Chronology
Founding KHPF: Preserving Kilgore’s Heritage Since 1987
The Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation was chartered in January 1987 by organizing board members Mayor Mickey Smith, City Commissioner Rob Schleier and at-large member Ronnie Spradlin.
Nine citizens were appointed to serve on the board of the newly formed Foundation: Tom Brown – Legal Advisor, Amanda Pratt Nobles –1987 Main Street Director, Jimmy Dike – 1987 Ex. Dir., Kilgore Chamber, Joe White – Dir. of ETOM, Virginia Long – serving on Texas Historical Commission appointed by governor, Roy Rosson – accountant with BH&H, Sanny Sue Holland, Sue Brown, and Bobby Florence – citizens interested in history.
KHPF has been fortunate to include as officers, directors and members, many outstanding community leaders throughout the years. The goal throughout the years has always remained constant – to preserve, promote and protect the unique heritage of Kilgore, Texas.
STARTED BY A WHISPER
Main Street Organization meeting with City of Kilgore under Mayor Mickey Smith. Jack Elder, nudged by whisper from Winter, his wife, suggested the derricks of Kilgore needed to be restored.
1987
- Mayor Smith, as part of new Main Street Program, led efforts to organize and charter Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation with 3 original incorporating board members: Mayor Smith, Rob Schelier, Ronnie Spradlin.
- First steel derrick restored in February by Kilgore First National Bank with a celebration that included Red Adair.
- Main Street Resource Team visited Kilgore and suggested the reconstruction of 50 derricks would restore the historical Kilgore skyline. The City Commission, led by Mayor Smith, committed to restore 2 derricks, and the derrick restoration project was underway.
- Christmas lights were added to restored derricks. Merry Christmas banner was added by co-sponsors KIBA & KHPF
1988
- Received National Trust for Historic Preservation Planning Grant for Crim and Texan Theater restoration
- First sites acquired on World’s Richest Acre and three derricks were restored, in the block with the original derrick on that site which was owned by Kilgore Improvement and Beautification Association.
1989
- Five Derricks were dedicated at the World’s Richest Acre
- Crim Benefit “Strike It Rich”
- KHPF won the Anice Read Award for creative historic preservation
- Crim/Texan planning study completed by Killis Almond, architect, and team from the League of Historic American Theatres
1990
- Crim/Texan roofs replaced World’s Richest Acre Park created and design approved “Hooray for Hollywood” benefit
1991
- Texas A&M University architectural students complete master plan for Crim/Texan Theaters
- Crim/Texan Gala held
- George Peppard benefit reception held
1992
- Two additional derricks dedicated at World’s Richest Acre Park Shoji Tabuchi benefit concert held
- Counselor’s Quartet fund raiser held
- “Happy New Year” banner added to World’s Richest Acre Christmas Lighting
- First “Christmas in the Patch” celebration with Derrick Lighting filmed by CNN
1993
- Chamber of Commerce held a benefit golf tournament for KHPF
- Gary P. Nunn, “From Austin City Limits to Kilgore City Limits,” fund raiser Dino Kartsonakis fund raising concert World’s Richest Acre Park bricks and pavers go on sale Crim/Texan environmental study completed
- Crim/Texan clean-out accomplished
- 10′ scale miniature derricks on downtown street corners initiated – a realization of Mickey Smith’s statement “I wish we had a derrick on every corner” and A. P. Merritt’s inspiration from a line of Christmas trees at the Galleria in Houston
- City designates portion of hotel/motel tax to theater restoration project
1994
- Union Pacific Railroad donates use of downtown Commerce Street right-of-way executing long-term lease with KHPF for derrick restoration
- Restrooms constructed on right-of-way Dino Kartsonakis encore fund raiser Blackwood Quartet fund raising event
- Crim Theater 55th Birthday Party – Public invited.
