Round Rock has paid tribute to its history by naming Samuel E. Loving, its first City Marshal, and the diverse Flats Neighborhood as its latest Local Legends. The Historic Preservation Commission bestowed the recognitions at the recent City Council meeting, an honor meant to remember individuals and communities integral to Round Rock's identity and growth.
Loving, who lived from 1868 to 1953, served as the City Marshal after Round Rock's reincorporation in 1912, experiencing a youth that could prime any man for law enforcement. He was present during an 1878 gunfight involving the Sam Bass gang and even lost a modest sum during a 1893 train robbery. The Marshal's term was largely peaceful, despite the challenges of a town on the rise – from solving burglaries to introducing streetlights and a 12 mph speed limit in Round Rock. "Loving was shown in the 1920 Census as being employed as an oil well foreman in Stephens County," according to a statement from the city's website. Loving's various contributions have imprinted on the city's cultural and practical landscape.
The Flats Neighborhood, historically a mixed-ethnicity community known for its close ties and resourcefulness, also earned the title of Local Legend. Its origin as the first subdivision in New Round Rock was noted, with streets and lots laid out around the new train depot established on land sold to the railroad by Washington Anderson. Over the years, it housed a significant cotton yard, became the site for St. Paul’s AME church after its relocation, and was the backdrop for countless stories of community resilience. One such test of community strength occurred in 2010 when residents faced flooding but rallied together with assistance that included food distribution and debris clean-up.
Today, as Round Rock continues evolving, the Flats stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the city, marking the contributions of generations of families to the social fabric of today’s community. With a history of such inclusive and remarkable undercurrents, Round Rock's Local Legends program ensures that the stories of Marshal Loving and the Flats are not just remembered but cemented within the collective consciousness of the city.
