Criswell Road (Criswell) is one of the highly forgotten roads of Austin, Texas with a unique yet abnormal history behind it. Not too much history has been documented or archived about this road. Criswell Road is both a “city road” and Travis County road. This news article will explain and explore the history behind Criswell Road. 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Mount Salem (Mount Salem Church) once owned a country road called Criswell Road (Criswell) in Northeast Austin in 1871. The church fronted that property and abuts Criswell Road and connects to Sprinkle Road. Criswell Road was a Travis County road prior to being annexed to the City of Austin. Yes, Criswell was an actual road that fully functioned at one point in time. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=69185)
Criswell Road lead up to the historic African American cemetery called Mount Salem Cemetery. Criswell Road used go all the way to the Mount Salem Cemetery. Access to Mount Salem Cemetery from Criswell Road was accessible for more than 50 years from 1872 to 1950. In the old days, if you crossed the bridge on Walnut Creek and go for about 1,000 feet, there's a gate. The use to go in that gate up to the cemetery. Prior to 1950, access to Methodist Episcopal Church of Mount Salem and Mount Salem Cemetery was accessed from Cameron Road at Walnut Creek. That access was no longer available in 1950 as Fred Morse did not want people traveling through his property and ruining his crops. Ultimately he put up a fence. So people started using Criswell Road to gain access to the cemetery and church. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=69218)
Methodist Episcopal Church of Mount Salem sold Criswell Road to the City of Austin and Fred Morse in 1986. They no longer own that road. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=69313)
A 18.331 acre tract of land situated in the James O. Rice Survey No. 31 in Travis County, Texas was conveyed to Continental Homes of Texas, LP in 2001. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/358731176/)
Tract One Being all of that certain called 21.733 acre tract of land situated in the James O. Rice Survey No. 31 in Travis County. Texas conveyed to the City of Austin in Document No. 2001218066 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas. Tract Two Being all of that certain called 1,03 acre tract of land situated in the James O. Rice Survey No. 31 in Travis County, Texas conveyed to the City of Austin in Document No, 2001218066 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas. Tract Three Being ail of that certain called 18.331 acre tract of land situated in the James O. Rice Survey No. 31 in Travis County, Texas conveyed to Continental Homes of Texas, LP. In Document No, 2001218067 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas.Tract Four Being that portion of Criswell Road containing approximately 1 acre of land situated in the James O. Rice Survey No. 31 In Travis County, Texas, bounded on the north by the southeasterly prolongation of the northeasterly line of the said 18.331 acre tract conveyed to Continental Homes of Texas, L.P. in Document No. 2001218067 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas and bounded on the south by a line crossing Criswell Road at a right angle to the northerly right-of-way. line of Criswell Road opposite the southeast corner of the said 1.03 acre tract of land conveyed to the City of Austin in Document No. 2001218066 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas.
"This document was prepared under 22 TAC 663.21, does not reflect the results of an on the ground survey, and is not to be used to convey or establish interests In real property except those rights and interests implied or established by the creation or reconfiguration of the boundary of the political subdivision for which it was prepared".
The City of Austin planned to pass an ordinance to annex the COA Walnut Creek Park Areas, that included approximately 437 acres in Travis County along Walnut Creek north of the intersection of Criswell and Sprinkle Road, was approved in August 29, 2002 after city council passed a resolution. Ordinance No. 020829-48 was approved on August 29, 2002. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=88791)
According to a 2003 news article from the Austin Monitor, developers ensured the public has access to Criswell Road and Mount Salem Cemetery. This included developers of the Pioneer Hill subdivision. (Ref: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2003/04/austin-travis-would-have-until-jan-1-to-reach-agreement/)
Developers of the Pioneer Hill subdivision planned to connect an extension to Criswell Road, which will also have access off the extension of Criswell Road to the cemetery in 2003. Criswell is going to be continued through the Pioneer Hill Project. It had gone to the Environmental Board. It has not yet come to this commission or approved by Council. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=69313)
The bottom portion of Criswell was annexed in 2005. The annexation area included approximately 42 acres of land including Criswell. Approximately 1,430 feet west of the intersection of Criswell and Sprinkle Road.(Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=67328)
Criswell Road was made a COA tract that year. Criswell Road was to be included in the 42-acre Pioneer Hill/COA Tract. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=68760)
A portion of Criswell Road is located in the Pioneer Hill subdivision. Yet interestingly enough both Criswell Roads do not connect to each other. Criswell Road is in the original portion of the PUD. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=68961)
Developers of the Pioneer Hill subdivision planned to connect an extension to Criswell Road, which will also have access off the extension of Criswell Road to the cemetery in 2006. However those plans have yet to come to fruition or be developed. Criswell Road still does not connect to each other. An extension to Criswell has not been completed yet. The road terminates before it gets to the cemetery and does not go all the way to the cemetery.
No comments:
Post a Comment