Phil LaBerge
How long have you lived in Coppell and what is one of your earliest or favorite memories?
I moved to Coppell in 1999 to take a job here. While I have only lived here a little over twenty years, my favorite memories are of meeting with and getting to know some of the members of the Coppell Historical Society who were born and raised here. Among those was Wheelice (Pete) Wilson, or late past president. I had the good fortune to work with him closely on creating our online photo archive and adding descriptions to each of the 1,500 photos that are in the collection.
Why is Coppell History important to you?
As Maya Angelou once said, "You don't know where you are going unless you know where you came from." Knowing about Coppell's past, the people who first settled here, and how the small community grew into a city of over 43,000 today helps place things in perspective. Our history is our shared identity and is something to be proud of.
Do you have a Coppell history story to share?
My wife and I recently drove 1,800 miles north to the town of Coppell, Ontario, Canada. Coppell, Texas was named after a wealthy banker in New York named George Coppell who invested in the railroad through our town in 1890. Twenty-four years later, the town of Coppell, Ontario was named after George's son Herbert who worked for his father's firm. The two towns had a population of about 600 up until the 1960s when Coppell, Texas skyrocketed with the building of DFW airport and Coppell, Ontario slid into decline as the railroad line was abandoned.
Why do you enjoy being a member of the Coppell Historical Society?
I enjoy meeting with all of my friends at the Coppell Historical Society who have the same common interest in preserving and protecting the history of our town and passing it on to the next generation.
I moved to Coppell in 1999 to take a job here. While I have only lived here a little over twenty years, my favorite memories are of meeting with and getting to know some of the members of the Coppell Historical Society who were born and raised here. Among those was Wheelice (Pete) Wilson, or late past president. I had the good fortune to work with him closely on creating our online photo archive and adding descriptions to each of the 1,500 photos that are in the collection.
Why is Coppell History important to you?
As Maya Angelou once said, "You don't know where you are going unless you know where you came from." Knowing about Coppell's past, the people who first settled here, and how the small community grew into a city of over 43,000 today helps place things in perspective. Our history is our shared identity and is something to be proud of.
Do you have a Coppell history story to share?
My wife and I recently drove 1,800 miles north to the town of Coppell, Ontario, Canada. Coppell, Texas was named after a wealthy banker in New York named George Coppell who invested in the railroad through our town in 1890. Twenty-four years later, the town of Coppell, Ontario was named after George's son Herbert who worked for his father's firm. The two towns had a population of about 600 up until the 1960s when Coppell, Texas skyrocketed with the building of DFW airport and Coppell, Ontario slid into decline as the railroad line was abandoned.
Why do you enjoy being a member of the Coppell Historical Society?
I enjoy meeting with all of my friends at the Coppell Historical Society who have the same common interest in preserving and protecting the history of our town and passing it on to the next generation.