Beautiful House Awards

We started off the summer with two new Beautiful House award winners. The first, suggested by APL Trustee Hester Woods, was the Norma and Carlos Santiago house at 603 Washington Street. The Santiagos moved here a couple of years ago from Oklahoma and fell in love with the spacious house, which is just off Treadaway Blvd. After much renovation, the house has a great feel inside and out. Pictured at right are Hester Woods, Norma Santiago and APL President Diane Keeble.

The July Beautiful House is owned by Misty and Hank Lawson, and is at 1518 North 17th St. The Lawsons moved from the Elmwood area about a year ago and renovated the home, which is filled with their collection of antiques. Janet Payne, chair of APL's Community Development Committee, nominated the Lawsons' House. Look for more Beautiful Houses coming up. The award will be given each month of the year, and in the spring, we'll ask the public to select their favorite one of the 12 nominees.

The Beautiful House award is intended to recognize homeowners who have done a great job of maintaining, improving and otherwise preserving an older home.

Good News for 702 Meander

One of our members reports a new owner for the 1927 Dunagin-Norcross house at 702 Meander. This house was on the 2008 Top Ten Preservation Opportunities for Abilene and was highly endangered because of a condemnation and possible demolition by the city. The new owners are in the air conditioning-heating business and intend to improve the property. They are intererested in historic overlay zoning, which will allow them to recapture some of their expense of rehabilitation. This photo taken this morning shows the contractors measuring for the first order of business, a new roof. Combined with its across-the-alley neighbor, 701 Amarillo, the house is one of the important anchors on South 7th for the historic Amarillo and Meander neighborhood. Thanks to the neighbors who have stayed in touch with what's going on with this house.

Abilene History... in Plain Sight

We're please to be co-presenters of a video work by Jay Moore... available on DVD and also cablecast on AISD TV Abilene Suddenlink Channel 7...

Episode 1:
The Bankhead Highway
Upcoming Showings:
Sunday, July 26th at 8:00 pm CDT
Tuesday, July 28th at 7:00 pm CDT
Saturday, August 1 at 8:00 pm CDT

This video traces the route and history of what became US Highway 80 and laterInterstate 20... one of the great American cross-country highways, and an important contributor to Abilene's development. Surprising insights about how the highway came to be are uncovered by Abilene historian Jay Moore, who wrote and directed the series. Shot and edited by Rob Westman.

History In Plain Sight series is presented with the support of a grant from the Dian Graves Owen Foundation of Abilene. The Abilene Preservation League proudly serves as fiscal sponsor of the series.

Don't miss it!
DVD copies available by contacting Jay Moore at jay.moore@abileneisd.org or the APL at info@abilenepreservation.org ($10 picked up; $11.60 mailed)