Denby Building
201 W. Crawford St., Palestine, TXThe Denby Building is a two-part commercial block built in the early 1930s. It is a good example of early 20th century commercial architecture in Palestine. It is nominated to the National Register under Criterion C as an outstanding example of 1930s commercial architecture in downtown Palestine.
The Denby Building is the best and most substantial example of Palestine's more subdued, utilitarian early 20th century commercial architectural design. This modest 2-part commercial block represents the trend away from Palestine's elaborate, turn-of-the-century commercial buildings, which display ornate Italianate, Romanesque Revival, and Queen Anne storefronts. Significant at the local level in the area of Architecture, the Denby Building relates to the broader context of Community and Regional Development of Palestine, Texas: 1846-1945 and illustrates early 20th century commercial development within the city's central business district. The Denby Building is nominated to the National Register under Criterion C as an outstanding example of 1930s commercial architecture in downtown Palestine.
Prominent local architect Theodore S. Maffitt designed the Denby Building, which was constructed about 1935. The building's longest association was with the Denby Furnimre Store, which began occupying the space at the time of construction and remained in the building through the 1950s. During the 1950s the facade was covered with aluminum, but recently this was removed to restore its original appearance. Built near the end of the railroad boom and at a time when the oil industry was producing new jobs and increased growth in Palestine, the Denby Building is one of the best-preserved commercial properties in downtown Palestine. Prior to the 1960s, the city's central business district, like many in Texas, was remarkably intact, but the increased popularity of automobiles contributed to greater decentralization of retail shopping patterns. Land in the outskirts of town was cheaper and there was ample room for parking. As a result, Palestine's downtown, with higher property values and more crowded conditions, was adversely affected by these developments. Property owners often tried to lure customers back to the downtown area by making their buildings appear more "modern," often covering the historic fabric of their buildings with false metal fronts or stucco. Such efforts generally proved futile and many historic commercial buildings deteriorated with time due to neglect, diminished use, and/or fire, all of which combined to greatly diminish the downtown's historic character. This decline spurred the City to participate in the Texas Main Street Project which has generated renewed interest in this area and its buildings. Several restoration projects have been successfully completed; one of the most successful has been that of the Denby Building.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.