- Meadowbrook Addition designated an official historic neighborhood
1995
- Five additional derricks dedicated “Always Patsy Cline” benefit performance
- Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra benefit concert
- Meadowbrook Addition historic marker signs initiated with over 40 homes
- Construction begins on WRA Park
1996
- Crim exterior renovation to rear of building completed
- Crim Theater neon and upper façade completed
- Four derricks dedicated on 66th anniversary day of Daisy Bradford discovery well
- “Always Patsy Cline” return performance
- Crim/Texan exteriors painted
- Stage, pumpjack, pavers and bricks installed at World’s Richest Acre Park
1997
- KHPF 10th Year Tenth Anniversary Celebration of KHPF
- Ten derricks dedicated – a total of 37 new derricks constructed
- Doug Supernaw benefit concert
- “Holiday Happenings in Historic Homes” tour initiated in Meadowbrook Addition: Boswell-Linn, The Nanny’s House, Noyes-DeSantis, McMurrey.
1998
- Amoco sign added to right-of-way
- Additional derricks reconstructed
- Holiday Happenings in Historic Homes: Anding-Almand- Leath, Brown-Russell-Renshaw, Goldman-McCubbin, Lucas- Crisman-Jones.
1999
- US Postal Service removed & restored the Murals prior to moving to new facility
- KHPF worked with USPS to locate murals at the East Texas Oil Museum temporarily
- Worked with City of Kilgore to acquire original Post Office building
- Acquired long-term lease of Post Office for future city museum, anchoring south end of historic downtown corridor
- Began restoration of Post Office by getting building in the dry
- Additional derricks constructed.
- Holiday Happenings in Historic Homes: Almand-Witt, Herndon Gertz-Spinks, Landrum-Holland, Hold-Merritt Potato Barn.
2000
- Descendents of W. N. and Eudora Crim donated the Dean- Keener-Crim (DKC) Home and land, anchoring north end of historic downtown corridor. Featured on holiday home tour.
- Texan Theater restoration plan developed Christmas Tree Park planned for lot across from DKC home
- Additional derricks constructed
- Holiday Happenings in Historic Homes: Bean-Sadler-Simmons, Collins-Griffin, Frank Brown-Miller, Ballard-Steph.
2001
- Two derricks, “Christmas trees” and historic oilfield equipment installed in first stage of Christmas Tree Park
- Historic oil company sign installed in first stage of development of oilfield equipment display along Commerce St. downtown railroad right-of-way
- DKC home restoration begun with leveling, and plumbing and wiring repairs
- Trees planted at DKC home site by KIBA, make a difference day Six derricks dedicated.
- Sounds of Swing fundraiser featuring Tara Watson, Miss Texas.
- Heritage Holiday in Historic Homes: Crim-Kubiak, Dean- Keener-Crim, Weinberg-Day, Wills-Long
2002
- Texan repairs begun “Echoes From Forgotten Streets” published
- Post Office restoration fund established, funded by book sales
- Privacy fence installed at Christmas Tree Park through Purchasea Picket fundraising solicitation
- Additional derricks constructed
- Trail of Lights kick-off Lighting Ceremony, under Crim Theater Marquee with fireworks show
- Community Christmas tree installed at Heritage Square in Kilgore Street between Texan Theater and Old Post Office building which was used as Trail of Lights Marketplace.
- Heritage Holiday in Historic Home: Brown-Adamson-Woodfin, Dean-Keener-Crim, Elder-Laird, Edmonds-Brian.
2003
- Preservation study & master plan for restoration/development of DKC home completed TX Historic Commission grant
- Six derricks dedicated
- Swing with the Red, White & Blue Fund raiser featuring “Sounds of Swing”
- Trail of Lights kick-off Lighting Ceremony, under Crim Theater Marquee with Laser show
- Old Post Office building used as Trail of Lights Marketplace.
- Heritage Holiday in Historic Homes: Masters-Crowley, McWilliams-Crouse, Bass-Cox, Wickham-Colley.
- Release of “Echoes from Forgotten Streets” by Terry Stembridge & Caleb Pirtle
2004
- Texan Theater exterior renovations completed Pipe fence finished, Christmas Tree Park
- Dedication of Lufkin Pumping Unit and Christmas Tree Park held
- Additional derricks constructed
- Trail of Lights kick-off Lighting Ceremony, Post Office Interior (rain). Snowhill adjacent to World’s Richest Acre Park.
