Gregg County Survey Plan Gregg County, Texas August 2018 Prepared for Gregg County Historical Commission Prepared by Terracon Beth Valenzuela Hicks & Company Elizabeth Porterfield, MSHP Cover Photo: Dean-Keener Crim House Hardy, Daniel. [Keener-Crim House]. Photograph. July 13, 1979. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth679618/m1/1/?q=%22gregg%20county%22. Accessed August 14, 2018. University of North Texas Libraries. The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/). Crediting Texas Historical Commission. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS I. PROJECT GOALS, BACKGROUND, AND SUMMARY ............................................................................... 1 A. Project Area ...................................................................................................................................... 1 B. Overview of Historic Resources Surveys ........................................................................................... 2 II. CONDUCTING A HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY ................................................................................... 5 A. Developing a Scope of Work ............................................................................................................. 5 B. Establishing a Survey Methodology .................................................................................................. 6 III. PLANNING FOR A HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY ............................................................................. 9 A. Current Status of Historic Preservation in Gregg County ................................................................. 9 B. Geographical Distribution and Number of Historic-age Resources .................................................. 9 C. Historic Contexts and Anticipated Property Types ......................................................................... 10 D. Preservation Partners ..................................................................................................................... 10 E. Determining Survey Priorities ......................................................................................................... 11 IV. SURVEY PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ 15 A. Phase 1–3 Surveys (1–5 years) ........................................................................................................ 18 B. Phase 4 and 5 Surveys (5–10 years) ................................................................................................ 19 C. Phase 6 Survey (10–20 years) ......................................................................................................... 24 TABLES Table 1. Survey Priority Recommendations ................................................................................................ 15 Table 2. Phase 4a—Thematic Survey Recommendations ........................................................................... 20 Table 3. Phase 4b—City-wide Survey Recommendations .......................................................................... 21 Table 4. Phase 5—Intensive-Level Survey Examples .................................................................................. 23 APPENDICES APPENDIX A Glossary of Terms APPENDIX B Texas Historical Commission Manual and Survey Form Examples APPENDIX C Previously Surveyed Historic Resources Within Gregg County APPENDIX D Geographic Distribution of Historic-Age Resources APPENDIX E Gregg County Historic Context APPENDIX F Preservation Partners APPENDIX G Grant Opportunities Gregg County Survey Plan – August 2018 i TABLE OF CONTENTS This page intentionally left blank. Gregg County Survey Plan – August 2018 ii PROJECT GOALS, BACKGROUND, AND SUMMARY I. PROJECT GOALS, BACKGROUND, AND SUMMARY The Gregg County Survey Plan will serve as a planning tool for the Gregg County Historical Commission (GCHC) as they work to identify, document, and preserve the historic and cultural resources of the county. The GCHC has undertaken the development of this survey plan to meet their obligations according to their bylaws, which define the objectives of the commission as follows: • Initiate and conduct such programs as may be suggested by the Gregg County Commissioners Court and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) for the preservation of the historical heritage of Gregg County; • Supervise a continuing survey of historical sites and structures eligible for marking and report the data collected to the Gregg County Commissioners Court and the THC; • Monitor the condition of existing Official Texas Historical Markers (OTHMs) placed within the county; • Involve the community in historical preservation and interact with other organizations involved in preserving the historical heritage of Gregg County; and • Fulfill its duties and responsibilities as described in the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 318. As set forth in the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 318, and the commission’s bylaws, the GCHC should develop and maintain an inventory of individual historic properties and historic districts and establish a system for the periodic review and assessment of the condition of the identified historic properties. A suggested timeline and methodology is provided to guide the GCHC as they plan for a multi-phase, multi-year systematic survey of Gregg County. The Gregg County Survey Plan includes an overview of survey efforts to date and provides an outline for future work. The plan identifies preservation partners and suggests potential funding sources for historic resources surveys. Priorities for survey work are presented and categorized according to the level of survey, project type, and location. Estimates for each phase are presented in FY 2019 costs. The survey plan also provides a guideline for the continued inventory, assessment, and update of the county’s historical properties to ensure the GCHC fulfills their obligations under their bylaws and the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 318. A glossary of terms used in the survey plan is provided in Appendix A. A. Project Area Gregg County is located in northeastern Texas, approximately 130 miles east of Dallas and 65 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. The county is bounded on the north by Upshur County, to the south by Rusk County, with Smith County on the west, and Harrison County on the east. The gently sloping terrain within the Gregg County boundaries encompasses approximately 273 square miles. The Sabine River traverses from northwest to southeast through the county and has played a significant role throughout the county’s history. The earliest land grants in the county were issued in 1838, but only sparse settlement occurred until the late 1850s as statehood attracted farmers and planters from the U.S. Gregg County was established out of southern Upshur County on April 12, 1873, and Longview was selected as the county seat. A portion of northern Rusk County was added on April 30, 1874. Although initially Gregg County operated under an agricultural economy, after the discovery of oil in the county in 1931, Gregg County experienced a boom that would continue into the mid- to late-twentieth century. Gregg County Survey Plan – August 2018 1 PROJECT GOALS, BACKGROUND, AND SUMMARY B. Overview of Historic Resources Surveys Historic resources surveys allow a community to identify, document, and preserve significant historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects within its boundaries. The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) defines historic resource, or historic property, as: “any pre-historic or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included on, or eligible for inclusion on, the National Register [of Historic Places], including artifacts, records, and material remains relating to the district, site, building, structure, or object.1” Identification of historic resources allows for the recognition of the value of a community’s past, its special character, and its cultural legacy. Preservation of historic resources can represent not only the value the community places on its collective historic past, but also an investment in its future. Survey data can be integrated into preservation planning efforts by local governments to set policies, procedures, and strategies for maintaining and preserving historic resources. Resources that are surveyed and determined significant can be considered for designation at a local (Gregg County Local Landmark), state (Recorded Texas Historic Landmark [RTHL] or State Antiquities Landmark [SAL]), or national (National Register of Historic Places [NRHP]) level and should be considered in local planning. Surveyed resources are often initially categorized by preservation priority based on observed integrity and significance of known historical associations. High priority properties are those resources determined to be potentially NRHP-eligible, individually or as part of a potential historic district, based on the results of the research and survey efforts discussed herein. Medium priority properties are those that could be contributing to an NRHP-eligible district. Low priority properties are those resources that are determined not eligible for listing in the NRHP. Properties that clearly lack integrity, are altered or deteriorated beyond recognition, or lack overall significance are given a low priority rating. • High: Resources recommended as potentially eligible for individual listing in the NRHP or as a contributing resource to an NRHP-eligible