Saving The Texas Panhandle/Plains

PRESERVATION TEXAS

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019

SAVING EAST TEXAS 2019

PRESERVATION TEXAS

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 Saving the Texas Panhandle/Plains 2019 provides an overview of Preservation Texas’ Most Endangered Places listings in the Panhandle/Plains region, as well as useful information about Preservation Texas and how you can work to protect cultural and historic sites where you live.

1.0 / ABOUT PRESERVATION TEXAS Preservation Texas is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Austin. The organization receives no public funding and relies on membership dues, grants and donations for its work. A volunteer Board of Directors, drawn from a range of professional and community backgrounds, governs the organization and provides direction to its small staff.

The chartered purposes of the organization are broad and intended to enable a range of preservation activities: • To serve as an auxiliary to all agencies of the State of Texas concerned with our history, heritage, and the preservation and maintenance of significant areas, sites, buildings, monuments and artifacts; • To acquire, by purchase, gift, devise or bequest, with or without restriction, and to preserve, restore, maintain and present to the public those areas, sites, buildings, monuments, artifacts, documents, and objects which are significant in the history, prehistory, archaeology, architecture, heritage and culture of Texas;

1. To serve as an auxiliary to all agencies of the State of Texas concerned with our

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 • To disseminate knowledge of the history, prehistory, heritage and culture of Texas; • To engage in historical and archaeological research on the activities of past Texans; and • To foster, encourage and develop a general appreciation and understanding of the accomplishments of past generations of Texans in order that the lives of present and future generations may be enriched.

The organization fulfills its mission through (A) Legislative Advocacy by alerting its members to important legislation being considered by the State of Texas and providing written and oral testimony at bill hearings; (B) Local Advocacy by intervening on behalf of local stakeholders who ask for support from Preservation Texas; (C) Educational Programs such as the biennial Legislative Summit in Austin and in-depth symposia on historic preservation topics of interest; (D) Honor Awards that recognize outstanding preservation efforts presented at the biennial Legislative Summit; and (E) our signature Most Endangered Places program, begun in 2004; more about this program will follow (Section 6.0).

Preservation Texas also owns Bassett Farms Conservancy, a 2,400-acre working cattle ranch and former cotton farm located southeast of Waco in Falls and Limestone counties. The Conservancy is being developed as a preservation and conservation training center and retreat. Founded in 1871, the farm and ranch was bequeathed to the Preservation Texas in 2011 by the late Mrs. Willie Ford (Bassett) Sparkman, and includes a range of historic, natural and cultural resources.

Programs will focus on developing historic preservation skills, while the property is being managed holistically to encourage native landscape restoration in harmony with continued ranching operations.

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This section provides an overview of programs and resources that can be useful to protect an endangered place.

specific buildings and to see all of the sites recognized at the state and federal levels. Be sure to verify the information in the Atlas by contacting the Texas Historical Commission as no database is perfect. The website is https://Atlas.THC.State.tx.us.

2.1 / Historic Designations

FEDERAL DESIGNATIONS

Historic places may be officially recognized as histor ic by f eder al, state and loc al governments. These designations serve a range of purposes; some tied to incentives and some tied to regulations. Just because a site has not been designated does not mean that it lacks significance; more than likely, no effort has yet been made to recognize it as almost all such designations are initiated at the local level by property owners, advocates, historical societies, preservation organizations or historical commissions.

The National Register of Historic Places was created in 1966 under the National Historic Preservation Act. The process begins with submission of a comprehensive nomination form to the Texas Historical Commission. It is then reviewed by the State Board of Review before being forwarded to the National Park Service for final approval. In Texas (2019) there are 3,329 listings on the National Register, of which 366 are Historic Districts.

2.0 / PROTECTING HISTORIC PLACES

However, efforts to save sites are often more successful when those buildings have federalor state-level designations. These designations give assurance to decision-makers, grantfunders and the general public that has welldocumented significance. Therefore, a plan to secure designation should be put in place for any endangered resource.

The regulatory effects of designation vary.

Federal designation provides no regulatory oversight of historic places; state designation provides from limited (Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks) to strong (State Antiquities Landmarks) oversight. Maximum oversight is typically found at the local level through the designation of local landmarks and local historic districts, although some local ordinances are very weak and ineffective.

TEXAS HISTORIC SITES ATLAS

National Register properties are evaluated for the quality of their significance and must possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. They must be associated with significant events or significant people, embody a distinctive architectural type, period, method of construction, the work of a master, artistic value, or be likely to yield important information in histor y or prehistory. Cemeteries, birthplaces, graves, reli giou s s tr uct ures , commemor a t i ve properties and relocated structures are typically not listed, but there are exceptions.

