Bartlett is filled with historic homes and buildings that are true beauties. Part of the charm of old Bartlett, Texas lies in being able to walk through town and be embraced by so much history. Bartlett is lucky to have so many wonderful examples of Victorian, Craftsman, some retro 70s homes, and some early farmhouse styles. All deserve to be restored and maintained. These styles of homes tell the stories of how families lived in each of these time periods, but also about the wealth and success of Bartlett during its growth and development.
During Bartlett’s heyday, homes were built on Clark Street, Jackson and Elm that are huge and had land to showcase the owners’ success in the banking, retail, and cotton industries, just to name a few. As Bartlett continued to grow and architectural styles changed homes reflect this and continue to tell the story of Bartlett’s development into new industries as cotton declined, big money left town, and new business and opportunities emerged in Bartlett.
Saving these historic buildings is critical to saving Bartlett and continuing to tell its story. Some of these old homes and buildings have been lovingly maintained through the years and others are in need of some real love to bring them back to their glory days. Oftentimes, these old historic homes are left abandoned on the thought that historic homes have too many restrictions and are too difficult to restore. In fact, homes and buildings that are registered with the Texas Historical Commission do have some limitations, but those limitations are intended to preserve the character and the historical significance of the home, not to limit the ability of the homeowner to take care of the property and to restore it. Did you know that Historic Commission restrictions only apply to the exterior?
It is also true that in many cases the Texas Historical Commission restrictions are designed to HELP a homeowner to make the restoration process easier. For example, a Historically Designated building is exempt from all energy efficiency code requirements. This means that the building would not have to be opened up for insulation to be installed and the old original windows can be restored instead of replaced. For more information on Historical buildings in Texas and how to restore them, please visit https://www.thc.texas.gov/.