Historic Marker Noting Where, and Why, Dallas Became a Big City Has Been Stolen

Few noticed its disappearance, because, perhaps, few knew of its existence.Exactly one decade ago, the Texas Historical Commission marked the spot where, in the early 1870s, "the city of Dallas secured its role as the economic, communication and transportation center of North Texas," per the official plaque planted, until days ago, on the outskirts of the city's center. The location hides in plain sight downtown -- on the south side of Pacific Avenue, beneath the Interstate 345 overpass that links North Central Expressway with Interstates 30 and 45.There, shortly after the end of the Civil War, the Houston & Texas Central and Texas & Pacific railroad lines intersected -- the former coming from the south; the latter, from the east. And there, a forever ago, stood the train depot that now exists only in a 110-year-old photograph stored at the downtown library.  Continue reading...