PRESERVATION TEXAS

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 development or 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 Central Texas are:

• Austin (Travis Co.)

• Belton (Bell Co.)

• Blanco (Blanco Co.)

• Bryan (Brazos Co.)

• Burnet County

• Caldwell County

• Comal County

• Elgin (Bastrop Co.)

• Fredericksburg (Gillespie Co.)

• Georgetown (Williamson Co.)

• Gonzales County

• Hays County

• Killeen (Bell Co.)

• Milam County

• New Braunfels (Comal Co.)

• Round Rock (Williamson Co.)

• San Marcos (Hays Co.)

• Seguin (Guadalupe Co.)

• Travis County

• Waco (McLennan 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 in designated Preserve America communities. Preserve America communities in Central Texas are:

• Austin (Travis Co.)

• Bastrop (Bastrop Co.)

• Belton (Bell Co.)

• Bryan (Brazos Co.)

• Calvert (Robertson Co.)

• Fredericksburg (Gillespie Co.)

• Georgetown (Williamson Co.)

• Giddings (Lee Co.)

• Gonzales (Gonzales Co.)

• Hearne (Robertson Co.)

• Kerrville (Kerr Co.)

• Llano (Llano Co.)

• Luling (Caldwell & Guadalupe Cos.)

• Milam County

• New Braunfels (Comal Co.)

• San Marcos (Hays Co.)

• Seguin (Guadalupe Co.)

• Smithville (Bastrop Co.)

• Taylor (Williamson Co.)

• Waco (McLennan Co.)

• Wimberley (Hays 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, 74 historic county courthouses have received full restoration grants and another 29 have received emergency or planning grants (2023). The competitive program is administered by the Texas Historical Commission. Central Texas counties that have completed courthouse restorations through this program are: Comal, Falls, Kendall, Lampasas, Lee, Llano, Milam, San Saba, and Williamson.

4.3 / Nonprofit and Foundation Grant Programs

Some nonprofit organizations and foundations offer grant opportunities that have been utilized to save endangered places in Texas.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (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 Texas Historical Foundation ( TexasHistoricalFoundation.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 historic preservation projects.

Historic structures in railroad communities have benefited from grants by the BNSF Railway Foundation (BNSFFoundation.org ) or the Union Pacific Foundation (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.

Financial institutions that serve the 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 (NPS.gov) is the principal federal agency governing historic preservation programs. Most importantly, they oversee the National Register of Historic Places and the federal tax credit program.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (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 (SavingPlaces.org ) is a private, non-profit 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.

The national advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. is Preservation Action (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 (SacredPlaces.org ), a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia that supports stewardship of active congregations in older sacred places through capital campaign training and technical assistance.

5.2 / State Organizations

The Texas Historical Commission ( THC. Texas.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 (PreservationTexas.org ) 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 county-wide 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. The local CHC can be an important resource, particularly when seeking historic designations.

Local governments that have adopted preservation ordinances usually establish a historic commission, landmark commission or similarly named committee of volunteers. These commissions administer local preservation programs, including local landmark designations, approval of historic building permits, and the development of preservation plans for the community.

Local non-profit preservation organizations operate independently of the government and typically support advocacy and educational programs. Each organization is different; some administer historic sites, some do not. An example in Central Texas is Preservation Austin. City-focused organizations often provide assistance to smaller communities within their counties.

6.0 / MOST ENDANGERED PLACES LIST

Established in 2004, Texas’s Most Endangered Places list is the signature program of Preservation Texas. Over the last eighteen years, over 170 sites and themes have been added to the list, of which less than 15 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 annually. Preservation Texas provides advocacy and technical support for these places when requested by local advocates.

A list of Central Texas sites that have been included on the list follows:

Central Texas Endangered Places

BELL COUNTY

MOUNT ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ADDRESS 218 Alexander Street, Belton

DESIGNATION NRHP

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Mount Zion United Methodist Church

RESOURCE TYPE Church

YEAR LISTED 2022

Built in 1893, this vernacular Gothic Revival Style building is the oldest surviving African-American Methodist Church in Texas. An addition was constructed on the western facade of the original church sanctuary in 1974. Advocates are working to restore the church to its 1893 appearance, and improve functionality, usability and safety. In 2022, Preservation Texas announced that Mount Zion U.M.C. will receive a $75,000 grant through the Rural African-American Heritage Grants Program.

