Project Plans

Phase I (Land Acquisition)

Purchasing town site lots, acreage, existing buildings and out-buildings was the first step in the rebuilding process. Moore 's Store and N&B Feed store have been acquired by the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic Foundation. Additional town lots (formerly old buildings sites) have been bought by the Foundation, together with approximately eight acres that comprise the stone-lined creeks' paths through the woods behind the old schools (see diagram).

Phase II (Restoration and Parks)

Schrickel, Rollins and Associates (SRA) (see attached) has been retained to provide landscape architecture, civil engineering and planning assistance for the project. With SRA's input, a plan that integrates historical building restoration and recreation, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, monuments bridge/lighting design and park-layout into a Downtown Plan (see Downtown Plan) has been designed. The preliminary plans prepared by SRA (see attached) have provided the Foundation with a blueprint that its artists, landscapers and builders can begin bringing to life. The park area has been extensively but carefully trimmed of underbrush and extraneous trees. The creek banks have been cleared to open to the public the amazing stone work. City lots have been graded and pads prepared for the authentic buildings being relocated to these sites. The first building has been placed adjacent to Moore 's store (see photo) and the second will be moved-in during the 2 nd week in August, 2008. The original bank building (1911) was located a mile outside of town where it was used for some sixty years to store cattle feed. The bank building, as are most others from that era, is of “box construction” built from 1x12” saw mill lumber. And it is still covered with the sheets of tin in an embossed brick pattern as the building is depicted, in an oil painting hanging in the current First State Bank of Ben Wheeler's lobby. The present owners of that historic building have agreed to donate it to the Foundation. The plan is to add structural bracing to the old bank building and move it alongside Moore 's store on the north. (The Van Zandt County Historical Commission has approved the submission of an application that will see a historical marker placed in front of this building). The 1911 bank building will be relocated in the fall of 2008.

Phase III (Further Development)

While the second phase of the project will see old Ben Wheeler beginning to take shape again with buildings relocated to Main Street (Hwy 279) and the park area reclaimed from fifty years of overgrowth, Phase III of the project will bring this historical area back to life.

Once Moore 's store is renovated (extensive reconstruction required) it will be furnished with a collection of fixtures, display cases, merchandise and artifacts that are “period perfect”. These objects were purchased from old mercantile stores whose doors were shut around 1950. A wooden stage will be constructed at the rear of the store and folding chairs put in place for performances by local musicians.

The 1911 bank building will serve as a museum featuring artifacts from the earliest days of the town. Enlarged photographs and interactive displays will provide visitors with an opportunity to see (and feel) detailed images of the past.

Two additional box construction buildings have been moved onto the historical town site are (see photo). Each of these buildings will be renovated using materials appropriate for the 1935 era. These buildings will be set up as shops selling local artists works, etc. The rent for these spaces will be $12.00 per year. Given this very modest overhead the criteria for selecting tenants will be demanding. This selection process is currently underway and is proving that the concept of low overhead/high tenant standards, works.

The Van Zandt County Historical Commission gets credit for securing the historical marker that will be placed in front of the bank building. Petitions for additional historical markers, one commemorating the Alamo Institute, another the stone-lined creek embankments laid by the WPA and one to be placed in front of the potato shed building are being prepared.

Given the fact that the city park is adjacent to the old downtown and the two areas will be developed to complement each other, having the park area immediately adjacent to the town's wooden buildings provides important flexibility. As the historical renovated area increases in size and scope over the coming years, portions of the park area can be adopted for the expansion.

Public restroom facilities will be constructed in the transition area between the historical town site and the public park. Construction materials will be chosen to fit the character of the project. As will all benches, signage, bridges over the stone-lined creeks, lighting and so on.

General

As part of Phase III, facilities within the historical town site will be created to encourage musical entertainment. East Texas is well known for its grass roots music. It is an important part of the area's DNA. These front porch musicians only need a place to gather, the inspiration is already there. To demonstrate the potential for developing outlets for this home spun talent, the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic Foundation began sponsoring “picking and grinning” on Thursday nights starting in July of 2008. The first evening with only word of mouth to publicize the event attracted some 47 musicians. The next week there were 65 and the event has continued to grow. Banjos, fiddles, guitars, dulcimers, harmonicas and tambourines are bringing musicians ranging from 24 to 81 years of age together to play. “Roots” music will be constant in the regrowth of Ben Wheeler. It will attract both local musicians and residents as well as out-of-town visitors.

Future

Once the initial three phases are completed historical Ben Wheeler will be up and running. Buildings, parks, shops, public facilities and entertainment will give the town a new lease on life. It will be at that point that decisions can be made regarding future development plans. By that time the emergence of historic Ben Wheeler should be stimulating development in the areas surrounding downtown. Seeing (literally) what works and what further needs can be met through the work of the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic Foundation will be the subject of the next chapter of our plans.