Just after World War II, Lytle had a live-wire Chamber of
Commerce with Dr. W.H. Joyce as President. They had a May Day
celebration, Miss Lytle contest, and raised enough money together
with property owner participation to pave the streets of Lytle.
They made plans and called an election for a water system and sewer
system for the town, but were defeated at the polls. This defeat
took the steam out of and killed that Chamber of Commerce.
A year or two later, another group took up the battle to get Lytle
on the move. This group, headed by W.C. Loessberg, gathered some
volunteers and did a sales pitch before the election and
successfully got the City of Lytle incorporated by an election on
October 27, 1951. The vote was 88 for and 75 against incorporation.
On January 12, 1952, a special election was held electing C.H.
Eastman as Mayor, and C.W. Williamson, Van E. McDonald, V.W. Martin
and W.C. Loessberg, as aldermen. H.W. Whitney was elected City
Marshal. The Lytle Chamber of Commerce loaned the city $200.00 to
finance the original expenses of getting started.
The first taxes were levied in 1953 for a total of $1,843.72 and
were based on the school valuations within the city limits at $.50
per $100.00. The first tax collector was B.L. Riley. Mike Habarka
was the first Fire Marshal and Myron Lamparty was the first Chief
of Police.
Sometime in late 1954 or early 1955, Mayor C.H. Eastman and
aldermen V.W. Martin, Van E. McDonald, George R. Meyer, W.C.
Loessberg and John Lott, met five nights a week for six weeks from
7:00 p.m. to midnight, meeting valuations on all property in the
City and holding equalization board meetings. Mr V.W. Martin
surveyed the city limits. Volunteers were then called upon to
canvass the City, to sign people up for City water service, and to
sell them on a bond election. The bond election was held May 28,
1955, and the vote was 86 for and 58 against. The Edwards well was
drilled first, and after an adequate water supply was assured, the
contract was let for the rest of the water system.
Mr. W.C. Loessberg acted as City Secretary until May 1, 1956, when
Mr. and Mrs Ollie Courtney were hired as Water Superintendent and
City Secretary.
The Lytle Volunteer Fire Department was started in 1955 by Dr. W.H.
Joyce, its first President.
The same successful groundwork used in getting the City
incorporated and selling the people on a bond election for a water
system was used in obtaining the gas system in 1960 and the sewer
system in 1961, and the town has been growing ever since. More
streets were paved in 1971, and old streets repaved in the fall of
1973. The garbage service started operating in October of 1974, and
the ambulance in May of 1974.
Today Lytle is a growing, throbbing, aggressive city of fine
dedicated people. When you turn on the water faucet, light the
heater, take a shower, or call for an ambulance or the fire
department, just remember that a tremendous amount of volunteer
work was done by a lot of people to get these conveniences and
services for you. A lot of work remains to be done, and it is being
done by civic minded volunteers for the good of their fellowmen and
posterity.
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