OLD ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

ADDRESS 438 N Wall St, Belton

DESIGNATION NRHP

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Private

RESOURCE TYPE Church

YEAR LISTED 2009

Constructed in 1874, this Belton structure is the oldest standing church in Bell County. The church served as a place for refuge and solace during World War II. A stone bell tower was added in 1956. Since 2009, the building’s exterior has been stabilized, but its interior awaits restoration.

Burleson County

DABNEY HILL LODGE HALL

ADDRESS CR 267, Snook

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Dabney Hill Missionary Baptist Church

RESOURCE TYPE Institutional

YEAR LISTED 2021

Built before 1910, this Lodge Hall is an important landmark in the Dabney Hill Freedom Colony. AfricanAmerican fraternal groups played a decisive role in shaping the political and economic life of their communities. The Dabney Hill lodge hall also sheltered visiting pastors and Black travelers who were not permitted to stay in nearby hotels. With the support of the Summerlee Foundation, PT has worked with this site to develop recommendations for its preservation, and is currently working to resolve legal issues surrounding its ownership so that preservation can begin.

Preservation Texas

Bluebonnet House

ADDRESS 4554 N. US Highway 281, Marble Falls

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Private

RESOURCE TYPE Residence

YEAR LISTED 2014

Built in the mid-19th century, this two-story limestone vernacular house is one of the most photographed houses in Texas. In the spring, fields of bluebonnets surround this important early Texas house which is suffering from the ravages of time. The historic context of this house is also being lost as the surrounding land is rapidly being developed for commercial and industrial purposes.

Gillespie County

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF LUCKENBACH

ADDRESS Luckenbach, Southeast of Fredericksburg

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Various

RESOURCE TYPE Cultural Landscape

YEAR LISTED 2022

This small community was settled by German farmers in the 1840s. The settlement was anchored by a post office, general store, saloon, dance hall, cotton gin, and blacksmith shop. Churches and cemeteries were established, and a school served area students. During the 20th century, Luckenbach experienced dramatic decline. In 1971, Hondo Crouch purchased nine acres in the community, including the dance hall and general store, and transformed them into a country music venue. Today, numerous events and festivals attract thousands of visitors to the area annually. The encroachment of development in the fast-growing Hill Country is placing unsustainable demands on local infrastructure and will pollute nearby Grape Creek, alter existing viewsheds, and effect the authentic character of this rural community.

Limestone County

Brinkley Davis House

ADDRESS LCR 766, between Groesbeck and Thornton

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Private RESOURCE TYPE Residence

YEAR LISTED 2014

In 1834, when the Brinkley Davis family migrated to Limestone County from Indiana, they built a dogtrot structure using local timber and parts of the barge on which they had sailed down the Mississippi River. This vernacular house is perhaps the oldest house remaining in Limestone county. The house has fallen into disrepair since it was last occupied in the 1960s.

Cindy Walker House

ADDRESS 114 S Brooks St, Mexia

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Cindy Walker Foundation

RESOURCE TYPE Residence

YEAR LISTED 2022

In 1954, Texas-born Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Cindy Walker moved into this Mexia house where she wrote nationally loved songs, such as “You Don’t Know Me” and “Dream Baby”. Many music celebrities are known to have visited the home over the years where Walker lived until her passing in 2006. Though this country music landmark has been neglected for years, the recently formed Cindy Walker Foundation purchased the home in 2022 and is currently seeking funding for the property’s rehabilitation.

Historic Resources Of Tehuacana

ADDRESS Various sites, bounded by 4th St, Westminster St, 2nd St and Main St, Tehuacana

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Various

RESOURCE TYPE District

YEAR LISTED 2022

This small community has a rich history, beginning with the native Tawakoni tribe that inhabited the area until the late 1840s. By the mid-19th century, Anglo settlement began to transform the area. In 1869, Trinity University was founded here, later moving to Waxahachie in 1902. The campus was then used by Westminster College until 1972. While many historic resources have been lost, important buildings remain from the site’s use by both Trinity University and Westminster College. Texas Hall c. 1871 (pictured) is at imminent risk of loss as a result of a roof collapse. Other historic resources are in need of attention, including the 1930s Gym.