Individually listed buildings and sites that are added to the National Register are classified as being of local, statewide or national significance. Typically, but not always, these buildings must be at least fifty years old. The Texas Historical Commission can work with you to determine if an unlisted building might be eligible for listing before a formal nomination is submitted.

The Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Historic Sites Atlas enables you to search for Page 2

PRESERVATION TEXAS Cohesive areas or neighborhoods may also be listed on the National Register as Historic Districts. A majority of the properties within a historic district must have historic significance and retain their historic character — such properties are known as contributing properties. Contributing properties are afforded the same grant opportunities and incentives as sites that are individually listed.

For a site of exceptional significance, the National Park Service will very selectively consider nominations for its designation as a National Historic Landmark, a specific category that recognizes sites of special importance to all Americans. Thus the use of the phrases “listed on the National Register” and “historic landmark” are not interchangeable. Federal programs treat National Historic Landmarks somewhat differently because of their status, including greater protection if a federal project threatens to impact the site, or access to grants such as the Save America’s Treasures grant program.

Federal designation comes with no regulatory oversight by the federal government. The National Park Service plays no direct role in the planning, management or any other decision-making related to sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

However, sites listed on the National Register or contributing to a National Register Historic District may be eligible for the 20% rehabilitation tax credit.

STATE DESIGNATIONS The Texas Historical Commission reviews and approves nominations for buildings to be designated as Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks. Landmarks must be at least fifty years of age or older and retain architectural integrity. Buildings cannot become RTHLs if historic features are obscured by non-historic

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 materials, such as vinyl siding, or if they have been relocated within the last fifty years.

Nominations are submitted through the local County Historical Commission. Sites that are designated as RTHLs are recognized with Official Texas Historical Markers. It should be noted, however, that just because a building or site has a state marker does not mean that it is an RTHL. There are over 16,000 Official Texas Historical Markers; of those only about 3,800 are RTHLs. The majority of buildings or sites are recognized with what is known as a subject marker. A marker should have “Recorded Texas Historic Landmark” stamped at the bottom if it is an RTHL. There is a limited amount of protection afforded by the RTHL designation. A person may not alter the historic or architectural integrity of an RTHL without notifying the Texas Historical Commission at least 60 days in advance. Interiors are not regulated unless the changes impact the exterior or the structural integrity of the building.

State Antiquities Landmarks (SALs) are d e s i g n a t e d by t h e Te x a s H i s t o r i c a l Commission and are protected under the Antiquities Code of Texas. Any building listed on the National Register that is located on non-federal public land (state, county, or city) is eligible for designation. Sites can be nominated by any group or individual, and are considered by the Antiquities Advisory Board before a final vote by the Texas Historical Commission.

The SAL designation is the most restrictive state-level designation available as it requires the property owner to consult with the Commission to determine if proposed alterations or demolition can proceed.

Archaeological sites may also be designated as SALs but do not need to be listed on the National Register.

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PRESERVATION TEXAS The Historic Texas Cemeteries program began in 1998. Cemeteries receiving this designation are protected by a record of their boundaries in county deeds and future owners of adjoining land are alerted of its existence.

However, the designation provides no regulatory oversight over the property. Other state laws govern the handling of human remains and cemeteries in Texas. Historic Texas Cemetery designation is required before applying for an Official Texas Historical Marker for a cemetery.

LOCAL LANDMARKS AND DISTRICTS State law enables local governments to create local historic districts. These are typically, but not always, accomplished through zoning amendments, creating provisions that govern alteration and potential demolition of local landmarks as well as new construction within locally designated historic districts. There is no standard set of regulations or guidelines in use statewide. While many local preservation ordinances are similar, each one is tailored to suit the needs and objectives of the community. Some communities are better than others in making information about local landmarks and historic districts available online; be sure to contact the local preservation or planning official for current information about landmarks, historic district boundaries, and relevant regulations.

2.2 / Preservation Guidelines The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards are applied to almost every decision made at the federal, state and local level relative to proposed physical changes to a historic place.

These Standards were established in 1977 by the National Park Service under the authority of the United States Secretary of the Interior and provide guidelines for Preservation (maintaining a str ucture as found); Restoration (uncovering, protecting and

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 recreating features that would have been present dur ing a specific per iod of significance); Rehabilitation (protecting key character-defining features while modifying other parts of the structure for contemporary uses); and Reconstruction (rebuilding a known, lost historic structure using extensive historical documentation).

