Top Ten Preservation Opportunities 2009

Last year's list was easy. There were opportunities crying out all over the place. But this year it's not so obvious, although there are plenty of properties that need rehabilitating everywhere. It's somewhat complicated by the fact that we don't usually put a property on the list that was on the previous year's list. So at last night's APL membership meeting I asked members present to help us out by nominating properties to the list. We came up with a pretty good one. It's not ready for publication yet (we have to do some more research), but I think it's another good one.

Do you have a building that you would like to nominate? Just email us and we'll consider it.

Nominated APL Trustees

The Preservation League is pleased to announce its nominees for members of the Board of Trustees. These trustees when elected will take office on June 1st. They will be presented as nominees of the Board Development Committee at the Annual Membership Meeting, Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Elks Arts Center Ballroom.

Term through May 31, 2010:
Debbie Blake
Carrie Blaschke
Vance Cooksey
Sidney Levesque
Ray Maddox
Janet Payne
Diane Keeble
Sue Stubbeman
Lydia Long
Marty Puls

Term through May 31, 2011:
Cade Browning
Robert Calk
Kathy Morehead
L. Glynn Ray
Hubert Welch
Marianne Wood
Hester Woods

Term through May 31, 2012:
Randy Couch
Emily Morgan
Luke McMillan
Connie Peavey
William King
Cindy Haley
John Stevens
Becky Weatherby
Gary Thompson
Barbara Richert

Members, come join us next Tuesday for fellowship and a report on activities in 2008-09. It's been a good year!
We are always looking for talented people to be on committees and our board... If you have a suggestion for us, please email us.

Membership: such a deal

The APL is a membership organization, and we appreciate the support of all our members so much. It allows us to continue the work of historic preservation in Abilene. I want to let you know about a couple of new benefits we have added to becoming a member of the Preservation League:

First is that if you become a member online at our Web site, you will receive a free membership in the National Trust for Historic Preservation for a year. Along with that comes their award winning magazine six times per year, Preservation. You'll be up to date on all the regional and national issues and practices in historic preservation, all at no extra cost! So we invite you to renew or purchase your membership online, so you can take advantage of that. Just click to go to our membership page and on the next one, choose the membership category you would like.

The other benefit is that if you join at the $100 level, you will receive contractor pricing from HBC Paints in Abilene on all Benjamin Moore paint. Benjamin Moore makes some of the best paint, and is a favorite of many preservation experts. If you're already a member, thank you so much, and you can take advantage of the National Trust membership when you renew!

Inside 258 Pine St

You may have seen the feature on our home page about the new Storefront Histories program that helps downtown buildings look better while they're vacant. At the Optical Clinic-Hall Music Building at 258 Pine, we got some great shots of the interior... which is basically untouched from the 1920s. That's right, behind all the wallboard that's in the front of the building, is original woodwork and pressed tin ceilings from the '20s. These photos are of the built-in safe with "Hall Music Company" in gold leaf lettering. For more info on the Storefront Histories program, email us.

Membership Meeting set for May 26

The Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Elks Arts Center Ballroom. Come for an update on current activities such as the Swenson House improvements, the Magee House (Rosetyme) at 1910 North Third, and the Heritage Stewardship Awards.

Welcome to the APL blog

We're glad to introduce the newest part of our Web site, Preservation City. That's what we'd like to think Abilene has become... since we're known all over the state and nation as a city that values its historical properties. We invite you to become a part of the Abilene Preservation League through membership, volunteering and otherwise getting involved!