Description: Photograph of 100 S. Sycamore taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991. This building is one of the relatively few historic warehouses to survive in Palestine. The building is indicative of how little stylistic ornamentation was applied to buildings that were used for utilitarian purposes. The building does have paired, double-hung windows set within segmented arches and vertical brick piers that define the bays. The Davidson-Pearlstone Grocery Company was in operation at this site for several years following its formation in 1899. In 1904 local businessman Hyman Pearlstone bought the controlling interest and renamed the company. According to local historians, J.T. Sweetman bought an interest in the firm in 1905. The Pearlstone Grocery Company opened in this building in January 1913.

Description: This building was designed by James Knox Taylor of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Supervising Architect. It was built in 1907, on land purchased by the federal government from St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church and Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Hicks. The new post office replaced older facilities which had occupied various locations through out the city since the mid-1800’s. In 1964, a new post office was built several blocks to the north and this facility was converted into a Federal Building to house a number of general federal offices. In 1987 the building was declared surplus to the government’s needs and in 1989 the government transferred the building to Anderson County for use as county offices. The building still houses county offices and also is the home of the Anderson County Historical Commission. This building is one of only two local institutional buildings with Renaissance Revival detailing; the other is the old Carnegie Library. This architectural expression gained only marginal popularity throughout Texas, making the old Post Office in Palestine a rare example of the style. When completed in 1907, the Post Office immediately became a prominent architectural landmark in the community. The Post Office’s unique physical character is further ...

Description: Photograph of 101 E. Spring taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991.

Description: Photograph of 101 W. Green taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991. This 1-story frame dwelling exemplifies the modified L-plan house, a common plan type. The shingle siding in the front gable end is suggestive of the Queen Anne style. Porch Changes, such as the box columns and brick pedestals, detract somewhat from the property’s historic character, but the house still retains much of its integrity. Although this house dates to around the turn of the century, city directory research was only able to trace its occupancy to 1926-27, when the building was occupied by Mack and Louise Presley. Mr. Presley was an employee of the Pearlstone Grocery Company, located nearby at 100 S. Sycamore. After her husband’s death around 1930, Mrs. Presley lived here alone, through the 1940s.

Description: Photograph of 101 W. Main taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991. Most of Palestine’s historic commercial buildings have been severely altered, but this 2-story structure retains much of its historic character. Ground floor changes detract from the property’s integrity. Noteworthy architectural features include the corbelled brickwork above the second floor windows and in the parapet. The history of this commercial building is difficult to trace, due to address changes. The building, which Sanborn maps show was constructed in 1896, was believed to have been originally known as 202 Main. The first occupant confirmed by city directories was the T. Fadell Dry Goods Store, which occupied this building as early as 1926. Earlier, according to the Sanborns, the building had housed a drugstore and a hardware store. Prior to this building’s construction, the lot had been the site of the 2-story frame Watson Hotel. Mr. Fadell and his wife Addie lived nearby at 507 N. Queen. Their shop continued to operate at this location through the early 1940s.