Main Street managers throughout the state in Seguin this week
(Seguin) – The Seguin Main Street Program has something new to brag about. The local program is being recognized for remaining one of the original Main Street designations launched in a pilot program 40 years ago. That recognition was applauded before dozens of other Main Street representatives at the Soel Venue during this week’s Texas Main Street Retreat (Sept.15-17) being held in Seguin.
Kicking off this week’s agenda was a celebration honoring not only the city of Seguin but also the cities of Hillsboro, Plainview and Eagle Pass – all who have also reached that 40-year milestone. The TMSP is a part of the Community Heritage Development Division of the Texas Historical Commission.
On hand to honor these communities was Mark Wolfe, the executive director for the State Historic Preservation Office of the Texas Historical Commission.
Wolfe says it’s communities such as these that have illustrated the purpose and benefits of operating under a Main Street designation.
“Qualifying for Main Street in the first place really has to show a commitment on the part of the community. It’s not just the city government. It’s the community itself – the merchants, the residents – so qualifying can be complicated. There is a limited number of communities that are allowed into the program every year.”
“So, if you have a program that has been functioning at that level for decades, it’s a really remarkable achievement,” said Wolfe.
Also, on hand to welcome the group and celebrate these original “Main Streeters” was Bradford Patterson, director of the community heritage development division. Patterson says he applauds Seguin and the other communities across the state for always fine tuning their steps for the future.
“I think for cities that have been participating for 40 years, one of the things that we learned institutionally because it was before my time, when we started this program, the National Trust for Historic Preservation started it and we jumped on really in year one 40 years ago, it was designed to help a community for a couple of years, three years actually in most cases and then they graduated from the program and we taught them self-help. We gave them the tools and then we thought they would go on and thrive and to a degree, they did that but what we learned is it does not work that way. It’s an ongoing continual process and I like to tell communities or remind new communities, that the disinvestment that we see in some communities especially looking back historically, that doesn’t happen overnight. That happens over decades and many many, years and it takes years and decades to fully reverse that,” said Patterson.
Although the goals and challenges for a Main Street are constantly changing, Patterson says the cities’ efforts along the way have continued to prove successful across the state.
“The benefit today – downtowns are hot again. Small towns are thriving. The pandemic may be also helping that in the immediate, but it was happening anyway, but it is still a constant need for attention. There’s always things that should be done to help the economic conditions in the downtown, to help the historic preservation and to preserve the character of a community so it really never ends,” said Patterson.
He says here in Seguin, that success if evident.
“I know Kyle (Kramm) has been a great resource for us. He’s a great resource for other managers and the program has been a great host to have us here. This is actually the second time we’ve been to Seguin in about six to eight years so we have infinity for coming back here but walking along downtown, I can’t help but notice there is a lot of vibrancy. There’s a lot of historic buildings. The core is still here. Pandemic, no pandemic, there are people around. There are businesses here so it’s a thriving community and that’s what we look for and that’s what we always hope to replicate and be able to support,” said Patterson.
Seguin originally joined the Main Street Program in 1981. In 1984, the heart of the city was transferred to the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce. It wasn’t until 1997, that the downtown program returned into the hands of the Main Street Program. As part of this week’s retreat, guests from across the state will be visible throughout Seguin’s historic district. They’ll be participating in tours and events that include but are not limited to dinner at the Heritage Village on River Street, a ghost tour at the Magnolia Hotel on South Crockett Street and a downtown walking tour of Seguin.
On hand to welcome and accept the award on Seguin’s behalf were Kyle Kramm, the director of both the Seguin Main Street and Seguin Convention and Visitors Bureau; Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen and Seguin City Manager Steve Parker.