|
Foundation History
The Historic Jefferson
Foundation was created in 1981 by a Jefferson citizens' "grass
roots" effort to save from further destruction the remains of one of
the important downtown buildings, the Denton Drug Company, which had been
devastated by fire. Unfortunately, soon after, a wind storm resulted in
the collapse of the remaining walls of the building. Undeterred, the group
continued to meet and provided for membership expansion. The aim of the
new organization became to promote economic development in Jefferson
through historic preservation as a means of saving valuable structures
through "adaptive reuse" and fund raising.
Among the many accomplishments of the Foundation are:
*The Steamboat/Warf area is now designated, through the efforts of the
Foundation, as a Texas Archaeological Landmark.
*Maintains and beautifies the Sterne Fountain and the surrounding area,
including lighting at the intersection of Lafayette and Market streets.
*Took over space and created the area now known as the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial Park on Austin Street in
beautiful downtown Jefferson.
* Acquired, restored, and
caused to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the
Confederate Powder Magazine.
* Acquired a portion of the Robert Potter historical site in order to aid
in its preservation.
* Jacques Bagur, a professional researcher has been employed by the
Foundation and is currently writing a history of Jefferson's Golden Era
(1841-1874). This is what, when finished, will be the first volume of a
three volume set. Volume two will detail Jefferson during the Civil War
and volume three will consider Reconstruction and the end of the steamboat era. Mr. Bagur regularly reports back to the Foundation on the
results of his continuing research, much of which is included within the
pages of the Jeffersonian.
*Employed the Center for Historic Architecture of the University of
Houston School of Architecture to conduct a survey of the historic
structures of Jefferson.
*Worked with the United States Army Corp of Engineers to locate and
excavate the original site of early steamboat wharves.
*Sponsored three field trips from the University of Houston College of
Architecture and Texas A and M University, College Station School of
Architecture to oversee three structures in Jefferson to be included in
the "Historic American Building Survey."
*Co-sponsored the investigation which led to the location and
identification of the last autonomous Caddo Indian village, Shachildni ni.
*The Foundation has adopted a project to locate and mark the graves of the
Federal soldiers who were stationed and died in Jefferson during the
Reconstruction Period. Even though the War was over, these men were on
active duty.
|