We were able to rent a home on Travis Heights Blvd. during the construction of a new home. It took us two years and a lot of sweat and tears, but we were able to rebuild our home covering the same footprint as the old house. Not for an instant did we consider moving to another neighborhood. Our oldest daughter attended Fulmore Middle School magnet and is now enrolled at LASA (liberal arts and science) high school. Our youngest is enrolled at Fulmore Middle School and is also in the magnet program. In the five decades I have been involved in Travis Heights i have seen many changes, some good, some not so good. I can remember Riverside Drive as a two lane road, and a South Congress Ave. where it was not recommended to be on after dark. A far cry from the South Congress we know today as the place to see and be seen. 78704 is “the hip zip,” and Travis Heights is the coolest place is the city to raise a family.

Artificial Moonlight in "The Hip Zip" 78704

In the wake of a series of horrific murders, the city of Austin purchased 31 enormous towers to light the city streets from on high. The 165 foot towers cast a glow "bright enough to read a watch by" in a 1,500 feet (460 meter) radius around each tower. Despite early concerns about plants growing out of control and animals never sleeping, the towers quickly became beloved symbols of the city and have defied the odds of the years with 17 of them lit nightly still to this day.
In 1884 the population of Austin was just about 23,000 people. Although other cities had begun the process of electrification, Austin remained lantern lit after dark. However this would change when over the next year, the city was shaken by a series of late night murders.
After the deaths of two women the killer was named the "Servant Girl Annihilator" by the local press, who covered the crime scenes in grisly detail. By Christmas 1885 there were five women dead, three others injured, and no viable suspects. All of those attacked had been black women, and blame in the press was pointed squarely within the Austin black community. On that night two more women were killed, nearly at the same time. Both were white women, at home with their husbands.
On Christmas Day a panicked citizen's meeting was held about the safety of their community. Police patrols were increased, and the installation of electric "Moonlight Towers," like some already in use in Detroit, was planned. Curiously, the murders stopped after that Christmas night.
The towers were purchased second-hand from Detroit and were not actually installed until 1894 long after the murders had stopped. They were first lit on May 3, 1895 in a gala celebration.
A major restoration of the towers was conducted in 1993 in time for their 100 year anniversary. The 17 remaining towers are now a Texas state landmark, and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. They are now also the last moonlight towers in the world.
Of the 17 remaining towers 2 of the originals and 1 replica are located in “The Hip Zip 78704." One is located in Stacey Park at Eastside Drive and Leland and the other is at South First and W. Monroe. The is replica located in Zilker Park and used each year as the center pole for the “World’s Biggest Artificial Christmas Tree.”