It was a historic day in Arlington on September 27, 2023, as two intertwined occasions were celebrated. First, the Arlington Texas & Pacific Depot and Platform were honored with a Texas Historical Marker, and second, there was a Recommitment Signing Ceremony between Arlington and our Sister City, Bad Königshofen, Germany.
Historical Marker Dedication and Recommitment Ceremony
More than 125 people attended the ceremony in Downtown Arlington. The ceremony occurred near the remnants of the downtown train platform, adjacent to the railroad tracks, a location of historic significance in Arlington. Local attendees included Tarrant County elected officials, City Council members, members of the Sister Cities of Arlington Texas organization, City of Arlington employees, members of the Arlington Historical Society and Landmark Preservation Commission, proud citizens, and other special guests. The Arlington High School Alumni Band played music beforehand and performed the National Anthems of the U.S. and Germany. Attendees from Bad Königshofen numbered about 25 people, including Mayor Thomas Helbling and other delegates, friends, and members of the Bad Königshofen Fire Department, Police Department, and Soccer Club.
Texas Historical Marker—Arlington Texas & Pacific Depot and Platform
After remarks from a few special guests, it was time to unveil Arlington’s newest Texas Historical Marker, which honored the Arlington Texas & Pacific Depot and Platform. Arlington was founded along the railroad tracks, with the first train coming through the area in July 1876. The area began to grow, with people from nearby settlements moving closer to the railroad tracks. The train depot became and continued to be a community hub, affecting the social and economic fabric of the town. The depot and platform have been the site of many important moments in Arlington’s history, including our Sister City relationship with Bad Königshofen. After the unveiling of the new historical marker, which also included two additional informative plaques, the program segued into the Sister Cities Recommitment Signing Ceremony.
Sister Cites—Arlington, Texas and Bad Königshofen, Germany
Although the Arlington and Bad Königshofen relationship began in 1951, President Eisenhower didn’t develop the Sister Cities International organization until 1956. While our decades-long friendship has been a fruitful and mutually beneficial exchange of culture and international relations, it hasn’t had an official document signed until now. To celebrate the 72nd anniversary, the recommitment ceremony included an official proclamation and signing by both mayors. The signatures, performed with pens, symbolized the pen-pal relationship from which the friendship began. The celebration included speeches in English and German, gifts were exchanged, and stories were shared, all while reminiscing fondly about the past and looking with optimism toward the future. “We’re all better together,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. B.K. Mayor Thomas Helbling added, “It’s a great honor for our delegation to be here.” The continuing theme of “Friendship – Solid as a Rock” was evident, and the relationship continues to grow.
Photos (from left to right):
- Smaller Recommitment documents presented to guests
- Bad Königshofen Mayor Thomas Helbling addresses the crowd
- Arlington Mayor Jim Ross addresses the crowd
- Mayors Helbling and Ross pose with the Recommitment documents
- Members of the Bad Königshofen Fire Department pose with the Texas Historical Marker
- Arlington City Council Members with Mayors Helbling and Ross
More about the Sister Cities Relationship
The Arlington and Bad Königshofen friendship is one of the longest-running Sister Cities relationships in the world. What started as a meeting between two pen-pals in 1951 turned into the people of Arlington sending multiple shipments of aid to Königshofen—a small town near the border between East and West Germany, which had become overwhelmed by refugees. Arlington citizens gathered at the aforementioned train platform, where the shipments were sent to Germany. It began with people helping people and the two cities forming a friendship, and later a relationship, as Sister Cities.
The relationship has been nurtured through formal and informal visits between the two cities. Notably, in 1988, a large delegation from Bad Königshofen visited Arlington and attended the dedication of the Bad Königshofen Recreation Area in Arlington’s Stovall Park. Soon after, Mayor Richard Greene, who spoke at the Recommitment Signing Ceremony, reciprocated the visit and led a delegation to Bad Königshofen, becoming the first Arlington Mayor to visit the German town. Visits between the cities have been more frequent since then, especially with the 60th and 65th anniversaries being celebrated. The 70th anniversary was in 2021, yet visits and celebrations were disrupted due to COVID-19. The recent visit certainly made up for lost time.
Many people speak with fond memories of the relationship, and indeed, it’s a topic of personal interest to me. The ceremony was a special way to promote and preserve the friendship. May it last another 72 years.
Blog post and photos by Jason S. Sullivan, 09-30-23
A portion of this blog post appeared in the Arlington Historical Society’s September 2023 Newsletter and on the Fielder Museum Facebook page.
Jason S. Sullivan 