Preservation group looking for historic sites

AUSTIN – Preservation Texas has issued a call for nominations for its 2010 list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places and is asking Panhandle residents to help identify threatened historic resources by submitting nominations.

Since the program was initiated in 2003, the list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places has played a vital role in preserving the rich character, identity and heritage of our communities. A wide range of sites will be considered, from commercial, residential, public and religious buildings, to neighborhoods, bridges, monuments, and landscapes. The deadline for nominations is October 9, 2009.

“From historic schools, missions and courthouses to inner city neighborhoods and Main Street designated communities, Texas is a state with enormous diversity and significant historic resources,” said Libby Buuck, president of Preservation Texas, Inc., a statewide partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“Each year more and more of the state’s historic properties fall victim to commercial development, neglect or suburban sprawl. Texas’ Most Endangered Historic
Places focuses attention on worthy sites, encourages appreciation of them, and helps local communities generate support for them.”

Texas dance halls, named one of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places in 2008, are an example of how inclusion on the list helps sites.

“We got a lot of momentum from being on the endangered places list and it really helped us,” said Patrick Sparks, president of Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc.

Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. recently provided technical assistance for the successful restoration of Sengelmann Hall in Schulenburg (www.sengelmannhall.com). The organization is currently working to on an assessment program for three historic halls, funded in part by the National Trust. These halls are Park Dance Hall in Park, Texas, Fayette County, built in 1905; Nada Hall, in Nada, Texas, Colorado County, built circa 1920; and Turner Hall in Schulenburg, built in 1886.

Through the Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places program, selected sites receive technical assistance to determine how to best preserve the structure from architects, engineers and other preservation professionals; assistance with fund raising strategies, including grants and tax incentives, and information on restoration and revitalization techniques used successfully at other sites. For example, in Taylor, Preservation Texas provided advice on preservation planning and connected the Blackshear/O.L. Price Ex-Student Association, the stewards of the Dr. James L. Dickey House, with an architectural history consulting firm to provide the research information needed to begin the rehabilitation process.

Some of the sites in the Panhandle recognized in previous years include Mallet Ranch Headquarters Court in Hockley County; Bob’s Oil Well in Motley County; the Herring Hotel in Amarillo; and the Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railroad Depot in Motley County.
Judging criteria for the 2010 list include:
Significance. The site must be of architectural, artistic, and/or historic importance within the cultural or social history of Texas.

Urgency of threat. Urgency is the need for immediate action to stop or reverse serious threats. Threats can be demolition, alterations that would change the integrity of the building or structure; or significant loss of historic fabric through neglect, or through a new development plan or transportation plan that could affect the site in the future.

Potential solutions and support. There must be clear evidence of local support for the preservation of the site.
Nominations are open to the public and the nomination form is available by visiting www.preservationtexas.org.
The list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places will be announced on Preservation Day in February 2010. For more information, phone 512-472-0102.