Hutto looks to its past to name streets of the future

By JEFF CASPERSEN/Leader Staff

Stick around Hutto long enough and you just might get a street named after you. No joke.

Developers and city officials have linked in a collaborative effort to color the municipality with a little historical flavor.

Mayor Mike Fowler birthed the idea, receiving a little aid from local historian Sue Holmstrom, who furnished a list of prominent community figures' names for future use as a population-swelling influx of residential growth hits town.

A Hutto native, Holmstrom is a logical candidate to compile such a list.

"My father died when he was 91 and he was born and grew up here, and I grew up here and have lived here for 70 years," she said. "I've heard all about these people from him, so I knew them all."

Much of Holmstrom's work can already be seen, most prominently in the city's "Legends of Hutto" subdivision, where Hutto's notable habitants' place in local history is recognized with street signs featuring their surnames. A Lennar Homes development, virtually all of its streets adopted titles of local significance.

"It's important to remember where the city originally came from," Fowler said. "We're just trying to show tribute to all these people."

Local developer and landowner John Lloyd, whose property is home to northside subdivisions such as Hutto Exchange and Hutto Square, has been overwhelmingly receptive to the historical push.

"It's always tough just to come up with street names," noted Lloyd, whose subdivision ventures have begun sprouting historical street names. "This certainly makes our job a heck of a lot easier, and it's always nice to use street names that tie into the community."

Lloyd, who grew up in a small town himself, harbors a heightened sense of respect and admiration for Hutto.

"I really like the area. I come from a town that is not too dissimilar from Hutto, so it's easy for me to appreciate it."

All potential names have to be passed through Williamson County Emergency Medical Services to prevent name duplications.

Much of old town Hutto is already graced with historical street names. There's Orgain Street, named for the freed slave who first settled in Hutto. You'll also find Metcalfe Street, titled in honor of the town's postmaster back in the late 1800s -- and naturally there's a Hutto Street, named for the man who founded the town.

From A to Z -- Almquist, Blackman, Carrington, Gainer, Hanstrom, Phillips, Whitfield -- chances are you're familiar with a family surname recognized or that will be recognized by a street sign.

Contact Jeff Caspersen at 255-5827 or by e-mail at jeff@rrleader.com.