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Heritage Stewardship Awards
Thank you for a totally awesome event honoring Donna Albus!
May 3, 2013 Luncheon
Hunter Welcome Center, Abilene Christian University

With Appreciation to Our Sponsors:
Dodge Jones Foundation • Dian Graves Owen Foundation
Shelton Family Foundation • Glen D. Hall, D.D.S.
Barber Foundation
Mike Dunnahoo’s Star Family of Dealerships
Abilene Convention & Visitors' Bureau • Abilene Cultural Affairs
Becky and Jack Rentz
Bandera Drilling • David and Sindy Durham
Billye and Glynn Ray / Sharon & Tom Riley
Pine Street Salvage
Peggy and Bob Beckham, Carpenter Interiors Inc.
Lou and Robert Briley, Jill and Ralph Heaven
SignTex, Condley and Company
The Vineyards of Communion Hill, Lawrence Hall Abilene
Jerry Love CPA, LLC, Jeff Luther Construction, Maggy Morford
Priceless Literacy/Kay Price-Hawkins, First Financial Bank
Stephenville Cattle Company, Jim Tittle
Wicker-Parker Agency

Turning an 1892 building into a showplace Library
On June 22 Mr. Gene Nelson, Director of the Provo City Library at Academy Square, presented the story of how Provo, Utah took a beloved old school building and turned it into a new Central Library that has become a highly successful center of activity and learning in the city. Watch the video (about 60 minutes). And then go to our Facebook page and "like" us if you have not already done so. www.facebook.com/aplevents

Consider the Swenson for your wedding or event...

Membeship in the Abilene Preservation League
It pays dividends!
As a non-profit organization, membership is very important to the Abilene Preservation League. We don't always stress it enough, but our members are the core of our support. In the case of saving a building or home, in the case of advocacy for an issue involving preservation policy affecting the city of Abilene, or in the case of providing advice to a homeowner about the best way to care for their historic home, it is our membership that sustains us from year to year.

The best deal for our members is to take advantage of the two-for-one offer: If you become a member online, you'll receive a free one year membership in the National Trust for Historic Preservation. You'll receive six issues of their great magazine, Preservation. Those who have these dual memberships report that they feel more connected to the national preservation movement. To learn more about membership in the Abilene Preservation League, click here.

Shots from the In-town bike ride touring Historic Abilene

The kids are getting ready! Bike Patrol Officer Mike and Officer Alphabet get ready to escort the bike tourists around the greater downtown area.	Stopping at the J.D. Magee home (Rosetyme) for a top to bottom tour. The tour was part of Big Day Downtown, April 9th.

New: visit our Lincoln - AHS timeline

On our Facebook page there are photos of our most recent visit to Lincoln. Also a gallery here, so you'll know what behind the doors if you didn't go to school there. There is now an informative Save Lincoln Facebook page and @saveLincoln ( Twitter). Sign up for both!

We've put together a list of the leading new uses for the campus as a conversation starter. It is available here. After reading it, we'd like to have your opinion, please email us.

New DVD on Camp Barkeley

Tomorrow's economics of Preservation
Noted economist Donovan D. Rypkema has written a thought provoking piece for the National Trust's Forum. He identifies twenty trends, from more of an emphasis on neighborhood schools to the misuse of historic overlay zoning, that will impact the future of communities, neighborhoods and real estate development. To view, click here.

Nominate your favorite Beautiful Houses for 2013
You can nominate a home to be one of the Beautiful House finalists. Just request a form by emailing us at this address, and take a digital photo. They'll be recognized next May at our Heritage Stewardship Awards.

Storefront Histories Project kicked off Before After 1920 view The front of the Hall Music-Optical Clinic building at 258 Pine St. has a new look from APL, the Abilene Downtown Association and Browning Eyssen & Logan, P.C. A photo mural was placed in the front window showing the interior of Hall Music Company in 1920, deteriorated plywood was covered and painted and informational graphics were placed in the window panels. We've just posted photos of the interior tour... click here to see them in your browser. If you have a building and would like to participate in the next Storefront Histories project, we'd like to hear from you, please email us

Take a tour of this 86 year old recently renovated school in Dallas Old Schools make Great New Schools. Booker T. Washington school in Dallas, the first Black high school, recently reopened as a Magnet School. The project includes significant new construction while preserving the historic building. Click on the photo at left to view a short video tour.
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. Here's an in-depth photo tour of the power plant.

Story of an Austin Home's Journey Toward Renewal
A home in Austin that had fallen on hard times gets a redo. Like many historic projects, not everyone agrees about every aspect of the restoration, but the home is saved. From the Austin American Statesman.

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

An old neighborhood's new momentum is building
A historic neighborhood district in McKinney has been drawing newcomers to the city, increasing the tax base and attracting young people. Check out the article in the Dallas Morning News about the success McKinney's historic district has generated.
Download PDF file of article 

And Finally...(!)
University of Utah researchers found that people who live in older, more walkable neighborhoods are at lower risk for overweight and obesity. Newer neighborhoods, which are mostly designed for automobiles, are more likely to have residents who have a little trouble meeting their exercise goals, according to the study.