May is Historic Preservation month -- Keep Gonzales Beautiful

By Ann Covert

May is Heritage Preservation Month. Many communities will celebrate 2010 National Preservation Month with recognition of community preservation.  “Old is the New Green” is the theme of the month-long celebration and is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This theme is a follow through from previous year’s themes - “Making Preservation work, “This place matters” and “ Sustain America – Vision, Economics and Preservation.”
     Since the National Trust created Preservation Week in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts in America, it has grown into an annual celebration observed by many small towns and big cities with events of appreciation and recognition. The first official Preservation Month was observed in 2005.
     Gonzales does not have a public celebration of our preservation/ heritage this year but many have certainly contributed to the preservation of parts of Gonzales. However, the community will meet a milestone in the developing of a new program through the Texas Historic Commission (THC).  Along with many, I hope that 2010 will be the beginning of a new era for Gonzales. Through the Visionaries in Preservation (VIP) we will learn more about the city’s priorities, preservation and livability issues. The next meeting is Tuesday May 11 at 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Randle Rather building.  This meeting should set in motion a working plan and by September we should have a preservation action plan for the program – for the City. 
     From a news release from the THC “VIP is the community planning program of the Texas Historical Commission. VIP asks how you want your community to look and feel and provides tools to help Gonzales retain its identity and sense of place as it grows and changes.”  You are certainly welcome to come participate.
 I have been writing this article each May for several years and now I look forward to seeing what news 2011 will bring about for a preservation celebration for our community.  
      The Keep Gonzales Beautiful program encourages preservation of our heritage and stewardship of our lands in beautification and property improvement. We extend sincere appreciation to all who have done so much for the preservation of public buildings and private homes. You have truly contributed to preserving our heritage and making Gonzales beautiful by your efforts. We want to commend all of you who have endeavored to preserve a bit of the history of Gonzales whereby in the years to come the legacy will long be recognized by all who live here and visitors alike. We recognize and applaud your persistence and investment.

Protecting America’s heritage can be easy and fun. Preservation is more than buildings and grounds. It is seen in many areas. Here are a few simple ways in which you can participate: 1)  Tour your hometown. Visit a historic site in your area or stop by the museums to recognize the great treasure of history we have here. Visit Pioneer Village, buildings there will startle and astound you as to the conditions the pioneers and their families endured to secure this area called Gonzales and parts of Texas. Get out and take the Historic Walking Tour and see the homes and buildings that have been restored. Remember that many of the private residences were in declining structural deterioration even in the ‘70’s and the homes changed hands. New caring owners persevered to save, restore and a live in a piece of history.  Getting out of your car allows you to appreciate the buildings and public parks that make up the place where you live.
2) Shop on Main Street. Traditional commercial districts not only have appealing buildings but they also feature locally owned stores that are vital parts of your community. Look at the buildings and look for the detail of the architecture.…..try it – it is fun! 3) Read all about it. Our community has a book about its local history produced by the Gonzales County Historical Commission several years ago through the commitment and dedication of Genevive Vollentine and Ruth Denman and many helpers. You will find interesting and entertaining stories about many families here in Gonzales. 4) Visit some sacred history. The churches in Gonzales are among the community’s oldest and most beautiful buildings. The local cemeteries reveal the fascinating lives of those who came before. There are over 100 historical markers designating noteworthy spots of interest in Gonzales County…….look them up and see what you find. 5) Explore your family’s history. Show your kids the places where you went to school or where you got married; take your parents to a place that’s important in your life. Check out our outstanding Archives where volumes of information are carefully organized and saved to tell many stories of the past, and 6) Sleep in and/or tour a historic place. There are historic inns and B & B’s across the country; many of the best are right here in town! Many historic homes across America have been literally saved by extensive restoration and love and care by owners of Bed and Breakfast facilities. Eleven lucky homes have been saved for this purpose in Gonzales; however all but three have transcended into private homes.  
     Preservation happens locally. It is site specific – in your building, your block, your town, your landscape. Your heritage…..In cooperation with the City, the County, the Gonzales Historical Commission, the State and Federal grant programs and interested citizens and organizations, Preservation Landmarks in Gonzales are found across the town. The Courthouse has been renovated in grand style and continues to be used as the County Courthouse. The Oak Forrest Bridge has been saved from abandonment and moved to Kerr Creek. It stands as a reminder of the transportation routes of the area. The bridge seems to offer a feel for the era of horse and buggies and small cars known as the Model T. The town Squares have been landscaped, Riverside Center was rescued many years ago by members of the Pilot Club, and restoration was begun on the north wing. The entire building has now been renovated and the south wing holds an impressive Youth Rodeo Museum. Plans are moving toward restoration of the Old Jail, the Crystal Theater and the Gonzales Memorial Museum. The Armory has been renovated for a higher education center for Victoria College. The Alcalde Hotel has been rescued, partially restored and now has several office spaces. The Lynn Theatre has been saved from desertion and is restored to its original glory.  More has happened for preservation and conservation of properties and heritage in the last fifteen years with much more to come. There are many fine homes lost forever, but look around and consider that most of the larger homes now standing have been or are going restoration. Next time I will spotlight several of the fine homes that have been saved by individuals that know that this is a special place.
   I hope that you can appreciate that space does not allow recognition of all of the recent preservation undertaken in the City but I want to note that most of the restorations stand as a monument to the Pioneers and settlers who endured discouraging times, severe weather, disease and life threatening events to rise in audacious standing to leave a piece of architecture and family legacy for all of us to value in what is known as the Lexington of Texas……the beginning of freedom for the West.