Katy Lifestyles and Home magazine Jul 2009: Katy History and Historical Events and Information in Katy

“Recent Past Initiative” has been adopted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Local communities across the state and nation are beginning to see the importance of the idea. Recent Past recognizes —and is focused on saving—significant buildings from the mid-20th century that are being demolished to make way for newer buildings.

The National Park Service, which oversees the National Register of Historic Places, has this to say about Recent Past architecture. “From futuristic coffee shops and soaring airport terminals to the homes of the postwar suburbs, 20th century architecture embodies the aspirations, priorities and challenges of our recent history. They include the libraries and community centers constructed by New Deal agencies to contend with the Great Depression, factories where the World War II generation assembled tanks and planes, schools built for the postwar baby boom, and glass-walled office parks that symbolized American business. Such properties reflect the varied lives that unfolded within them, and contribute to a diverse and dynamic 20th century landscape. ”

Like clothing, cars and hair styles, architectural styles change over time. These recent past buildings, usually mid-century structures dating from the 1940s to 1960s, were regarded as beautiful and modern but are now considered “dated” and are in danger of demolition. Victorian buildings were once disparaged as garish and were demolished to make way for newer buildings. Those that survived are now

valuable historical resources, including those in Katy. The Recent Past buildings we preserve now will also one day be appreciated for their historic or artistic importance. In fact, the only home in Katy currently listed on the NRHP is a 1950s ranch style house. It was part of the Texas Recent Past initiative project in the early 1990s.

As more people move into the Katy area, some of our older homes are in danger of being lost completely. Of course, not all buildings are worth saving, but it is time to reassess the marginal value currently placed on buildings from the recent past, and to work toward rehabilitation rather than demolition whenever possible.

It isn’t just buildings that are in danger of being lost. Photographs from the mid 1900s are often overlooked for their historical significance. Your childhood snapshots may be a significant glimpse into what an area was like before modern development. That is valuable information for generations to come. So, what should you do? You may have photographs that show an area, home, school, park or event, that is a good representation of a time that is now gone forever. Share those pictures with the Katy Heritage Society. Either e-mail a copy or contact us to have them scanned and returned to you. Katy Lifestyles is also working to preserve our historical photographs. The pictures and buildings we take for granted today will one day be cherished parts of our local heritage.