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E-mail This StoryThe city of Grapevine has been named a Preserve America Community by the Preserve America initiative, one of just four Texas cities to receive the designation this year.
Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, House and Urban Development, Transportation and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. The initiative encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy the priceless cultural and natural heritage of this country.
Ross Bannister, Grapevine Convention and Visitor’s Bureau director, said the designation is a very high honor for the city and for the groups who have worked so hard to preserve Grapevine’s historic buildings.
“The designation is also a wonderful acknowledgement of the years of hard work by the community leaders,” Bannister said. “A good preservation program requires a substantial grass roots movement and strong leadership within the community. Grapevine is blessed with both.”
The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural assets and support the economic vitality of the communities.
Grapevine, one of the state’s oldest communities, has long been acknowledged as a city dedicated to preserving the history of the city and its historic buildings. The city has several committees that help promote historic preservation.
The Grapevine Heritage Foundation works to unite the community in promoting the preservation and restoration of the city’s historic buildings and researching and recording its heritage. The Grapevine Historic Preservation Commission recommends designation of historic districts and landmarks based on historical and architectural significance; advises property owners; reviews and approves design proposals for restoration, alteration or new construction in historically designated areas of the city.
The Grapevine Historical Society, one of the oldest organizations in the area devoted to preserving the city’s history, maintains a Web site dedicated to Grapevine’s history and sponsors the Historical Society Museum. Its members have worked together to produce to books on the history of Grapevine.
Grapevine has two historic districts and various historic landmarks throughout the city. Owners of historic buildings are allowed to apply for Grapevine Township Revitalization Program grants to revitalize the exterior of historic homes, apply for low interest loans for renovations of the home, apply for loan programs that finance the purchase and restoration of historic homes in one mortgage and take advantage of tax credits for restoration or rehabilitation costs for commercial buildings.
“The city has made a tremendous effort to preserve the culture and history of Grapevine and I believe this designation is well deserved,” Bannister said.
Among the buildings that have been restored are:
*The Palace Theatre, located at 300 South Main Street, is a 439 seat, 57 year old theatre that has had its original Art Deco architectural details restored and now serves as a cultural and civic center for not only Grapevine but the entire Northeast Tarrant County area. Next door is the historic Buckner Cash Grocery Building, built in the 1930s, that has been turned into a spot for lunch and an in the round theatre in the evenings.
*Nash Farm was purchased in 1859 by Thomas Jefferson Nash. The original log home was replaced in 1880 by the home that currently occupies the 5.2 acre historical farm. The farm is being restored by the Grapevine Heritage Foundation to reflect the lives of early farmers and settlers. The facility will eventually offer educational programs, exhibits and a family entertainment center.
*The Grapevine Vintage Railroad operates from the historic Cotton Belt Depot in downtown Grapevine. The restored depot serves as the passenger station for visitors who want to board the train for a trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards.
“The Preserve America Community designation will bring the city more assets for economic development and revitalization,” Bannister said. “Our major goal is to encourage people to appreciate local historic areas and the history of the area.”
Contact staff writer Linda Taylor at 972-628-4064 ext. 116 or ltaylor@acnpapers.com
