The City of Pattison is holding its 50^th birthday Saturday, but to hear Mayor Joe Garcia tell it, the community’s history goes back centuries.

The celebration is from 2-6 p.m. Saturday at the Pattison House, 3602 North St. in Pattison. The Brookwood Handbell Choir will perform the national anthem and Santa Claus will also make an appearance.

In addition to visits with Santa, kids’ activities include facepainting and stick horseracing.

A hall of history will discuss the community’s German heritage. It will also feature local family history displays and a history of Pattison’s incorporation. Longtime local residents will lead campfire talks, where they will share their memories.

A barbecue meal will be served at 4 p.m. and partygoers are asked to bring desserts.

Garcia said the area where the city of Pattison now sits has a history that goes back to the 1820s. Texas was part of Spain then. Texas became part of Mexico when Mexico won its independence from Spain.

Stephen F. Austin, today remembered as the Father of Texas for bringing American settlers to the area during that time, created the San Felipe community about nine miles to the west.

Most Texans know the rest of the state’s story, from the 1836 Texas Revolution to being a part of the United States today. But Pattison enjoyed prosperity thanks to having a railroad.

According to the city website, the Pattison community was established in 1877. That year, the family of James Tarrant Pattison, for whom the community is named, granted the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railroad a path through their property. The Pattison family also donated land for the townsite.

James Tarrant Pattison’s own involvement with the area began years earlier, when in 1839, he built a plantation on a hill in the area.

The railroad closed its Pattison operation in 1899. At one time, Garcia said, Pattison was the second largest community in Waller County.

“We were platted before Brookshire,” Garcia said. “Much of Brookshire was built by folks from Pattison. We once had several cotton gins and a number of stores.”

Garcia said Pattison voters on Nov. 16, 1972, voted to incorporate. In January 1973, he said, Pattison voters elected their first council members and marshal. Allen Taylor was the city’s first mayor, serving from 1972-1985. Garcia was been mayor since 2016.

“We want to remember what happened 50 years ago,” Garcia said. “We’re glad to be where we are today. I hope we can preserve some of our community and the rustic, rural way that we enjoy now.”

Today, Garcia said, Pattison has a population of about 600. He and his neighbors know that Pattison, Brookshire, and their immediate area is growing exponentially, with new businesses and housing developments coming west from the Katy area.

Still, it’s good to celebrate the community with both new and long-time residents.

“We hope we can preserve the history of our community,” Garcia said. “Our goal is to make sure at least some of the newer residents in our community have an opportunity to learn about the history of the community.”