Description: Photograph of 101 E. Oak taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991. 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 building. This architectural expression gained only marginal popularity throughout Texas, making the old Post Office in Palestine a rare example of the style. When completed ...

Description: Photograph of 101 W. Crawford 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 E. Spring taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991. Photo taken from the southeast corner of the building looking toward the northwest. This 3-story commercial building is in poor condition, although efforts are currently underway to restore the property to its historic appearance. The original parapet and windows have been removed; nonetheless, the building displays outstanding craftsmanship and remains a prominent historic architectural landmark in Palestine’s central business district. Stylistic detailing is suggestive of the Romanesque Revival style, a popular choice for commercial buildings in Palestine during the late 19th century. According to a local historian, this commercial building was built jointly by three civic leaders and businessmen who were among Palestine’s most prominent citizens during the early 20th century: Congressman Alexander W. Gregg, Dr. Edwin W. Link, and Judge John Link. Sanborn maps indicate that the upper floors of the building housed professional offices during the building’s earliest years, while the first floor housed a variety of businesses, including a saddlery, a tin shop, a grocery, and a restaurant.

Description: Photograph of 102 E. Ezell taken from the road. Photo was taken for the Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas 1989-1991.