Mount Vernon Texas—one of three “Texas Treasures” preservation ...

WEB: MV has long history of participating in Texas Historical Commission's Preservation programs. First Lady's Texas Treasures Award 1st round..one of 3...2009 Texas Main Street City in 1992 Visionaries in Preservation program THC trained locals and guided them to envision what kind of town Mount Vernon would become. As a result of VIP ~Adoption of a Preservation Ordinance by City Council ~Implementation of a tax freeze for renovation to historic business properties ~Seating of the Landmark Commission ~Establishment of four historic districts ~Application to National Register Districts in process ~Historic Assets survey completed ~Implementation of facade grant through City of Mount Vernon preserving their authentic Texas sense of place Historic properties are protected by city ordinances, seen as an investment for the future. Stabilize historic commercial district and neighborhoods and increase property values

First permanent settlers in co. by 1818...Town built around a central plaza platted in 1849. Local landmark commission provides design and materials use guidelines for building rehabilitation Lake Cypress Springs retirees engaged injected new energy.

*First Lady's Inaugural 'Texas Treasure' City *Preserve America City *National Main Street City *Texas Historical Commission Main Street City *Visionaries in Preservation City

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Mount Vernon, honored by Texas First Lady Anita Perry in 2009 -- adaptive reuse of Mount Vernon's historic structures makes a good and somewhat quirky story. "Nothing gets old if you tear it down," (Would love to get that as an actuality for our episode) says Mount Vernon City Councilman B.F. Hicks, Hon. TSA (1994). He actually lives in the mid1850s church where his parents were married, and his home has been featured on HGTV. History: Mt. Vernon, a few miles west on the Choctaw trail. In 1887 the St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway was built across the center of the county and became the major access to market for most farmers. (thru city?) The Cotton-Belt line acquired right-of-way through the center of the county and through Mt. Vernon in 1881. The town of Mt. Vernon was incorporated as a city in 1910. The earliest home still standing in the town of Mt. Vernon dates from 1870; post office in 1848 and town laid out in lots and blocks. Stephen and Rebecca Keith gave 24 acres of land for the town, a trading area down near the Fannin Springs - a spring on the east side of the intersection of Holbrook and Rutherford Streets; when the 24 acre donation was made the town moved "up" to its present location, about 8 blocks to the north and the early settlement at the springs was soon abandoned. A stagecoach stop out at the northeast corner of the intersection of present-day Interstate 30 and State Highway 37 was named Lone Star and that stagecoach stop was eventually abandoned. 1875, Mt. Vernon elected seat in a contested election which saw Mt. Vernon supporters ferrying voters across the flooded White Oak Creek to get them to the polls. A courthouse in 1877. torn down in 1912 and present courthouse was erected on the north side of the square. built at a cost of $55,000. in a southern Georgian colonial style and the district courtroom has recently been restored and is used for public concerts and meetings as well as continuing to serve as the official courtroom for district court.Mt. Vernon has the distinction of being the smallest (in population) city in the state of Texas approved as an official Texas Main Street City... population of 2,286 STRUCTURES --Majors-Parchman House, a farmstead constructed in 1883 --Parchman-Meredith Store, 1894 dry goods store --B F Hicks Church Home: 503 Kaufman (903) 537-4763

--Mount Vernon Music hall in old church --Chamber of Commerce is in an 1880s department store. -- M.L. Edwards Department Store, built in 1916 --Genealogy Society is in an 1890s dry goods store --library is in a 1900 bank building; --one of the arts venues is the Old Jail, an idea Mount Vernon borrowed from Albany, Texas. -- Optic-Herald Building, in continuous operation since 1874 --1894 railroad depot --five historical museums

-- 1868 Home of Henry Clay Thruston, 7 feet, 7 inches famous as the tallest soldier in the Confederate army -- now visitor center -- Fire Station Museum, 1940 Works Progress Administration architecture; Old Firehouse Museum includes memorabilia of hometown-boy-football-star Dandy Don Meredith. -- Crystal Springs, Works Progress Administration construction -- Fleming Medical Office, constructed in 1887 -- Masonic Lodge, built in 1911, now home to Milano's Pizza --Historic routes

Predating Anglo settlement, two important Indian trade routes--the Choctaw Trail and the Cherokee Trace--crossed the county. The Bankhead Highway, the first transcontinental highway, followed the route of the Choctaw Trail is Mt. Vernon's Main Street. Signs mark these and other historic transportation routes --Franklin Co. has more than 60 pre-World War I homes; how many in town? --former glove factory? Preserve America town...White House recognition of efforts: Texas Forest Trail heritage tourism initiative of the Texas Historical Commission. Visionaries in Preservation--Franklin County listed by THC, 2006. THC--Visionaries in Preservation community asks Where are we now? Where are we going? Where do we want to be? How can we get there? Action Plan: Top priority of group: Revitalize downtown thru planning process known as "visioning." Public Policy Identify and revitalize significant historic sites

Investigate open land preservation to preserve landscape --land trusts Record oral histories of Franklin County residents Investigate night sky preservation Educate RE: broad benefits of historic preservation. Resources: B. F. Hicks, 201 N. Kaufman 903/537-2264 Teresia Wims--Eco Dev

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