- Heritage Holiday in Historic Homes: Meadowbrook Country Club, Stanley-Renshaw, Reynolds-Rosen, Leath-Stanton.
2005
- Entrance sign added, Christmas Tree Park National Preservation Month activities.
- Dr. Archie McDonald’s “History of Texas Through Music”
- Participation in 75th Anniversary of East Texas Oilfield discovery
- Additional derricks constructed, exceeding original goal of 50 derricks to restore the historic skyline.
- Derrick dedicated for Mickey Smith Completion of environment study and painting of DKC home
- New Merry Christmas banner purchased and installed.
- Trail of Lights kick-off Lighting Ceremony, World’s Richest Acre, “Celebration.” Snowhill adjacent to World’s Richest Acre Park. Heritage Holiday in Historic Homes tour: Devonne Godfrey Petty, Thrash-Langley, Head-Bolton, Dickson L. Griffin
2006
- Arbor Day kick-off for DKC home 130th Birthday year
- National Preservation Month Activities
- Vintage Fashion Benefit, DKC Home
- Dr. Archie McDonald’s — “History of WWII through Music”
- Jazz Under the Derricks
- Dean-Keener-Crim House new picket fence installed
- Trail of Lights kick-off Lighting Ceremony, World’s Richest Acre. “A Star Spangled Celebration.” SnowMountain
adjacent to World’s Richest Acre Park - Heritage Holiday in Historic Homes tour: Reinhart-Walker, Morton-Dupre, Jenkins-Beane, Potter Patton
2007
- KHPF 20th Year
- Main Street Kilgore commences (encore!)
- National Preservation Month Activities
- DKC survey completed
- KHPF Website brought online
- Happy New Year sign re-framed
- Derrick Ornament designed and sold along with framed copies of Devall Christmas Scene card
- Holiday Happenings in Historic Home Tour: Almand-Zwick, Laird-Kulak, Routon-Day, Holt-BryanJohnston
- Dean-Keener-Crim House tour with Maude Laird Middle School Junior Historians as docents
- Dean-Keener-Crim House Public Tours
- Committee Sale of t-shirts with WRA photo on front
- Jazz Under the Derricks
- Picnic in the WRA Park
- Environmental study update Crim/Texan Theaters
- Publication of Vol. II- Kilgore History
- Release of “Visions from Forgotten Streets” by Terry Stembridge & Caleb Pirtle
2008
- BOOM! a musical history about us
written by Dr. Lottie Lipscomb Guttry, directed by Elizabeth Hedges
March 7,8 at KHS Auditorium - CRAZY ‘BOUT PATSY
Dodson Auditorium May 6 -7:30 pm
With Sherrill Douglas of Sweet Dreams Productions
Benefit performance to “Keep the Stars Shining” - Preservation Month Activities:
- Jazz in the Park
with Jazz Professors
Free concert in park - Budddy and Beyond The Johnny Rogers Show
benefit concert
Dodson Auditorium - Shake, Rattle, and Roll
WRA Park
free concert - Re-work of Derrick Stars after storm of September
- KHPF Winner of Texas Downtown Association
Best Downtown Partner Award 2008
Temple, Texas - Christmas in the Patch Lighting Ceremony
“Tis the Season directed by Deana Covin - Holiday Happenings in Historic Homes
Stroope – Thrower House
Palmer – McCarty – Crews House
Walkup – Simpson House
Kilgore Public Library - Interpretive Plaques set in World’s Richest Acre Park
- Completed Handicapped sidewalk to KIBA gate on back side of replicas
- Crim was re-roofed by the City
- Book Signing of “Visions” in December with the authors, Terry Stembridge and Caleb Pirtle
- Renovation of Old Post Office began with all interior and exterior windows refurbishment and painting of Postmaster’s Office and Lobby
- Participated with Main Street with advertising in brochure for travel centers.
- Contract with I20 Access on derricks.
- Completed installation of pad and lighting for Roosth derrick
2009
- Gateway Interstate 20 Hwy 42 Derrick donated by Roosth Foundation
