Abilene: Preservation City

Starting on Rosetyme

2010-03-03T14:23:00.003-06:00

Here's a photo of the J.D. Magee home at 1910 North 3rd St as of this morning. The damaged portion of the roof has been removed and the rooms have all been cleaned up. We had to remove the rear section of the house because of structural concerns, but the rest of it is sturdy. The framers will start soon putting a new "plate" around the top of the house to which the roof framing will attach. We'll be putting some signs up before too long. Already the neighbors are excited about this stabilization... on its way to being a neighborhood anchor again.

A good landmark solution

2010-02-25T09:37:00.005-06:00

This week in Dallas, the former home of Stanley Marcus, the great retailer, received landmark status. That's not too remarkable in itself, considering its famous owner, its architect and how through the decades it was the site of parties for people like Grace Kelly, Eleanor Roosevelt and Lord Mountbatten.

But when the current owner first bought the house in the mid-1990s, he planned to tear it down and build (perhaps) a McMansion on the desirable lot. Through a lot of behind the scenes work and persuasion, preservationists in Dallas have turned the situation around. The owner is now in favor of the landmark status, which will allow him to make many of the changes he would like, while preserving the character of the home. Katherine Seale, director of Preservation Dallas, noted, "There's a great misunderstanding that historic status is so limiting that an owner can't make any changes to the house, and that's not true," she said. "We don't regard a historic house as an object in a museum." Congratulations to Katherine and the City of Dallas for their approach to this!

For the whole news story: click here
(photo by John F. Rhodes - Dallas Morning News)

Fair Park DVD video is available

2010-01-19T10:43:00.003-06:00

For those of you who have not yet seen the third in Jay Moore's series of videos about "unseen" Abilene history, the one titled Abilene's Fair Park is equal to any of this popular series. On a cold Friday, January 8th we had nearly 200 people in the Elks Arts Center Ballroom to watch the premiere of this video. Just another indication of the interest in local history that exists in Abilene!

The race track that was there (right), polo fields, the Municipal Auditorium where Elvis performed a week before his breakthrough performance in Shreveport, even Charlie the Chimp at the Abilene Zoo... they're all there! For our most current schedule of showings on Channel 7, click here.

And you may purchase copies of any of the DVDs in the series at the Preservation League offices, 1174 North First at Cedar. Prices are $10 for The Bankhead Highway, $15 for Who Is That Street and Fair Park of Abilene.

We welcome Burgess Thomas

2009-11-12T11:54:00.002-06:00

We're pleased to welcome a new staffer here at the Preservation League. Burgess C. Thomas, who sometimes goes by "Bird," is our new event coordinator and rental coordinator. Burgess has a background in the area of professional interior design, as well as environmental education and event planning. She'll be working with groups who rent the Elks Ballroom and Swenson House for events throughout the year, and also with our Board on planning our own fun events. With the Swenson House Centennial coming up, Burgess will be very involved in the planning for ways to celebrate that milestone. We're also getting ready to kick off the stabilization of the J.D. Magee home at 1910 North 3rd, and her project experience will be very helpful on that, too. Welcome!

--wdm

The Abilene Photo Collection is now Online!

2009-11-03T16:49:00.003-06:00

I spoke with friend Alice Specht, Head Librarian of the Richardson Library at Hardin-Simmons University this morning and she had a bit of news: the Abilene Library Consortium and its partners have finished the digitization of over 10,000 photographs in the Abilene Photo Collection. This is a terrific research tool for documenting and researching historic buildings in Abilene. To check it out, you can use this URL: http://rupert.alc.org/library/darc.html.

The beginnings of this collection date back to the 1981 Abilene Centennial, when as part of the celebration residents were encouraged to bring in family and commercial photos to be copied for archiving. Dr. B.W. Aston shepherded the collection in its early years. The Abilene Library Consortium received a grant to digitize the collection, along with some historic maps and other documents. Previously, you could search the indexes, but to see any of the images you would need to make a trip to the research center, but now the images are available for all to learn from and enjoy.

--wdm

A Neighborhood's Character Changes

2009-08-19T10:24:00.007-05:00

Built in 1931, the house at 1131 Elmwood is one of the smaller ones on the street, with two bedrooms. Owned since the 1970s by Mary Brasher, the handsome brick house features a front porch and anchors the corner of Sylvan where it begins with the intersection with Elmwood. But alas, there is always pressure for bigger and better in a beautiful upscale neighborhood. A permit for demolition was pulled yesterday (August 19th). Our information is that the homeowners to the immediate south of the house would like to add on to their two story home and extend their yard.

