A Walk Down Centennial Lane: Waco Celebrates 100 Years of TxDOT

During the second week of April, Waco's TxDOT campus enjoyed the company of employees, retirees, friends and neighbors for the agency's 100th anniversary celebration.  

Historical artifacts, antique equipment, schematics, photographs and many memories were displayed throughout the district administration building for fellow Texans to enjoy. A restored 1918 Liberty Truck from TxDOT's early years was also on display as part of a tour throughout TxDOT's 25 districts statewide. | See last month's story on the Liberty Truck reconstruction

All in attendance contributed conversation, experiences and stories of their time or experiences with TxDOT. "It's great," retired District Shop Superintendent Dale Sanders (1957–1963) said of the displays. "Some of the stuff you can recognize is really great."

Keeping tools in working condition was tough in the days when trees were trimmed with cross-cut saws our guys had to sharpen themselves!

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As TxDOT maintenance crew members retired, their names and years of service were added to the department's saw blade.

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Highway plans used to be made with special pens, rulers and slide rules, and LOTS of paper! (We still use lots of paper, but the other tools have been replaced by computer programs.)

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Old-style equipment and signals for traffic control in work zones and sometimes-narrow roads.

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Examples of old survey equipment, tools and signs for the crews that surveyed property lines and new right of way.

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