A New Life for Historic Abilene High After a thorough look at the structure and examining all locations, the Abilene ISD Trustees proposed a re-use of the 1924 Abilene High School (Lincoln Middle School) campus as a new Career Technology Magnet School. New construction will be added, while the historic structure will be preserved in an adaptive re-use. A May 10, 2008 election was called for voters to approve bonds to finance its construction. We need your support for this essential program for Abilene's economic future. Read more... (Also sign up for our email newsletter at the left of this page)
Take a tour of this 86 year old recently renovated school in Dallas Similar to the Lincoln proposal (Proposition 2), Booker T. Washington school in Dallas, the first Black high school that recently reopened as a Magnet School includes significant new construction while preserving the historic building. Click on the photo at left to view a short video tour. More about the Lincoln proposal
Historic WTU Power and Ice Plant The industrial plant that "put Abilene on the map" as a town serious about growth and business is up for sale, and a public discussion of ideas for its reuse is beginning. Here's the article from the Abilene Reporter-News site. Have a comment for us or an idea for the plant? Click to let us know.

Dinner at a Good Friend's Table is May 16th
Each year one of the most fun Preservation League events is held in May when members and guests have dinner at the Swenson House, "Dinner at a Good Friend's Table." Each table is decorated with the table host's dinnerware and imaginative decorations. Always a fun party, we'd love to have you attend! Click here for more information about the dinner.

Nominate a property that's endangered
If you've been looking at a building that you believe is worth saving but is threatened, let us know about it! The first annual Abilene Best Preservation Opportunities List will be announced in May, 2008. To nominate a property, email us.

Is Vinyl Siding really all that great?
With all the marketing, you need an objective view of the plusses and minuses of putting vinyl siding on your house. Here's a link to a good article that goes into detail about the issue and has a good list of further resources. (Click on the Related Links link at the bottom for the PDF file.)

Historic Districts: around Texas
In San Antonio, "nearly all real estate professionals agree historic neighborhoods look better over time in comparison to nearby subdivisions that don't have historic designation," says Virginia Nicholas, board president of the San Antonio Conservation Society.
Download PDF file of article

Thank you for helping make the first Heritage Stewardship Awards Luncheon a success!
The Abilene Preservation League held its first Heritage Stewardship Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 25, 2007 with about 470 in attendance. On the occasion of the APL’s thirtieth anniversary the organization honored the Dodge Jones Foundation with the Heritage StewardshipAward, the highest accolade in local historic preservation. Keynote speaker was Mr. Peter Brink, Vice President of Programs for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and founding director of the Galveston Historical Foundation.

• View the Video Tribute to the Dodge Jones Foundation at the Reporter-News Web Site
• Photos from the luncheon and Thank you to Underwriters and Table Sponsors