The annual program of work for the Dickens County Historical Commission (DCHC) is well under way, with a new slate of appointees making headway on numerous projects to preserve local heritage.
Appointees approved by the county commissioners court in January for a two-calendar-year term (2023–2024) are C.J. Boales, Rick Boales, Barbara Brannon (chair), Judy Clay, Kay Ellington, Linda Hotchco, Linda Fox Hughes, Harry Bob Martin, Mary Martin, Connie Rainbolt, Carson Rutledge, Briana Sturgis, Jeff Sturgis and Brady Watson. Those residing outside the county serve in an advisory capacity.
In addition to management of the 1929 Palace Theater in Spur and presenting an annual slate of movies, performances and other events, the DCHC undertakes other educational and preservation activities throughout the county. In the past, these have involved marking historical sites, creating maps and guides for visitors to locate sites, conducting tours of sites, and researching and publishing historical information.
One of the most ambitious research projects the DCHC has taken on involves a survey of all commercial buildings along and adjacent to the Burlington Avenue business corridor in Spur. Modeled after the Texas Spur newspaper series beginning in 2020, the “Burlington Building Blocks” project under the leadership of committee chair Mary Martin seeks detailed information on every structure from the former railroad depot to the top of Hill Street, including original builders and materials, original and subsequent uses, current occupants and owners, and documents relating to any of these.
If you have photographs (vintage or current), blueprints, news clippings, or stories to share, please contact the DCHC via The Texas Spur at (806) 2713381 / spur@thetexasspur. com and we’ll pass it along. Educational displays, a downtown map, a history publication, and walking tours are some of the ideas in the works.
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