Historic Districts in Palestine, Texas: A Quick Guide (with MAPS!)

Historic Districts in Palestine, Texas: A Quick Guide (with MAPS!)

 

I love the smell of history in the morning. Don’t you? 😉

DID YOU KNOW? The number of historic structures in the Palestine’s City National Register Historic Districts is on of the largest concentrations of historic structures in the State of Texas!

Palestine, Texas was established in 1846 and features over 1800 historic sites, including homes, businesses, churches, monuments, cemeteries and museums.  We are very lucky to be surrounded by a rich historical heritage in Palestine!  I get asked often by folks about historic districts and whether or not their home is in a historic district.  However, even if your home is not within one of the registered districts, you can still apply your property to be a Palestine Designated Historic Landmark.  (To qualify, property must be 50+ years old and “have a historical value due to association with important events, people, trends, or are representative of historic architectural style and/or building methods.”

 

THE FOUR PALESTINE, TEXAS RECOGNIZED HISTORICAL DISTRICTS:

 

1. Palestine North Side Historic District:

The original settlers of Palestine and long time residents lived mostly north and northwest ofthe courthouse in areas called Old Town and north central Palestine. Most of these people arrived between 1846 and 1861 from other southern states. Homes in Old Town and north central Palestine include small, simple one and two story houses as well as large, two and three story residences. Built of wood or brick and lived in by early residents, some are examples of vernacular architecture made from locally available materials with L-plan designs, or center passage plans, some with Greek Revival decoration. Others were designed by architects with Greek Revival style decoration or Tudor Revival or Classical Revival style design and used massed produced materials. Examples of all of these types of architecture are preserved within the boundaries of the Northside Historic District, which was designated in 2007.” -City Historical Preservation Committee Handbook

 

2.  Palestine South Side Historic District:

“Bankers, lawyers, doctors, architects, carpenters, masons, and merchants settled in Palestine because of the growth caused by the railroad. These residents lived south of the railroad tracks in the area that is now the South Side Historic District. Homes built by these residents are large or medium sized and are made of wood, stone or brick. Many are two stories tall and some are three stories. Many homes in this area were designed by architects in a number of architectural styles including Classical Revival. These buildings were influenced by published designed and constructed with mass produced lumber and hardware. Also settling south of the railroad were rank and file workers who lived along the east and north edges of the South Side Historic District, near the railroad tracks. These homes are generally small, one story wood cottages with little architectural decoration built from massed produced materials. The South Side Historic District was created in 2008 to preserve this historic neighborhood.” -City Historical Preservation Committee Handbook

 

3.  Palestine Michaux Historic District

“The southeast part of Palestine was sparsely populated until about 1915 when new economic growth in Palestine created the need and the means to pay for new housing. Housing here is mostly small and medium size one and two story wood or brick dwellings. Most are vernacular buildings. The Tudor Revival style John H. Reagan School, built in 1917 at 400 S. Michaux Avenue is one of the most visually imposing buildings in the southeast part of Palestine. The Michaux Historic District was created in 2009 to preserve the historic character of this predominately early 20th Century neighborhood.”  -City Historical Preservation Committee Handbook

 

4.  Downtown (Commercial Buildings) Historic District

Since the arrival of the railroad in 1872, the commercial center of the City of Palestine has been the downtown area. Composed primarily of late 19th and early 20th Century commercial buildings, the downtown area referred to as “New Town” by local residents, has always provided goods, services and entertainment to the residents occupying the upper floors of these commercial buildings, surrounding neighborhoods, as well as the many visitors to the city drawn by the economic opportunities provided by the railroad industry. The downtown historic district was created in 1992, to preserve this area, and the Palestine Main Street Program assists property owners in this area to promote economic revitalization and growth within this district, which is the historical center of commercial activity and urban life in the City of Palestine.

 

Please note, however, that not every historic site or landmark falls within these 4 recognized districts.
________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have any questions on your historic property, or looking to buy or sell a historic property? I’d love to help answer them! (Or if you’d like to take me on a private tour, I’d love to see it! 😉
Lisa E. Priest, Texas REALTOR®
Picket Fence Realty, Inc.
voice / text: 903-948-3343
[email protected]
www.RentPalestine.com – www.BuyPalestine.com
buy-rent-sell-property management
Follow me on Facebook!


Sorry we are experiencing system issues. Please try again.