Commissioners Court approves resolution to preserve two historically significant buildings in the Dunbar Historic District

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

HAYS COUNTY — During their meeting on Tuesday, July 13, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a resolution to preserve two historically significant buildings in the Dunbar Historic District.

County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a Resolution in Support of the Preservation of the African American Home Economics School Building located on Dunbar Street in San Marcos. The Dunbar Home Economics Building is the only known surviving African American school building in the county and designated as a Historic Landmark by San Marcos.

The Dunbar Home Economics building is also the only property that survived the fire of 1986 that destroyed the larger school building only three years after the school’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The court also voted unanimously to approve a resolution to preserve the Naomi Cephas Wade House in San Marcos., which is one of the last surviving original buildings in the Dunbar Historic District.

Community member Robin Blackburn voiced her support for the resolution supporting the restoration of the historic buildings.

“The preservation and restoration of these resources is crucial to the preservation of black history, black culture and the entire Dunbar community,” said Blackburn. “The Dunbar Historic District has eroded so much over time, displacing people whose families had lived there for generations. The loss of generational wealth, culture, and sense of place is heartbreaking. Preserving these buildings would help reverse the neglect of the Dunbar neighborhood as a historical and cultural treasure.”

According to commissioner court documents, with the approved vote the court will, “encourage the County Grant Department to work with the City of San Marcos Grant Department to obtain funding from the Texas Historical Commission and all other sources necessary to achieve this resolution.”

The current private property owner submitted a request for demolition to San Marcos for the Naomi Cephas Wade House. According to commissioner court documents, since the Dunbar Historic District was designated in 2003, over 25% of the buildings in the district have been demolished, while the other six historic districts in the city have witnessed no demolitions.

Lisa Marie Coppoletta, Communication Studies Professor and local San Marcos resident voiced concerns during the County Commissioners meeting about lack of transparency with the City of San Marcos regarding the future of the buildings and noted the importance of preservation throughout the community.

Ryan Patrick Perkins spoke in favor of preserving the historic buildings, and is an eighth-generation San Marcos resident and grew up near the Dunbar Center.

“I would encourage you to stand with the people of the San Marcos community and the Hays County community and show a unified front to the city of San Marcos, saying that the cultural resources across Hays County are vitally important to our quality of life and the history of all of us here,” said Perkins.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, along with other commissioners, voiced their support for preserving the historic buildings and discussed the importance of keeping structures important to Hays County heritage.

“I want to thank everyone that has taken the time to write in, to show up and have their concerns and interest heard,” said Becerra. “I am genuinely grateful because we all know the cliche… If you don’t remember history, you are bound to repeat it. So I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us. I can just feel the court, as the chair of this body, I can feel the court is in support of it as well. So it’s a no-brainer for us but we are genuinely grateful.”

The live stream for Hays County Commissioners Court will only be available during scheduled Commissioners Court meetings, which are typically held every Tuesday morning beginning at 9 a.m. unless otherwise posted. Meetings of the Commissioners Court take place in the Hays County Historic Courthouse, located at 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos, Texas.

Correction: A correction was made to clarify that, “the Hays County Commissioners Court approved the resolution to support the preservation of the historic buildings in the Dunbar District,” but the final decision will depend on the actions of the city of San Marcos.