In Recognition of the Land Donations to Baylor

In Recognition of the Land Donations to Baylor. With appreciation to the Klatte and Wolff families. , In 1927, Independence farmer Charles Klatte purchased the property on Windmill Hill which had served as campus grounds of Baylor University from 1850 to 1886. For the next 50 years, the Klatte family developed a farm, consisting of crop cultivation, raising cattle, and renting to tenant farmers., Esther Klatte later inherited the portion of land containing the Baylor male campus. She owned the site for more years than did any other owner. Under her stewardship, the buried walls of Tryon and Houston Halls remained preserved with little damage. In 1978, she graciously leased the Windmill Hill portion of her land to Baylor University to permit a four year archaeological study of the original permanent campus., In 1997, Esther Klatte left the land to Lillian Klatte, and in 1999 Lillian Klatte left the land to Herbert Klatte, Jr. and his sister Karen Kaye Klatte. They then gave the site of the major buildings to Baylor to be used as a historic park commemorating the Baylor location. The gift was made in memory of their aunts Esther Klatte and Lillian Klatte, and in honor of their father, Herbert Klatte, Sr. David and Mary Wolff gave Baylor an adjacent tract of land for the pavilion and to provide an entrance from the North side. David Wolff was very instrumental in accomplishing the historical park. , Baylor University recognizes this very special donation by the Klatte family and David and Mary Wolff. Baylor also recognizes the special care which Esther Klatte and Lillian Klatte exercised over the half century that they owned the campus site. It is in recognition of their loving care of this former campus that this historical park is dedicated.