News Posts

Preservation Texas Regional Meeting in Marshall Focused on Saving Historic Railroad Sites and Structure

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PreservatinTexasLogoCroppedPreservation Texas has scheduled their 2016 East Texas Regional Meeting in Marshall, Texas on August 11.  A full day of sessions will be focused on saving historic railroad sites and structures.  More information is available at http://www.preservationtexas.org/marshall2016/.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Sue Morris Lazara at sue.lazara@lindenheritage.org.

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Walmart Community Grant Program Donates to Firehouse Rescue Fund

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WalMart_CheckPresentation

Melinda Winton (left), Manager of Walmart SuperCenter in Atlanta, Texas, presented a $1,000 donation from the Walmart Community Grant Program to the Linden Heritage Foundation’s 1939 Firehouse Rescue Fund on June 3, 2016.  Jana C. Bounds (middle) and Charlotte Wells (right) accepted the check on behalf of the Linden Heritage Foundation.   Photograph courtesy of Jo Anna Duncan’s Front Porch Treasures Studio on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FrontPorchTreasuresStudio.

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Texas Main Street Application Assignments Made

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Magnolia Service Station owned and operated by J. J. Eller. Mid-1930s photos from the collection of Charline Wiley Morris.
Magnolia Service Station owned and operated by J. J. Eller. Mid-1930s photo from the collection of Charline Wiley Morris. Click on photo to enlarge image.

Linden City Administrator, Bob Swisher, has assembled the following group to prepare the City’s application for the 2017 Texas Main Street Program.

  • Clarence Burns – Criteria 5: Demonstrated need
  • Mary Dowd – Criteria 2: Community and private sector support and organizational capacity; Overall Editor
  • Emily Henderson – Criteria 4: Physical capacity
  • Sue Lazara – Criteria 1:  Historic commercial fabric and historic identity; Photos and descriptions
  • Kay Stephens – Criteria 1:  Historic commercial fabric and historic identity
  • Bob Swisher – Criteria 3, Public sector support and financial capacity; Timeline; Committee Chair

The Committee met on Tuesday, May 24th, at City Hall to discuss the application process, tasks, and duties.  The application is due at the Texas Historical Commission in Austin on or before July 29, 2016.

Linden City Council Approves Resolutions to proceed with application to 2017 Texas Main Street Program

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Member of Linden Heritage Foundation, Linden City Council, and Linden Economic Development Corporation following approval of Council Resolution required to proceed with application to 2017 Texas Main Street Program. Top row (left to right): Sam Higdon, Clarence Burns, Richard Bowden, Emily Henderson, and Bob Swisher. Bottom row: Kenny Hamilton, Mike Berry, Chuck Evans, Sue Lazara, and Ruth Halleck.
Member of Linden Heritage Foundation, Linden City Council, and Linden Economic Development Corporation following approval of Council Resolution required to proceed with application to 2017 Texas Main Street Program. Top row (left to right): Sam Higdon, Clarence Burns, Richard Bowden, Emily Henderson, and Bob Swisher. Bottom row: Kenny Hamilton, Mike Berry, Chuck Evans, Sue Lazara, and Ruth Halleck. Photo by John Knapp

Following the call to order for the May 23, 2016 meeting of the Linden City Council, Linden Heritage Foundation President Sam Higdon spoke under the Public Comment section of the Agenda.  He thanked members of the the Council and others who have supported submission of an applicant to the 2017 Texas Main Street Program and brought about the consensus needed to proceed.

Two Resolutions were on the Special Agenda proposed by City Administrator, Bob Swisher.  Mayor Burns read Resolution 3-16 which provides funding for the Texas Main Street Program and proposes that 33% of the City’s subsidy of staff expenses for the Linden Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) be withdrawn at the end of the current fiscal year.  Ms. Lazara moved for adoption and Ms. Halleck seconded the motion.  Mr. Hamilton asked that it be made clear that the funding to be withdrawal from LEDC would not occur until October 1, 2016.  This intent was confirmed and the motion passed unanimously.

