March 18, 2004
Colleyville could be in jeopardy
of losing historical barn
The log barn was built
over 100 years ago. While the construction techniques are
crude by today's standard, the structure still stands.
With the property about to change hands from a pioneer family to
a developer, now rumors are flying that the Grapevine Historical
Society is interested in moving yet another historical structure
from Colleyville to Grapevine. Click on
barn photos to enlarge
Tony Tirk was an early settler in
the Colleyville area where he farmed 165 acres bordered by John
McCain, Pleasant Run and the Cottonbelt railroad. He
divided his land between his three children; Joe Tirk, Frances
Tirk Matthews and Lydia Tirk Alholm in 1963.
 |
Lydia was teaching in
Ogden, Utah when she received word that her husband Roy
was being transferred back to Texas. On December 22,
1964 the Alholm new home was completed in Colleyville on
fifty acres. Twenty-five acres were later sold off
to private parties.
Lydia Alholm is seen on left at the June 2001 Pleasant Run School
reunion. |
In an interview with Lydia Alholm
she stated that the log barn was offered to the City of
Colleyville over one year ago, however the city never responded
with definitive plans. As a result, when Lydia decided to
sell the property to developer John Fagan she asked Fagan if he
wanted the barn. Fagan indicated that he wanted the barn
but did not specify his exact plans, according to Alholm.
Fagan has received favorable reviews to date on his R-20
residential project planned on Joe Tirk's property. It
will be necessary for Fagan to also obtain zoning on the Roy and
Lydia Alholm property. It is expected that the Colleyville
Historical Preservation Committee will make a strong plea to
city council to obtain a commitment from Fagan to donate the
barn to the city for relocation or, if the barn remains on the
same site, to ensure the city that the barn will be in a park
opened to the public.
|
Joe Tirk and John Fagan at
the February P&Z meeting.
|
|
Today the barn sits on a
tree lined hill next to a large pond with cattle grazing
peacefully around the barn. However, in the near future,
the same property is expected to be the home of numerous
homes and the barn's fate is a matter of major concern
for Colleyville historians.
|
|