Thankfully, teardowns are not as frequent in our area as they are in places like Highland Park. And not all teardowns are bad. But in most cases, preservationists (and usually neighbors) agree that they change the character of a neighborhood in a way that is not desirable. To read more about the fight against teardowns, read Teardowns and McMansions from the National Trust.

Some protection could have been provided if the property had Historic Overlay Zoning, available in Abilene. Overlay zoning is best applied for by the owners of the property. The APL's initial discussions with the Brasher estate representatives gave us some hope that they would apply, but later the representatives did not respond to our phone calls, perhaps indicating that the persistence of the neighbors to the south had had been effective in acquiring the property.

Beautiful House Awards

2009-07-23T10:29:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-23T10:18:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-22T15:54:00.004-05:00

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.or g ($10 picked up; $11.60 mailed)

Up and Coming Neighborhoods

2009-06-23T11:30:00.006-05:00

We're fans of the This Old House. Their Web site recently featured "Best Places to Buy an Old House 2009," a really interesting tour of nearly every state, house prices there and why certain neighborhoods were up-and-coming, as in "why you should buy there now."

Here's what they had to say about a neighborhood in Montgomery, Alabama... read it with the thought, "this could happen here in Abilene!" Also note that the neighborhood was recently designated a historic district. We've got lots of great housing stock, all we need is more investment in housing close to the heart of the city. APL firmly believes it will be happening!

Capitol Heights, Montgomery, Alabama

In 1916 the Montgomery Advertiser called this new neighborhood, built on an old cotton plantation, "an ideal residential suburban section." And Capitol Heights has retained pretty much the same feel since. East of downtown Montgomery, it's a beautiful old streetcar suburb that's gaining favor among lawyers, teachers, architects, and maintenance workers who like the diverse, tight-knit community—and that it's five blocks from their jobs in downtown Montgomery.

The Houses:
The houses are extraordinary Deep South versions of the California-style Craftsman, with long, low-pitched eaves and roomy front porches. Some have upstairs sleeping porches that capture the cool night breezes. Many were built in the early to mid-1900s using concrete blocks made on-site. Home values range from $75,000 to $200,000.

Why Buy Now?
Capitol Heights was recently designated a historic district. Many residents believe the designation will help protect the neighborhood’s architectural integrity and boost property values. A neighborhood group is drawing potential buyers by sponsoring yearly home tours, during which the work of local artists is displayed and for sale.
Photo by Carole King
Here's the link to the whole article

The Swenson Gardens Allee being built

2009-06-11T15:37:00.003-05:00

These guys were working all day today, preparing the way for the new South Lawn promenade from North 17th Street. Abilene High Senior Matt McLeod and about a dozen friends prepared the ground, laid the surface of decomposed granite and planted 10 white crepe myrtles. It's making the grounds of the Swenson House look even better! Thanks, Matt, it was a great example of your organizational ability, and a great Eagle project!

Swenson House Benefits from Eagle Projects

2009-06-08T12:54:00.004-05:00

It's well known that being an Eagle Scout yields benefits for the rest of a young man's life... it is a proven resume item. It shows you have persevered and accomplished something ambitious, involving planning and organization skills. The Swenson House has benefited and continues to do so from some great Eagle Scout projects.

Thursday June 11 Matt McLeod will be laying the groundwork for his project, which is to create a allee, a French word that means a promenade, a walkway that is lined with trees or shrubs. This is going to run from the south end of the planned Grape Arbor to the sidewalk near North 17th Street. It will have a surface of decomposed granite and will be lined with white crepe myrtles. It's all part of the Preservation League's plan to further develop the south lawn of the Swenson House as an extended venue for events that can be held there at the Swenson House.

Two years ago Hudson Beard, another Scout who is now an Eagle, restored the original fish pond on the south lawn. The pond, about 20 inches deep, had been dried up for years. Bill Minter, executive director of the APL, estimated that it had not held water successfully since the 1940s, because the tin liner developed rust and cracks. Hudson planned and designed the project to include donated plants, a new pond liner and landscaping around the pond. Recently landscape lighting was added.

Shawn Butler is the third Scout to bring his energy and Eagle project helpers to improve the Swenson House grounds. Shawn plans to construct a pergola, an arbor-type wooden structure, near the southeast corner of the lot at North 17th and Swenson, and install some natural limestone benches near the pergola and fountain that are made out of rock gathered at the famous Swenson Ranches near Stamford.

Join us in congratulating these young men and thanking them for enhancing the historic Swenson House and contributing to its preservation.

Top Ten Preservation Opportunities 2009

2009-05-27T17:30:00.004-05:00

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

2009-05-21T15:29:00.006-05:00

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

2009-05-15T13:04:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-12T14:47:00.005-05:00

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

2009-05-12T12:13:00.000-05:00

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

2009-05-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

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!