Museum properties and exceptionally unique structures are typically preserved or restored; buildings that are being put to new uses or that have lost much of their historic integrity are generally rehabilitated. Historically accurate reconstructions are uncommon and usually undertaken for museum sites or minor outbuildings on private property. Conversely, the standards encourage new construction to reflect contemporar y aesthetics using compatible materials, form and scale.

Information about the Standards as well as Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes can be found at: https:// www.NPS.gov/TPS/Standards.htm

2.3 / Preservation Briefs The National Park Service has published fifty Preservation Briefs that are available online at: h t t p s : / / w w w. N P S. g o v / T P S / H o w - t o Preserve/Briefs.htm These briefs cover a range of specific topics from Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings (Brief #2) to Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries (Brief #49).

These technical briefs provide excellent illustrated examples to better inform property stewards about best practices.

3.0 / PRESERVATION TAX INCENTIVES Financial incentives are available at the federal, state and sometimes local level for historic preservation.

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3.1 / Federal Tax Incentives

3.2 / State Tax Incentives

Federal historic preservation ncentives are managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Texas Historical Commission. Information can be found at: h t t p s : / / w w w. N P S . g o v / T P S / Ta x Incentives.htm A summary of these federal incentives follows.

The Texas Historic Preservation Tax Credit became eective in 2015. It provides for a tax credit of 25% of qualifying project costs for the rehabilitation of buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks or as State Antiquities Landmarks. Only buildings are eligible, and they must be used for income-producing or non-profit purposes.

State tax credits can be combined with federal tax credits.

Income-producing historic buildings that are certified by the National Park Service as historic structures (typically those listed on the National Register of Historic Places) are eligible for a 20% income tax credit based on the qualifying costs of the project. Eligible properties include commercial, industrial, agricultural or rental residential properties.

The charitable donation of a historic preservation easement to a qualifying organization such as Preservation Texas provides additional tax benefits. An easement permanently protects a structure and its site by prohibiting changes to the exterior (and in some cases interior) features and by restricting land uses. These restrictions are voluntary and negotiated between the landowner and the donee organization within federal guidelines.

The value of the donation is determined by a professional appraiser who considers the potential reduction of the market value of the property after the imposition of these voluntary restrictions.

The rehabilitation of large historic structures often make use of a combination of the 20% tax credit and the Tax Credit for Low-Income Housing (approximately 9% of project costs).

This strategy has been successfully employed to save, for example, the Plainview Hilton in Plainview, Texas.

Government-owned structures do not qualify unless they have been leased, typically to a non-profit organization for an extended term.

Non-profit organizations, despite not paying taxes, can sell their state tax credit. For example, a $100,000 church restoration may result in a $25,000 tax credit that can be sold by the church to a Texas corporation that pays the state franchise tax or state insurance premium tax. Tax credit brokers may also purchase a credit. The dollar value of the credit is negotiated between the tax credit certificate holder and the purchaser, typically somewhat less than face value.

3.3 / Local Tax Incentives Many local governments have adopted tax abatement or exemption programs to encourage the rehabilitation of historic structures, typically in historic downtown commercial districts managed by Main Street programs or in historic residential districts.

Details about these local programs can be found by contacting the City Manager or similar oďŹƒcial in the city in which a building is located. If your community does not yet have a local program, consider advocating for the establishment of such a program.

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4.0 / PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAMS Federal, state and local historic designations for at-risk historic properties open the door to potential grants for restoration or rehabilitation. Grant funds are limited and highly competitive, and only significant historic places with urgent preservation needs are usually awarded these grants. A summary of grant programs follows.

4.1 / Federal Grant Programs The most significant federal grant program is the Save America’s Treasures grant program.

These grants are limited to National Historic Landmarks or buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of significance. Grants range from $125,000 to $500,000.

More widely used are Historic Preservation Fund grants, administered through the Texas Historical Commission’s Certified Local Government (CLG) program. These grants are available for historic resource surveys, National Register nominations, local preservation plans, local ordinance or guidelines development as well as repairs in CLG communities. Grants range from $2,000 to $30,000. CLGs must meet federal standards with respect to their local preservation regulatory system; CLGs in the Panhandle/Plains are: • • • •

Abilene (Taylor Co.) Lubbock (Lubbock Co.) Lubbock County Quanah (Hardeman Co.)

