Latest news with #PreservationTexas
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wichita Falls historic house could face demolition after fire
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A historic house in Wichita Falls is nearing its end after a weekend fire. The Berry Brown House could soon be demolished as a city official expects it to be classified as a public safety concern and be brought down. Patsy's House launches annual pinwheel campaign for child abuse awareness 'It was really sickening and saddening,' Karen Montgomery-Gagne, Principal Planner for the City of Wichita Falls, said. 'Sadly, it's really the reality of our fears has come true.' The Victorian-style, two-story house, once vibrant, is now reduced to near ashes. Montgomery-Gagne believes it's a step closer to being condemned. 'It's just always unfortunate when something like this happens because it is a treasure that's lost in our community and something that holds value to many more people beyond just the owners,' Montgomery-Gagne said. Heavy fire and smoke poured from the house. 'It was fully involved. Tried to make an initial attack, however, went defensive very quickly. Just too much fire, too much heat. So they set the ladder truck up, knocked it down, and after that, they used hand lines to mop it up,' Fire Marshal Craig Berend said. A pivotal house once occupied by former Wichita Falls Alderman Berry Brown to grow the city. November 2025 would mark 40 years since the city designated it as a landmark. 'Significance in the development of our community. Those are items that make us unique from other communities. They have value. They help give us a grounding of where the community's been and where the community is going,' Montgomery-Gagne said. The house has been listed with the nonprofit Preservation Texas as endangered since 2006—a nonprofit with a call to raise awareness for historic structures in the state. 'This was an opportunity to increase awareness of this building in the hope that maybe there would be a group that could work with the owners to do something as far as maintenance improvement,' Montgomery-Gagne said. But now, the city is inching closer to losing history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Historic Wichita Falls home engulfed in flames
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The Wichita Falls Fire Department is battling flames at a historic home near Faith Mission. Crews received a call of a structure fire around 6:08 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2024. The Berry Brown House at 1400 Travis Street was found in flames. From our Big Blue tower camera, smoke could be seen smoldering downtown Wichita Falls. According to Preservation Texas, the house was built in 1892 and is among the oldest remaining structures in Wichita Falls. Its status is listed as endangered and listed as a local historic landmark. We have a crew on scene working to gather more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
After decades of controversy, San Marcos inches towards a decision on Cape's Dam
SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – One side thinks it is dilapidated, dangerous and bad for the environment. The other wants to preserve it, saying it is historically significant, provides recreation opportunities, and is good for the environment. The San Marcos City Council issued a request for proposals in December to study Cape's Dam further. The city wants an independent group to examine the potential impacts of removing or preserving the dam before making a final decision. 'This dam replaced an early dam that was built in 1850,' said Jesus Najar from Preservation Texas. '[The current one] was built in 1867 replacing the first dam. Its uniqueness is in the materials used. They used cypress wood from the local river banks [and] complemented it with limestone and gravel carried from the Blanco River.' The structure was originally a mill site. And while the many years it has stood in the river have not been kind to it, Najar said its historical significance makes it worthy of preserving. He added there was an effort to have the structure historically designated in the 1980s, but the preservationists at the time were unsuccessful. Preservation Texas is currently working on getting the dam added to the National Register of Historic Places. 'We not only want it to stay, but it's also [about] restoring it. The important part is to restore the existing fabric of the dam. That way it can be preserved [and] safer.' Safety is one reason some river advocates think it should be removed. In November 2024, a 17-year-old boy drowned while swimming near Cape's Dam. Folks at the San Marcos River Foundation had for years voiced concern over the potential dangers of keeping it in its current state. 'We just feel that at this time, removal of Cape's Dam is the fastest, safest and most environmentally friendly thing that [the city] could do,' said Virginia Parker, the executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation. The dam diverts water from the river's main channel into the mill race, a manmade channel, which groups now use for kayaking. Parker said it is more important to have that water in the main channel due to drought conditions. 'All over the United States, dams are being removed for the health of rivers. It is not a new concept that this dam being removed would be better for the river,' Parker continued. Others in San Marcos want the dam to stay because of the mill race. 'Essentially there's three times the amount of water [in the mill race] because of the dam,' said Ben Kvanli, a former Olympic canoeist and current kayak instructor. Kvanli teaches groups of people with disabilities how to kayak. He said the mill race's stagnant water is the perfect location for his students. 'I'm more interested in the recreation [component] than I am in conservation. But the fact of the matter is that we have to work together,' Kvanli said. 'We are not on different sides at the end of the day,' he continued. 'We need to clarify what we are going to do in terms of a plan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