Old Fort Parker

ADDRESS 866 Park Road 35, Groesbeck

DESIGNATION RTHL, Local Historic Landmark

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Limestone County, City of Groesbeck and City of Mexia

RESOURCE TYPE Fort

YEAR LISTED 2021

In 1836, the frontier settlement known as “Fort Parker” was attacked, resulting in the death and kidnapping of numerous settlers, including Cynthia Ann Parker. Cynthia’s son, Quanah Parker, became a renowned Comanche leader. In 1936, Fort Parker was reconstructed based on plans drawn by architect Raiford Stripling in consultation with the National Park Service. In the 1960s, inferior building materials were replaced as part of a campaign to ensure that the reconstructed Fort would endure. The site is in need of archaeological research, a plan for interpretation, and greater public awareness to increase visitation.

Hays County

Dunbar Historic District

ADDRESS Around the 200-600 blocks of MLK Jr. Dr, San Marcos

DESIGNATION Local Historic District

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Various

RESOURCE TYPE District

YEAR LISTED 2021

After the Civil War, formerly enslaved African-Americans in San Marcos began to settle in an area near the railroad that was often flooded by Purgatory Creek. Later named the “Dunbar Neighborhood,” it was populated by some of San Marcos’s leading Black families and businesses. Repeated flooding, changing demographics, and redevelopment throughout the 20th century have resulted in a significant loss of historic resources.

Kyle Jail Cell

ADDRESS Near 170 Fredericksburg St, San Marcos

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Hays County

RESOURCE TYPE Jail

YEAR LISTED 2012

Constructed in 1885, this small wooden structure contains a jail cell which was removed from the 1873 Hays County Jail in San Marcos and donated to the city of Kyle to serve as its first city jail. Often referred to as a “calaboose,” small municipal jails like this one generally served as short-term lock-ups. The Kyle Calaboose remained in use until at least 1925. In 1961, the Calaboose was moved to Aquarena Springs in San Marcos where it was used as an educational tourist attraction. After the closure of the attraction in 1996, local advocates eventually moved the structure to its current location, behind the Old Hays County Jail in San Marcos, where it awaits restoration.

Mason County

Broad Street Bridge

ADDRESS 408 Broad St, Mason

DESIGNATION RTHL

CONDITION Poor

OWNER TxDot

RESOURCE TYPE Bridge

YEAR LISTED 2007

The Broad Street Bridge is the only reinforced concrete truss bridge in Texas and is one of a small number of known examples in the United States. Constructed in 1918, the bridge is composed of two 51 ft-long truss spans and supported by concrete abutments. As of 2022, the bridge has been closed to all traffic, and is slated for replacement by TxDOT.

Robertson County

CAVITT LOG CABIN

ADDRESS 312 FM 391, Wheelock

DESIGNATION RTHL

CONDITION Poor

OWNER Private

RESOURCE TYPE Residence YEAR LISTED 2016

The Cavitt Log Cabin, a circa 1836 structure in need of restoration, represents the threat faced by log cabins across Texas. These vernacular pioneer building types are often taken for granted, if noticed at all. They are often invisible from the main road, or located in small out-of-the-way communities with limited resources. Usually built of locally available materials, the skills needed to maintain and preserve them can be taught again.

Travis County

AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL

ADDRESS

4110 Guadalupe St, Austin

DESIGNATION NRHP, RTHL, SAL

CONDITION Fair

OWNER State of Texas

RESOURCE TYPE Institutional, Hospital

YEAR LISTED 2017

The oldest mental hospital in the state, the “Texas State Lunatic Asylum” was created by the Texas Legislature in 1856. Renamed the “Austin State Hospital” in 1925, the institution has remained dedicated to mental health programs to this day. As of 2022, five historic buildings on the property have been demolished to make way for new facilities. The main administration building (pictured) awaits full restoration.

AUSTIN WOMAN’S CLUB

ADDRESS

708 San Antonio St, Austin

DESIGNATION Local Historic Landmark

CONDITION Good

OWNER Austin Woman’s Club

RESOURCE TYPE Residence, Institutional YEAR LISTED 2010

The Austin Woman’s Club building, designed by San Antonio architect Alfred Giles as a residence, was originally built in 1874. In 1892, the home was purchased by Major Ira H. Evans and remodeled to its current French Romanesque style. The Austin Woman’s Club purchased the building in 1929, the same year the club was founded, and has occupied it ever since. Today the building suffers from deterioration and antiquated infrastructure. Efforts to maintain this Austin landmark are ongoing and preservation projects happen as funding becomes available.

