This survey is asking for readers to sign by adding their name to a petition to the Burnet City Council to preserve the history in the community, rather than demolish it...by say YES to SAVING THE REAGOR BUILDING from demolition; and, giving them a chance to work with historical architects and apply for grants, raise funds, and, ultimately, apply to the Texas Historic Commission.
SAY YES, AND SAVE THE HISTORICAL REAGOR BUILDING FROM DEMOLITION BY THE CITY OF BURNET!
Since the tragic fire of the Historic Reagor Building, the owner(s) have face an up hill battle for the expected rights to freely access their property, forcing them to suffer delays along with the devastation of the loss of their beloved building. These crises have interfered with their battle with the insurance company which has refused to pay a dime of the losses suffered, including the ones specifically aligned with the complaints by the city and payable by the policy. Only just before the holidays, was an outside inspector and a historical engineer finally able to access the premises and do their separate assessments.
The unique historical building was designed by a local builder and the unique mortaring with the bubble tubing effect between the stones was done on both the inside and the outside of the stone structure in 1935. The stone came from the local Granite Mountain, and was built as a home. Passersby would stop and marvel at the home, and a few even bought the plans to take with them. Now, besides the unique historical architecture worthy on its own for restoration and preservation. The home was once an Art Gallery, a business partnership formed by two women, at a time when there were not hardly any women owned businesses. Then, the home went back to being a home and eventually, in 1976, after being in business for a while, Verlon Reagor, Senior, purchased the property now called the Reagor Building, for his family to live in and from which his business to be operated. When Mr. Reagor expanded, enclosed, and added to the building, he was careful to preserve and go around the very old tree on the side of the home. This tree, we now believe to be an Indian Marker Tree, and are trying to get it identified and preserved. Just as he thought of the tree, Mr. Reagor and his sons have served their community from the start by working out in inclement and even dangerous weather. Furthermore, they have provided services to people in the community on fixed incomes, disabled retirees, disabled veterans, by repairing or replacing what they need and letting them pay it out as they can each month. In an industry where you have to pay upfront, this is no small thing. Mr. Reagor passed away in 2011, leaving his business to his two sons. One of the sons died of cancer in 2016 leaving the last son quite a responsibility. With the changing times, people often don't pay once service has been rendered, leaving quite a community debt of over 257k dollars the day the youngest, now only Reagor still working the business of A/C, heating, plumbing, and electric, not so young, and embattled by a community that didn't pay, an insurance company that is refusing to pay, and the City's Historical Preservation that claims this building has no historical value, but is headed by the City Council. All so they can demolish it all -- including the tree.