The Preserve America grant program remains authorized by Congress but in recent years has not received any federal funding. This grant program supported preservation planning activities designated Preserve

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 America communities. Preserve America in the Panhandle/Plains are: • • • • • •

Abilene (Taylor Co.) Canyon (Randall Co.) Colorado City (Mitchell Co.) Crosbyton (Crosby Co.) Lipscomb County Roaring Springs (Motley Co.)

Some grant funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture may be available for the rehabilitation of historic structures, particularly those that will be used for community economic development purposes.

The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities will sometimes have grant opportunities that apply to historic structures being used for the arts or for museum purposes.

Visit grants.gov for more information about federal grant opportunities.

4.2 / State Grant Programs The Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Preservation Trust Fund supports historic site acquisition, survey, restoration, preservation, planning and heritage education relating to historic architecture and archaeological sites.

These are competitive grants that can provide up to $30,000 in funding.

Preservation Texas played a leading role in the establishment of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation program. Since 1999, 70 historic county courthouses have received full restoration grants and another 26 have received emergency or planning grants.

The competitive program is administered by t h e Te x a s H i s t o r i c a l C o m m i s s i o n .

Panhandle/Plains counties that have completed full courthouse restorations through this program are: Donley, Gray, Hardeman, Lynn, Potter, Roberts and Page 6

PRESERVATION TEXAS Wheeler. Counties that are not eligible for the program because of the age or ownership status of their courthouses are: Fisher, Martin, Nolan and Stonewall counties.

4.3 / Nonprofit and Foundation Grant Programs S o m e n o n p r o fi t o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d foundations offer grant opportunities that have been utilized to save endangered places in Texas.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.SavingPlaces.org/grants) offers grants through its Preservation Fund; additional grant programs for historic African-American places and for Sacred Places have recently been initiated. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund supports historic interiors and the Southwest Intervention Fund is available for sites in West Texas.

Th e T e x a s H i s t o r i c a l F o u n d a t i o n (www.TexasHistor ic alFoundation.org) provides grants of up to $5,000 that have been used for restoration projects.

The Summerlee Foundation based in Dallas has also provided extensive grant funding for preservation projects across Texas. Regional community foundations are also an important source of donor-directed grants that might be available for your project.

Historic structures in railroad communities have benefited from grants by the BNSF Railway Foundation (BNSFFoundation.org) o r t h e U n i o n P a c i fi c F o u n d a t i o n (www.UP.com) depending on which rail line operates in the community.

Grants for building materials for small projects have been awarded by the Home Depot; big box building supply stores will sometimes donate materials and equipment with a letter submitted to the store manager.

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 Financial institutions that serve your community often have grant programs. Some may be directed by local branch managers; others require application to the bank’s national headquarters.

5.0 / HISTORIC PRESERVATION AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS For many people working to save a historic place, the role of different government agencies and organizations can be confusing.

Each plays an important but specific role.

Understanding what these agencies and organizations can (and can’t) do will help you chart a course for action.

5.1 / National Organizations The National Park Service (www.NPS.gov) is the principle federal agency governing historic preser vation programs. Most importantly, they oversee the National Register of Historic Places and the federal tax credit program.

Th e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l o n H i s t o r i c Preservation (www.ACHP.gov) is a small, independent federal agency that promotes historic preservation across the federal government. It advises the President and Congress on national preservation policy, with a special focus on implementation of the National Historic Preservation Act. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.SavingPlaces.org) is a private, nonprofit organization that manages historic sites, intervenes in preservation lawsuits, manages the 11 Most Endangered List, and provides educational programming through its national conference. It is not a government agency and has no role in administering federal programs.

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PRESERVATION TEXAS The national advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. is Preservation Action (www.PreservationAction.org), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that works to develop historic preservation programs through advocacy for federal legislation in the U.S. Congress.

Another important organization is Partners for Sacred Places (www.SacredPlaces.org), a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia that suppor ts ste wardship of active congregations in older sacred places through capital campaign training and technical assistance. The organization has a Texas office.

5.2 / State Organizations Th e Te x a s H i s t o r i c a l C o m m i s s i o n (www.THC.gov) is the state historic preservation office, based in Austin. As a state agency they administer state programs and act as a liaison for federal programs. With over 250 staff members, they provide assistance in a range of programs and also administer the state’s Main Street program.

Preservation Texas is the only statewide nonprofit historic preservation advocacy and education organization in Texas (Section 1.0).

