Al Hayne and the Texas Spring Palace

The Texas Spring Palace was built in 1889 to showcase Texas and help bring investment to the region.  During its second year, the building caught fire and burned to the ground.  An Englishman named Al Hayne safely escaped the blaze but returned to the building to help  women and children from the inferno.  He died the following day of burns he received.

This monument was created in his honor and the city park where it sits is named in his honor.  There have been several attempts to restore the monument.  During the most recent restoration, I talked to the crew.  An attempt by a women's club  in the  1960's, has done much to destroy the stone.  The ladies came with the intention of "cleaning" the monument so they were armed with brushes and  home cleaning solvents.  Sometimes the best laid plans go astray.