BOWIE-WATSON HOUSE aka “WATSON CHATEAU”

ADDRESS 500 E 18th St, Austin

DESIGNATION None

CONDITION Poor

OWNER University of Texas

RESOURCE TYPE Residence

YEAR LISTED 2022

Built in 1853 by Margaret Neville Bowie, this house has been owned by several prominent Austinites over the decades. Arthur Pope Watson Jr., purchased the property in 1959 and shared the home with his partner Robert Wayne Garrett. Watson and Garrett hosted legendary parties and gatherings in the house, providing a much-needed respite for members of Austin’s LGBTQ community. Although UT acquired the property in the 1960s, after Watson’s death 1993, Garret continued living in the home until 2009. Over the years, the house has become hidden from public view by surrounding new construction. The quickly deteriorating house lies within the footprint of the future UT Austin Medical District.

Congress Avenue Historic District

ADDRESS Congress Ave between Cesar Chavez & 11th St, Austin

DESIGNATION NRHP District

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Various

RESOURCE TYPE District YEAR LISTED 2005

Congress Avenue is one of the most important and recognizable streets in Texas. Its birth can be traced to 1839 with Edwin Waller’s plan to build Texas’ new capitol city. The district is a popular tourist destination with few protected buildings or guidelines for compatible new construction. Rapid development is eroding the character, sense of scale and design of Congress Avenue.

Historic Resources Of Downtown Austin

ADDRESS I-35 to Lamar and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Lady Bird Lake, Austin

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Various

RESOURCE TYPE Various

YEAR LISTED 2010

The Central Texas economy has experienced a boom in recent years, a trend that is most obvious in downtown Austin. The city council has encouraged increased density in the downtown core as a means of reducing urban sprawl, but fails to provide protection for many historic sites. Preservationists have urged the city to articulate a vision for Austin that includes the preservation of its historic resources. The community has already lost many of the important buildings that once defined the city, and as our state’s capital continues to grow, the pressure on small-scale historic buildings will only increase.

Lions Municipal Golf Course

ADDRESS 2901 Enfield Rd., Austin

DESIGNATION NRHP District

CONDITION Good

OWNER University of Texas

RESOURCE TYPE Cultural Landscape

YEAR LISTED 2017

The Lions Municipal Golf Course, aka “Muny,” was designed in 1924 and maintains its original use as a golf course today. The course was laid out on land owned by the University of Texas, which has been leased to the City of Austin since 1936. In 1950, Muny became the first desegregated municipal golf course in the South. The lease for the land expired in 2019, and UT has proposed redeveloping the site for mixed commercial and residential uses. The Muny Conservancy was created in 2019 to raise funds and work with the City and the University to permanently preserve the course. The fight to “Save Muny” is still ongoing.

William Pfluger House

ADDRESS 1512 E Pflugerville Pkwy, Pflugerville

DESIGNATION RTHL

CONDITION Fair

OWNER Private

RESOURCE TYPE Residence YEAR LISTED 2012

William Pfluger, a German immigrant and one of the founding fathers of the city of Pflugerville, was a rancher, banker, and cotton gin owner. The 1875 William Pfluger House, constructed in local limestone, served as a home to five generations of the family. Today the house is surrounded on all four sides by encroaching suburban development. Many citizens support the idea of restoring the William Pfluger House, however several attempts to raise funds for the project have failed.

Thematic Listings

Preservation Texas has also included the following statewide themes on its Most Endangered Places list to encourage Texans to identify threatened structures in their own communities that relate to the theme:

• Barns

• Carpenter Gothic Churches

• Cemeteries

• Dams

• Dance Halls

• Depots

• Gas Stations

• Historic Residential Wood Windows

• Historic Neighborhoods

• Historically Segregated MexicanAmerican Public Schools

• Log Buildings

• Mid-Century Modern Sacred Places

• Painted Advertising Signs aka “Ghost Signs”

• Residential Teardowns in Inner-City Neighborhoods

• Rural African-American Heritage Sites

• Small Town Bank Buildings

• Small Town Theaters and Opera Houses

• Urban National Register Districts

• Working Class Neighborhoods