July 21, 2025 - Going from the general to the specific, Alease Copelin of the Shelby County Historical Society spoke to the Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society last Wednesday about the civic and cultural value of historic homes and shared photos of notable homes in Center which no longer exist. “When someone mentions historical homes, what towns near us come to mind?”, Copelin began. Answers from the audience included San Augustine, Nacogdoches, and Jefferson, among others. “Well I used to teach in Timpson, and I would drive around town looking and the beautiful old historic homes that are here. Some are in better condition than others, but the truth is most communities, including Timpson, have beautiful historic homes worthy of restoration and preservation,” she continued. “San Augustine has so many beautiful old homes but many in Center have been torn down. The primary reason is those in Center were razed to make room for business and industrial growth but San Augustine didn't have that sort of commercial influx and remained pretty much unchanged.”
“Any discussion of the preservation of historic homes must begin with a definition of what a historical home is,” Copelin continued. She defined a historic property as a building, site, district, structure, or object that is significant in terms of its architecture, engineering, history, culture, or archaeology. The criteria for determining historical significance may vary by county, region, and local jurisdiction, but typically involves age, style, rarity, uniqueness, and association with important events, people, or architectural movements. “Do y'all know how old a building must be to even apply for a Texas historical marker? It's fifty years. When I did my Home Economics student teaching at Center High School, I had an opportunity to work with both Barbara Dance and Billie Bailey. Billie Bailey had her students learning about different housing styles and she told her class that there was a 'dog-trot' house that still existed in Center. It's a log house on the right on the Tenaha Highway and the dog-trot has been closed in but still exists,” Copelin revealed. “Preservation allows us to save these pieces of history and pass them on to future generations. There are three primary reasons why we should do this. First, there is the historical value of the buildings. Second, there are economic benefits to preserving these structures, and third, the aesthetic importance of older buildings.”
“I'm on the Historic Commission in Center and I'm excited to say that it appears that we have a source of some of the funding to fix the old jail. It's an important part of Center's history and it is in appalling condition. Many of the windows are broken or missing and and rain is getting in. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 said 'preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest for future generations'. Next there are the economics benefits. We hate to say it's about money, but it really is. We love to go to Jefferson so about once a month we drive up and look at the beautiful old homes. But while we're there we eat at a restaurant and usually visit the general store and spend some money there. So preserved historic building attract visitors to a city and boost the local economy. That is certainly true of Galveston, which has the Bishop's Palace and many other amazing old buildings. Structures built prior to World War II were usually constructed using higher quality materials, like heart pine and marble, that are no longer readily available. They were built to last indefinitely, whereas modern building are expected to last only 35 to 50 years. I am a docent at the Old University Building in Nacogdoches, which was built in 1845, and the solid wood floors in it are still in great shape and beautiful. Also, the quality of workmanship in many old building is superior what is available today. The cost of constructing these building today would be prohibitive,” Copelin shared.
“Historic buildings can have great aesthetic value. They are usually beautiful, constructed in styles of architecture no longer used, with remarkable and unique details. I'm ashamed to say it but Center's First Christian Church, where I go, tore down their beautiful old building some years ago. I was able to buy some of the stained glass windows from it and they are in my home. Historic buildings which have been restored and preserved add beauty and elegance to the cities where they exist. Though there are many wonderful old homes in Shelby County, only two have been granted a historical medallion. One is the Wilson home located in Center and the other is Welcome Hall in Shelbyville. Structures which have been recognized with a medallion are supposed to be kept as close as possible to their original design to maintain their historic character and value.”
Copelin shared photos of a number of historic homes in Center which no longer exist which led to a discussion among attendees about properties in Shelby County which they felt should be preserved, including Timpson's Fox theater. The expense and difficulties of renovating and preserving a historic building were also discussed. Several members of the audience currently own historic buildings and shared their experiences.
TAGHS meets at 2PM on the third Wednesday of each month in the meeting room of the Timpson Public Library, located on the corner of Austin and Bremond Streets. The public is always welcome.
