Preservation Texas honors Mulkey

Clarendon’s Mulkey Theatre project was recognized with a Preservation Texas “Honor Award” during a ceremony and reception at the Grand Lodge of Texas in Waco last Monday, February 27.

Preservation Texas Executive Director Evan Thompson honored the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation’s efforts to save the 1946 theatre, which was listed as one of the Most Endangered Places in Texas in 2012.

“The Mulkey Theatre has been restored through the leadership of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation,” Thompson said. “They have shown tremendous vision in their community, and what’s more important is that it has become magnet for the community again and the Mulkey is a centerpiece for fun activities in the spring.”

Since 2012, the theatre’s exterior has been completely rehabilitated, the former Mulkey barber shop is now the city’s official visitor center and is the home of the CEDC and Chamber of Commerce office, the lobby and concessions area has been refurbished, and accessible seating and bathroom facilities have been developed. Fundraising for further interior renovations is ongoing.

The Mulkey was one of 19 historic restoration and rehabilitation projects honored last week. The 2017 Honor Awards recognize successful efforts to save irreplaceable and authentic endangered historic places in Texas.

“We’re proud to recognize projects as diverse as small houses from the mid-1800s in central Texas to a landmark twentieth century hotel in Dallas,” said Preservation Texas President W. Dwayne Jones of Galveston. The Honor Awards ceremony was part of the 2017 Preservation Texas Summit, which included field sessions and educational presentations and workshops covering a range of historic preservation issues, including midcentury modern architecture, historic sacred places, adaptive use of vacant buildings, new approaches to historic districts, cemetery preservation, and window and masonry repair, among other topics.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Mulkey was CEDC Secretary/Treasurer Roger Estlack. Also attending the summit was Ashlee Estlack.

Donations to the Mulkey project can be made to the Clarendon Community Fund, PO Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226.