5.3 / Local Organizations Most Texas counties have established a County Historical Commission (CHC). These volunteer groups provide countywide guidance to deliver educational programs, operate history museums, and advise the Texas Historical Commission on historic marker applications, for example.

Some CHCs are very active while others meet infrequently, if ever. Your CHC can be an important resource, particularly if you are seeking historic designations for an endangered place.

SAVING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE/PLAINS 2019 Local governments that have adopted preservation ordinances usually establish a historic commission, landmark commission or similarly named committee of volunteers.

These commissions administer loc al preservation programs, including local landmark designations, approval of historic building permits, and the development of preservation plans for the community.

Local nonprofit preservation organizations operate independently of government and typically support advocacy and educational programs. Each organization is different; some administer historic sites, and some do not. Examples in the Panhandle/Plains include Abilene Preservation League and Lubbock Heritage Society.

City-focused organizations often provide assistance to smaller communities in their home counties.

6.0 / MOST ENDANGERED PLACES LIST Established in 2004, the Texas’ Most Endangered Places list is the signature program of Preservation Texas. Over the last fifteen years, 162 sites and themes have been added to the list (an average of about 11 sites per year), of which only twelve have been lost.

The list is designed to provide statewide publicity for important historic places at risk of imminent loss. Sites are nominated to Preservation Texas by its members and selections are announced in February or March each year. Preservation Texas provides advocacy and technical support for these places when requested by local advocates. A list of sites in the Panhandle/Plains region that remain endangered follows.

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CARSON COUNTY PANHANDLE INN Address 301 Main St. Panhandle Designation NR Condition Fair Owner Panhandle Inn Foundation Building Type Hotel Year Listed 2012 Designed by Amarillo architect E.F. Rittenberry and financed by General Ernest O. Thompson, The Panhandle Inn served business travelers associated with the oil, gas, and cattle industries. It closed in 1972 and has not been occupied since despite efforts to reopen the hotel.

COLLINGSWORTH COUNTY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SCHOOL Address 401 Fort Worth St, Wellington Designation Local Landmark Condition Poor Owner Private Building Type Institutional Year Listed 2008 The Booker T. Washington School is believed to be the first brick school for African-American children in West Texas, and the two-room structure cost $5,000 to build. The building itself is a ruin, with no roof, and failing walls. The City of Wellington has secured the site and has offered assistance maintaining the grounds.

DICKENS COUNTY THE KELLER BUILDING Address 326 Burlington Ave, Spur Designation None Condition Poor Owner Private Building Type Commercial Year Listed 2007 Built in 1927 to house the Riter Hardware Store, the building is unsafe due to the immediate threat of the roof collapsing. The building sat as an empty shell for the past 60 years. Without help from a foundation or other grant sources, the building decline cannot be stopped.

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DICKENS COUNTY SWENSON PARK SWIMMING POOL Address Swenson Park Road, Spur Designation None, WPA Marker Condition Fair Owner City of Spur Building Type Recreational Site Year Listed 2010 In 1936, Erick P. Swenson of Spur Ranch donated land to the City of Spur for the purpose of a park. The bathhouse was constructed with local stone and petrified wood in 1937. The pool was the only recreational area for miles. The swimming pool complex was closed in June 2009.

DICKENS COUNTY HISTORIC RESOURCES OF DICKENS COUNTY Address Dickens and Spur Designation None Condition Fair Owner Various Building Type Various Year Listed 2015 Dickens County was formed in 1876. The county population peaked in 1930 at just under 9,000; today the county is home to 2,291. The preservation challenges related to the historic resources of the county are representative of those faced by sparsely populated rural counties across Texas.

HOCKLEY COUNTY MALLET RANCH HEADQUARTERS COURT Address 3917 Wrangler, Levelland Designation None Condition Fair Owner The CH Foundation Building Type Ranch Year Listed 2008 The Mallet Raanch was established by David DeVitt and John Scharbauer in 1895. Constructed between 1895 and 1948, the ranch headquarters still has five of the original headquarter structures. The buildings have been neglected since the death of David DeVitt’s daughter, Christine, in 1983.

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LUBBOCK COUNTY OLD LUBBOCK COUNTY JAIL Address Lubbock Designation NR Condition Fair Owner Private Building Type Institutional Building Year Listed 2016 The construction of the reinforced concrete structure was finished in 1931 at a price of $135,000. A local architect, Sylvan B. Haynes, designed the structure with a distinctive Art Deco style. The building was bought in 2017

POTTER COUNTY HERRING HOTEL Address 311 SE 3rd Avenue, Amarillo Designation None Condition Poor Owner Private Building Type Hotel Year Listed 2006 The Herring Hotel was one of three oil-boom era hotels built in the 1920s and is now the only one standing. The Hotel was converted into federal office space in the early 1970s, but was abandoned a short time later. The site is vulnerable to vandals and damage from the elements.

