PRESERVATION MONTH 2017

January 2018 Main Street Matters

Each year in May, we celebrate Preservation Month across the country to spotlight efforts to save history and places that matter. Many Main Street programs hold events that are intended to instill community pride, promote heritage tourism, and show the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. While proclamations by city councils declaring May as Preservation Month are common, many local programs go a step further with special events and activities throughout the month celebrating local heritage and bolster support for their program. Here are some ideas to help Main Street managers plan for celebrating Preservation Month with special activities in May.

(Top left) Photo courtesy of Neil Abeles /Texarkana Gazette. Linden had a great turnout for its Imagine the Possibilities Tour. ( Top right) Photo courtesy of Neil Abeles /Texarkana Gazette. People on the tour were able to write down what they wanted to see in their downtown. (Bottom left) Photo courtesy of DowntownTX.org. (Bottom right) A building formerly used as the blue jeans department of the big downtown clothing retailer is now a successful gift store thanks to the Imagine the Possibilities Tour.

The Town Square Initiative (TSI) kicked off its website DowntownTX.org with 12 Imagine the Possibilities Tours to observe Preservation Month
in 2017. The tours showcased available downtown properties as a way to engage potential investors, entrepreneurs, developers, residents, and anyone else who has imagined themselves running a business, owning a building, or living downtown. The tours had a fantastic turnout, and many
program managers saw new people visiting their vacant buildings and places.

One of the success stories from the Imagine the Possibilities Tours came from Linden, which was brand new to the Main Street program in 2017.
Having committed to the May date early allowed Allie Anderson, Linden Main Street manager, to converse with property owners so hey had time
to clean up their spaces to attract prospects. Allie also increased the engagement from the public by simply posting giant pieces of paper and letting people write down what they want to see in that particular space. After the tour, Shade Tree Gifts opened in a building that served as the blue jeans department for the big downtown clothing retailer, Allen Brothers Men’s and Women’s Department Store. Shade Tree Gifts remains open and prosperous.

(Top) Photos and paintings displayed at the Fort Bend County Museum for the Preserving Fort Bend County Through the Arts contest. (Bottom) Reception at Fort Bend County Museum honoring the winners contest.

TSI is conducting Imagine the Possibilities Tours again this year to celebrate Preservation Month. If your downtown is listed on DowntownTX.org, and you want to participate, contact Emily Koller at Emily.Koller@thc.texas.gov.

Rosenberg is another city that executed a creative idea to celebrate Preservation Month for the past three years. In 2015 and 2016, they held an Architectural Appreciation Photo Contest, and last year, they built on that idea, by naming the contest Preserving Fort Bend County Through the Arts to include all art mediums. Partnering with the Art League of Fort Bend, the Fort Bend Historical Commission, and the Fort Bend County Museum, the contest was held in May with the winners being announced and awarded trophies and ribbons at a City Council meeting. The
winners were recognized at a reception at the Fort Bend County Museum, and the entries were displayed for about two months at the museum with ribbons denoting the winners. The Rosenberg Main Street Manager, Dan Kelleher, said it was a great way to involve other organizations in Rosenberg with the Main Street program, and get the public excited for Preservation Month.

When planning an activity for Preservation Month, make sure it engages everyone in the community and not just the regular stakeholders. This is an opportunity to showcase your historic downtown, and involve people that are usually not involved in preservation. For more ideas and inspiration for Preservation Month activities, Main Street managers can visit the TMSP online resource library to find out how other Main
Streets celebrate Preservation Month, proclamation templates, and “This Place Matters” materials.