July Newsletter
JULY 11, 2023
St. David's Foundation Grants $500,000 Toward Dr. James Dickey House Reconstruction
St. David’s Foundation has awarded a grant of $500,000 toward the reconstruction of Dr. James Lee Dickey’s former home in Taylor (Williamson County). Included on Preservation Texas's Most Endangered Places List in 2008, the Dickey House was in its final phase of rehabilitation in July of 2022 when it was burned to the ground by an arsonist.
The grant has been awarded to Preservation Texas as the fiscal sponsor for the reconstruction project, and PT staff has assisted with the selection of an architect, Fred Robinson, and the development of plans for the project.
The reconstructed house will honor the legacy of Dr. James Lee Dickey by serving as a community wellness center, designed to provide Taylor residents with equitable access to medical care and social services. The reconstruction project is expected to be completed by June of 2024.
Visit preservationtexas.org/dickeyhouse to learn more and contribute.
CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL OFFICE
PT Receives $79,500 Grant from The Burdine Johnson Foundation in Support of Central Texas Regional Office
The Burdine Johnson Foundation has awarded a grant of $79,500 to Preservation Texas in Support of the Central Texas Regional Office. The Foundation's grant supports our San Marcos-based Central Texas Program Officer, Samantha Hunick's position, has enabled us to hire two graduate student summer interns from Texas State University, includes sponsorship of our September 21st Central Texas Regional Preservation Summit and the printing of our Saving Central Texas 2023 booklet.
Our work to develop proactive programs that educate and advocate for the historic resources of Central Texas would not be possible without the Burdine Johnson Foundation's generous support.
Central Texas Summer Interns
Preservation Texas has hired two Central Texas interns, Jared Van Auken and Andrew Ward, who are working with our Central Texas Regional Program Officer, Samantha Hunick, this summer.
Jared and Andrew are graduate students in public history at Texas State University, and are currently conducting research on historic resources within Blanco, Caldwell and Hays Counties to be presented at the Central Texas Regional Preservation Summit in San Marcos on September 21st. These positions have been made possible by a grant from the Burdine Johnson Foundation.
Upcoming Event
MEXIA: The first annual Cindy Walker Days music festival will take place on July 21-22, 2023. All proceeds will benefit the Cindy Walker Foundation - a non-profit dedicated to rehabilitating Cindy Walker's former home and studio in Mexia. Visit cindywalkerdays.com to learn more and purchase tickets.
Texas-born Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter, Cindy Walker's Mexia home was included on Preservation Texas's 2022 Most Endangered Places List.
NORTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL OFFICE
Northeast Texas Summer Interns
Preservation Texas has hired two Northeast Texas interns, Jordan Coleman and Jessica Reid, who are working with our Northeast Texas Regional Program Officer, Conor Herterich, this summer.
Jordan and Jessica are graduate students in public history at Stephen F. Austin State University, and are preparing National Register of Historic Places nominations for Bethel Baptist Church in Tennessee Colony (Anderson County) and Concord Rosenwald School near Mount Enterprise (Rusk County). These properties have been awarded funding for rehabilitation work through Preservation Texas's Rural African-American Heritage Grants Program.
Statewide Preservation News
BROWNWOOD: ‘Save Harrison House’: Howard Payne University plans to move historic home receives backlash
A row of houses sits along Center Avenue just before entering downtown Brownwood. These homes, affectionately known as the ‘three sisters,’ have a longstanding history in the community. One of the two owned by Howard Payne University has been at the center of public controversy over the last few months…
HAWKINS: Jarvis Christian University awarded grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Jarvis Christian University has been awarded a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative. The grant will fund a comprehensive planning process to develop a rehabilitation and stewardship plan for the 1941 Florence Robinson Cottage…
HOUSTON: Independence Heights awarded grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Independence Heights Conservancy has been awarded a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s National Grant Program. This grant will help the organization manage the neighborhood’s cultural and historical assets, establish cultural programming, and be the key voice for the neighborhood…
QUANAH: Stonework Repairs Completed at Historic Quanah City Park
Quanah City Park was included on Preservation Texas’s 2021 Most Endangered Places List. Work has recently been completed at the historic park to restore many areas of damaged stonework, including parts of the perimeter wall and the creek retaining wall…
RICHARDSON: Richardson Residents Are Rallying To Save the Como Motel
The 1956 Como Motel was recently purchased by a private individual who plans to demolish the property to build a new restaurant or parking lot. Local advocates have organized an online campaign and petition called Save the Como…
STATEWIDE: Phase One Nominations for the 2024 Michael C. Duda Preservation Awards open now through August 1st
The Texas Historical Foundation is proud to announce the 2024 Michael C. Duda Preservation Awards, honoring excellence in historic preservation. The THF seeks to recognize the best of the best in Texas preservation with a top prize of $100,000 towards the completion of the winning project…
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is inviting public feedback regarding application and interpretation of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Comments must be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. on July 20, 2023...
TAYLOR: Grant given to Dickey Museum to rebuild home of civil rights advocate a year after devastating fire
Nearly a year to the date after a fire destroyed a historic landmark in Taylor, Texas, the organization in charge of it announced that it received a grant to help rebuild…
Our work is made possible by our members.
Preservation Texas is the advocate for the historic and cultural resources of Texas. We are a private, member-supported nonprofit organization and do not receive any operational funding from the government.
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