POTTER COUNTY AMARILLO HELIUM PLANT Address 10001 Interstate 40 Business (Formerly Route 66), Amarillo Designation NR-eligible Condition Poor Owner Private Building Type Industrial Year Listed 2017 This plant, formerly operated by the United States Bureau of Mines, was the first to produce helium from the extensive helium resources in the Texas Panhandle. From 1929 until 1943, it furnished almost all of the world’s helium. The plant closed in 1998. PT is a Section 106 Consulting Party due the planned widening of the adjacent highway.

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TAYLOR COUNTY ABILENE COURTS Address 633 S. Eleventh Street, Abilene Designation NR Condition Poor Owner Private Building Type Hotel Year Listed 2014 The Abilene Courts is a little-changed tourist accommodation built in 1930. While not as old as other historic landmarks, it represents an important era in automotive and architectural history in Texas and the United States.

TERRY COUNTY L7 RANCH HEADQUARTERS Address Intersection (E/W) CR 260 & (N/S) FM 168 Designation None Condition Poor Owner Private Building Type Ranch Year Listed 2019 The structure, built before free range cattle ranching operations in Texas were supplanted by agricultural cultivation, served as the L7 ranching headquarters and residence for the largest manned ranch operation in Terry County. It has now been vacant for three decades.

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LOST SCURRY COUNTY SANTA FE RAILWAY DEPOT Condition DEMOLISHED Year Listed 2011

Image Credit: Scurry County Historical Commission

The train depot, built in 1911, was designed by noted architect Louis Curtiss. Born in Canada in 1865, Curtiss was an architectural pioneer who worked primarily in the midwest. He is best known as the creator of the world’s first glass “curtain wall” office building. Of all Curtiss’s 200+ buildings, only about 30 remain, many in endangered status.

The Snyder Depot was one of the four Texas commissions that Curtiss received from the Santa Fe Railroad. All four depots matched in design and were constructed during the same period of 1909-1911. Of the Texas quartet of depots, only the Post location survives, with the Lubbock and Sweetwater structures having been lost, respectively, to fire and demolition. The Post Depot was rehabilitated as the site of the Post Chamber of Commerce in 2011 while the Snyder Depot remains shuttered and unused, with an uncertain future.

The Snyder Depot was constructed with reinforced concrete, which was also used in the architectural ornamentation.

Most of Curtiss’s commercial projects from this period were embellished with bold, angular exterior details that were made possible because of concrete’s elastic properties. The design of the four railway depots was based on one architectural design that was altered slightly per location of depot.

Unfortunately, the building was demolished in 2017. White the site is now leveled, many elements were preserved. The recovered artifacts included the “Snyder” sign letters, bricks, and the two 500-plus-pound flower pots that were decorating the top of the building. Those artifacts will be used in future exhibits about the history of the area. Prior to demolition, the building was laser scan documented to preserve a visual record of the site. The local historical commission hopes to make the digital renderings available to the public in the future.

In early 2019, Paula Hatfield of Scurry County was awarded the Preservation Texas Advocacy Award. She was recognized for her tireless efforts to save the 1911 Santa Fe Depot in Snyder. Over the course of many years, Paula arranged, delivered and organized countless meetings, letters, e-mails, phone calls and even a rally to garner local, regional and statewide support for the building. Paula attended the demolition and continues to fight for the preservation of her local history.

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SAVED PANHANDLE/PLAINS TEXAS ENDANGERED PLACES COLEMAN COUNTY

First Christian Church Address Year Listed

508 Avenue, Santa Anna 2008

DONLEY COUNTY

Mulkey Theatre Address Year Listed

108 South Kearney Street, Clarendon 2011

LUBBOCK COUNTY

Lubbock Post Office & Federal Building Address Year Listed

800 Broadway, Lubbock 2011

MOTLEY COUNTY

Bob’s Oil Well Address Year Listed

Matador 2004

MOTLEY COUNTY

Quanah, Acme & Pacific Depot Address

Roaring Springs Year Listed 2006

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THIS PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM

SAVING EAST TEXAS 2019

P.O. Box 12832 Austin, TX 78711 512.472.0102 www.PreservationTexas.org