Ennis Historic Landmark Commission

HLC Content

Design Guidelines

Preservation Plan

History of Ennis

 

 Ennis Historic Landmark Commission

The HLC began with the mission to preserve the remaining historic assets of the City of Ennis. Over several decades prior to its inception many historical buildings, residential and commercial alike had been lost to progress, decay and natural causes.

In the 1940s the City of Ennis did not have many of zoning laws in place to protect historical properties from the march of progress. As a result, some of the historic homes along Ennis Avenue began to fall before the needs of a growing community. Service stations and other commercial businesses that had no need or desire to utilize an old home, but needed the land for commercial expansion. In 1942, a yard fire feed by strong winds and burned down several of the larger historic homes in the area caused a great deal of damage to many others.

In the 1950s many of the historic homes and buildings began to fall into disrepair mostly as a result of people growing older and no longer able to take care of the property. Also, the cost of materials began to rise as time past and people were retiring and forced to make decisions between the necessities of living or repairing their aging homes.

Between the 1950s and the early 1980s the trend towards building more new businesses as well as the construction of new homes and muti-family housing took its toll on many historic homes.

A reversal of this trend began in 1977 when the Main Street Program began in many small cities around Texas including the City of Ennis. There was resistance to the project at first until the benefits of this kind of program were realized in late 1981 the Main Street project began in Ennis. The Main Street program utilized governmental grant money to fix up and refurbish the downtown sidewalks and sewage improvements in the eastside of town as well.

In 1983, the Historic Preservation Ordinance was passed in 1984, the HLC was formed. In 1986, Jim Bob Wilson became the first HLC Chairman and he currently holds this position today.

The HLC has realized many achievements over the years. Saving the Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum which houses railroad memorabilia related to the City of Ennis. In addition, this Museum displays items that reflect the significance of the Czech culture and its effect on the history of Ennis.

The Ennis Historic Landmark Commission strives to accomplish its stated mission of preserving the remaining historic assets of the City of Ennis. In this effort, the Commission is eager to overcome the many challenges that lie ahead by encouraging the owners of historic property to preserve Ennis' future by protecting our past.