Editing Eastland, Texas (section)

==History==
The recession of 1921 exacerbated racial tensions between Anglos and Mexicans.  Naturally, unemployment increased in town and whites attempted to oust Mexicans who were hired during the [[World War I]] boom. Masked men ravaged shacks used by Mexicans as living quarters. Whites threatened Mexicans' lives, and fearful, they fled to nearby [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] to seek help from the Mexican Consulate, since local authorities took the side of the Anglo locals.<ref>''Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement'', p. 113</ref>

In 1928, the current courthouse was erected, the prior cornerstone was opened, and "[[Ol' Rip the Horned Toad|Old Rip]]" was allegedly found alive. The animal, a kind of [[lizard]], received national publicity. It died in 1929 of [[pneumonia]], and was placed in a glass-front casket on view in the present courthouse.<ref>"Eastland, Texas", ''2009 Texas State Travel Guide'', p. 121</ref>