HLPB honored by

Preservation Texas for

achievements in promotion

of state's multicultural heritage

On May 2, 2008 the City of Marshall's Historic Landmark Preservation Board received an award from Preservation Texas at the Texas Historical Commission's annual histroic preservation conference held in Corpus Christi.  The Board was a receipient of  the Curtis Tunnel Award for achievements in the promotion of the state's multicultural heritage.  Preservation Texas' website states, "The awards were chosen by an independent jury of distinguished professionals representing a cross-section of disciplines within the field of historic preservation.  Their task was to determine significant contributions to preservation efforts across the state."

Members of the Board are Nancy Allin, Gail Beil, Annye Fisher, Carolyn Hamnet, Betty Lambright, Julia Williams, and Kathann Young.  Staff support for the Board is Bo Ellis, Preservation Officer, and Janet Cook, Assistant City Manager.

The nomination for the award said that 2001 the City of Marshall’s Historic Landmark Preservation Board (HLPB) made a decision to focus attention on neighborhood decay that was leading to the demolition of historic assets in Marshall’s older neighborhood. At the same time the Board wanted to make a special effort to highlight Marshall’s rich African American history. Both were high priority action items in the City’s Historic Preservation Plan. This decision led to a series of steps that have resulted in a renewed appreciation for the built environment in one of Marshall’s historic African American neighborhoods and a project that records African American history in Marshall.

These were the steps taken:

• 2001 – The Board becomes concerned about demolition in one of Marshall’s more historically significant neighborhoods, New Town, and the lack of understanding of how preservation, rather than demolition, can be a tool to neighborhood renewal. New Town is a traditionally African American neighborhood centered around Wiley College, the oldest accredited black college west of the Mississippi. The HLBP conducts a workshop on recording African American history. The workshop is well attended.
• 2002 – Based on the interest from the workshop the Board forms an advisory committee of New Town residents to consult with about the level of interest in organizing for neighborhood improvement. The committee recommends moving forward and the City applies to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) for a “Visionaries in Preservation” (VIP) grant for neighborhood planning assistance.
• 2004 – The New Town Neighborhood of Marshall Historic Preservation Action Plan is completed after a planning process in which New Town residents identify goals and action items for their neighborhood.
• 2005 – One of the action items from the New Town plan is implemented when New Town residents form Marshall’s first neighborhood association.
• 2006 – HLPB produces a brochure and driving tour focusing on the rich heritage of New Town. The purpose of the project is to spur the effort to record the history of New Town and its people. The New Town Neighborhood Association partners with the Board on the project. The project sparks interest in the community. The project was funded through a VIP implementation grant from the THC. The match was provided by local churches, organizations and businesses. 
• 2007 – The interest shown in African American history during New Town planning encourages the Board to move forward with a project to focus on the history of African Americans in Marshall and the built environment that reflects that history. A subcommittee of the Board works with an advisory team to prepare a list of the most significant events, people, and sites related to African American history.  A brochure with a companion driving tour identifies the selected people and sites. The project, completed in September 2007, was funded through a Certified Local Government Grant administered by the THC with the match from local churches, organizations and businesses. The 2,500 brochures were nearly depleted within three months. A second printing of 5,000 brochures is currently underway with funding provided by Humanities Texas with the local match from the city.

 The level of awareness of the important contributions of African Americans to Marshall’s history has been significantly increased. Understanding of how preserving the built environment also preserves the history of those who came before to build our neighborhood and our community has increased. As quoted by Anne Dennis with the Preservation Texas Advisory Council in an article in the Preservation Texas Reporter states:

“ ‘ I used to not like historic preservation. It got in the way of tearing down buildings I wanted gone. Now, I am a supporter of historic preservation.’ With this introduction, life-long New Town neighborhood resident and long-time Marshall City commissioner, John Wilborn, read his lengthy list of reasons why historic preservation is good for his neighborhood, good for his downtown, and good for his entire community.”