One of the ideas we’ve been throwing around is to honor Wallis’ long history with the railroads by using a railroad theme for revitalizing the buildings on Commerce Street. If we have to endure the train whistles at all hours, we may as well embrace that part of Wallis’ past.

Murals came to mind and there were some on the buildings already. But they are long ago faded. We would like to recreate those where possible. We are envisioning maybe traintype murals on the sides of the buildings on 2nd Street. Or all across the top of the row of buildings. And we’ve talked about using railroad-style lighting and railings for any future improvements.

There are some historic photos of Wallis showing the intersection of three railroads merging in town, it must have been something back in the day. The photos are from an article on Texas Railroad History and are from the early 1920s. The crossing in Wallis was for the Gulf, Colorado, Santa Fe Railway and the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway.

The so-called railroad switching house is sitting on a lot on FM 1093 and is also a consideration to incorporate into a preservation plan. Mainly to not lose that last piece of Wallis’ history. It is still in decent enough condition to warrant saving.

Some want Wallis to not grow and some realize it’s going to whether we want it to or not. Some welcome the growth to have our tax dollars grow and circulate locally for the betterment of the citizens.

We would like to revitalize and reenergize the Commerce Street buildings to save that part of Wallis’ history and have a fresh new “old” look. It would be advantageous for Wallis to create a historic district for those buildings.

If anyone has any other ideas as far as a “theme” for Wallis please share your suggestions at wallisedc@wallistexas.org.