The Mayor then read Resolution 4-16 which provides authorization by the Council which is required by the Texas Historical Commission as part of the application.  Mr. Hamilton moved for adoption of the Resolution and Ms. Lazara seconded. It passed unanimously without discussion.

The meeting was adjourned; and members of Linden Heritage Foundation, Linden City Council, and Linden Economic Development Corporation gathered for a photograph to document this important step in the revitalization of Linden.

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Ward Timber Company Donates to Firehouse Rescue Fund

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Check presentation by Brittanie Ward Lowery (center), Administrative Assistant of Ward Timber Company, to Linden Heritage Foundation Officers Joe B. Lovelace (left) and Jana Carpenter Bounds (right).
Brittanie Ward Lowery (center), Administrative Assistant of Ward Timber Company, present check to Linden Heritage Foundation Officers Joe B. Lovelace (left) and Jana C. Bounds (right).
Linden Heritage Foundation recently accepted a generous contribution to help rescue Linden’s 1939 Firehouse.  Ward Timber Company of Linden has donated $1,000 in recognition of the role fire departments play in protection of our structures and woodlands.

The Linden Heritage Foundation was established in 2015 as a public charity to protect historic resources of Linden.  The Foundation quickly realized that endangerment issues impacting the Firehouse had to be addressed immediately if this historically significant structure was to be saved

Recently, the Linden Firehouse was preliminarily selected by the Texas Preservation Trust Fund for a crucial Project Planning Grant.  To raise the necessary match money for that grant, the Linden Heritage Foundation established the Firehouse Rescue Fund.

The overall plan is to restore the Firehouse in a way that retains its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places, improve the visual appearance of downtown Linden, and give the City a commercial shot in the arm.  Because of the building’s historical significance, it is possible to move in this direction using tax money we have already paid to our state and federal governments.

Conceptual computer-rendered image of 1939 Firehouse after restoration.
Conceptual computer-rendered image of 1939 Firehouse after restoration by Lucas Allen.
The immediate state grant available to the Firehouse is designed to fund planning services by an architect possessing the type of credentials required by the Texas Preservation Trust Fund on projects chosen to receive public funding.  Planning work done under this grant will also serve to keep the Firehouse on track for a possible “Full Restoration Grant” the following year.

Firehouse History 

  • Built: 1939
  • Architect: R. Stanley-Brown
  • Local Builder: A. Morse
  • Designation: Eligible for National Registry of Historic Places
  • Recognition: Preservation Texas 2016 Texas’ Most Endangered Places List – Local Public Buildings category

The following news articles appeared in the local press to usher in the new structure:

  • January 26, 1939: “Linden started work this week on building a stucco fire station for their fire engine, and the building will include office, storage room and sleeping quarters for two volunteers…”
  • February 23, 1939: “DID YOU HEAR . . . the Fire Truck as it moved into its new home Tuesday noon, near the water tower? This is a great improvement to our little city.”

Architectural historians and preservationists have long recognized that no community, neither its buildings nor its forests nor its people, is safe without a fire station.  In early 2016, in recognition of its historical uniqueness and significance, the Old Linden Firehouse was named by Preservation Texas to its 2016 Texas’ Most Endangered Places list.  When making that announcement to a crowd gathered in Austin, the following remarks were offered by Evan Thompson, Executive Director of Preservation Texas:

  • “While many historical buildings have been lost to fire, so many have been saved through the valiant efforts of firefighters. That we are able to enjoy neighborhoods filled with old wooden structures is a testament to the success of our firefighters, and old fire stations represent the front line in preservation.”

Firehouse Future

We hope you will honor the town of Linden with a gift of your support to rescue, restore, and reimagine our Old Linden Firehouse of 1939.

Interested parties may donate to the Firehouse Rescue Fund by check made out to Linden Heritage Foundation – Rescue, PO Box 507, Linden 75563.  Donations by credit card are also welcomed.

Your gift to this Firehouse Rescue Fund will play a lasting role in helping Linden honor its unique heritage, prosper commercially, create jobs, and become all it can and should be.

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