We (the Abilene Preservation League) are collecting inquiries and forwarding them on to the owners. If you came by on Saturday the 25th and spoke to us about your interest in a particular piece of salvage, your interest has already been forwarded to the owner. If you have a question currently, please email us and we will forward to the owner.

In the interim, please note the following:

• The site is in the process of being secured. A fence is going up today.
• Nothing may be removed from the site without the permission of the owner.
• If you are interested in a quantity of brick, please do email us and state the quantity, whether you have the capability to clean and transport them, and other details.
• Please do not cross the foundation wall or walk on top of any piles of brick and debris that may be at the site, whether on the sidewalk or not. Safety is paramount.
• If you have an inquiry that is about something other than brick such as the iron grilles that protected the basement windows: Most were preserved and removed to a safe place. It may be some time before it is known whether they will be available or not for sale.

Any announcements will be posted here as soon as they are available. Thank you to all who came on Saturday Feb. 25th to help start the clean-up. We appreciate your help!

On Saturday, February 25th, working with the  building owners, we will start the cleanup process by having the first Bricks for Bucks day. Starting around 9:00 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m., the Abilene Preservation League will be on site to let Abilenians pick up bricks and help the cleanup process by clearing the sidewalks.

This is a fundraiser for the Abilene Preservation League and Love and Care Ministries, so we will be asking for a donation if you would like a brick or several. A suggested amount is $2.00 per brick, but if you would like to give more, or less, that is OK. The older part of the building is made out of what we think is Thurber brick, made in the famous ghost town along I-20. The “addition” made in 1917 was made out of brand-new Abilene brick, known as “Abilene Common,” and is stamped with our city’s name.

We would like to enroll all people who donate as supporters of the APL so we will be asking for your email address and you will receive a complimentary one year membership in the APL.

If you have in mind a patio or a driveway, needing hundreds or even thousands of bricks, there are plenty. But we may not be able to fulfill your order in one day! Volunteers  will be on site to take your request down and we will be back in touch with you within the next week.

What is the intended purpose of the funds raised? Well, for one we need to provide better security lighting at some of our historic structures, which would help deter additional losses of buildings. As a donor, you will also be benefiting Love and Care Ministries, which has a 17 year history of great work helping Abilenians all economic circumstances.

Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available. We thank you for your interest in this project!

One thing that caught our attention was that along to go along with the city’s vibrant historic downtown, there is new residential construction happening. The two photos below are from a listing for a house that was built in 2011, has been on the market for 42 days. It’s designed to both be compatible with the Craftsman inspired bungalows that Abilene and McKinney have lots of, and provide the open plan design of living with kitchen that is so popular today.

This house is 1,850 square feet and a smaller footprint, which surveys say is often desired by empty nesters and young couples.

When looking at this, one has to wonder: what is keeping this type of investment from being made in the neighborhoods of Central Abilene? Ideas such as Enterprise zones, combined with historic preservation, have been used in McKinney. What about an enterprise zone near Lincoln Middle School and including SoDA (South Downtown Abilene)? Let’s try to encourage builders to line up behind strengthening the core of our city!

The stained glass panel was installed in 1910 and sits about 25 feet above the entry.

But first we had to get the panel down to where Mike could work on it. The calendar at the Swenson is open for the next few days, so the work won’t interfere with any parties. Engineering getting the panel down was tricky. Mike brought some extra new rope, handles to attach to each end of the panel, and the idea was that we would just lower it down to the first floor…

W.G. Swenson and the architect, William Preston, designed what can best be described as a light box in the attic that would keep most of the attic dust away and also capture the light coming in from the dormer window in front of the house. The walls are painted silver, to reflect the most light.

The dormer window on the front of the house provides light

Mike McCormick attaches the rope for lowering the panel

Our field service and maintenance expert Max Lambert was at the other end, along with Janine Estrella, secretary of the APL Board. Janine was documenting with her camera. There were so many unknowns about what would happen when we started lowering the panel… how much does it weigh? Is the 100 year old wood frame strong enough? How about the metal holding the glass together? And how about the physics of lowering this panel with the two ropes: could it result in an irreplaceable piece swinging wildly above the front door (possibly going through the front door’s beveled glass)?

The panel was wedged in with wooden shims. Once we got those out, it was time to see if we could lift and fit the panel through the opening for its trip down. The answer: Yes, and it went a bit faster than we expected. The corner of the frame that Max was lowering gave way about halfway down due to the sudden stress of torque after so many years of none. I wound up holding the rope for the other side because Mike was about to be pulled into the hole…

The Abyss: about 14 inches on one side and a slope on the other. That is what we had to stabilize ourselves on.

One side was down and the other came down to rest slowly. There is some work to do on the south end of the piece where the frame gave way, but on the whole the panel came out pretty well intact. But then we had to get ourselves out of the “light box” and safely out of the attic.

I had to move my posterior along that board toward the entrance to the light box, with a hand from Mike to avoid plunging into the Abyss.

View upstairs after lowering the panel

Ready for its makeover. Beginning with a careful vacuuming!

With a thorough cleaning and reglazing Mike will do, the original color of the stained glass will come through beautifully. Oh yeah, we’ve got to get it back up there in a few days!

–Bill Minter
Executive Director

Founded as the nation’s first limited residency graduate program in the field, Goucher College’s Master of Arts in Historic Preservation (MAHP) program reflects the breadth of historic preservation itself.  Our students are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds-from architects, planners, historians, and nonprofit administrators already professionally involved in historic preservation to teachers, contractors, archeologists, developers, community volunteers and others with a deep interest in working in the field.

Serving as tutors and mentors rather than traditional lecturers, our faculty meets face-to-face with students during annual summer session held on Goucher’s campus.  Throughout the course of the academic year, they maintain close contact with students utilizing online, interactive classrooms and as well as other forms of written and verbal communication.

Our limited-residency structure means that wherever you are, you’ll have the attention of top professionals from around the nation. For more information about the MAHP program, please visit www.goucher.edu/mahp

For complete details on this property with more photos, see
www.stovallrealtors.com

or direct link to MLS listing:

Customer Full Report

CHARM simply seeps from this 1939 vintage home. Beautiful polished hard wood floors throughout. Top of the line kitchen appliances plus glass front cabinets, solid surface counters. Amazing storage plus an expanded master with his & hers closets, vanities & updated shower. From the curved staircase to the original Kohler shower insert – you can have both – vintage character & modern conveniences. Updates galore. Make it yours for the holidays!

The building as it looked before the sheet metal was installed over the windows. The planned development district would not restrict what any owner does with the windows, but does stipulate the facade will be basically the same.

This morning the Abilene City Council gave unanimous approval to a Planned Development District that would incorporate the property on South First Street that is the former Lincoln Middle School. This was the result of several meetings between city and AISD officials, the APL and others. This is the first real protection that the building has ever had against demolition or neglectful misuse.

In 1924 the school opened, replacing two former school buildings on the block. It was intended, through the interpretation of architect David S. Castle, to represent to the world of visitors that passed by on the train or driving on the Bankhead Highway (South First) that Abilene was a community that is committed to education. Today’s action by the Council indicates that commitment is still there, along with an appreciation for our heritage.

Janine Estrella, Janet Payne and Marty Puls show "Slim" one of the chandeliers that will provide special illumination for the Wild West Halloween Ball, October 15th at the Swenson House.

So join the fun… to make a reservation, just email us, or call for more information at 325-676-3775!