June Historic Village Happenings

June 2024 : Volume 2, Issue 4 - Buffalo Gap Historic Village

In this issue:

Remembering George Nichols
Village Feature: Post Office
Spotlight on Phil Morehead
Perfect Volunteer Opportunities

In Fond Memory Of

George Nichols

The Buffalo Gap Historic Village – and all of Taylor County – lost a great friend and advocate last month. George Nichols was the longest-serving Director of the Village, helping shepherd it through different owners and executive directors while remaining committed to its long-term sustainability. Retiring from his distinguished professional career and returning to his beloved Abilene in 1998, George served on more than 15 local nonprofit boards over time, including the Abilene Arts Alliance that he helped establish and chaired for many years in addition to the Historic Village.

Family and friends have established an educational fund at the Historic Village in his honor. Those wishing to pay homage may mail in a check to the address below or contribute securely online. His family will be notified of all donations in his name. And we’ll make sure his passion for education will carry on. We'll miss you, George.

George Nichols Education Fund

Village Feature:

Post Office

Buffalo Gap established the first official post office registered in Taylor County in December 1877 with Abram Hunter as postmaster -- and closed less than a year later. There are no records indicating where the first post office was, other than “in Hunter’s Store.”

It was common back in the day for the post office to move whenever a new postmaster was appointed, and over time Buffalo Gap had many. A post office was located in the Racket Store (circa 1884 under Postmaster Joseph Wright), and inside the McCormick Drug Store (~1910) on the site that now houses the county barn. Sadly, it burned down in 1928.

A front room in the Lyons Hotel served as post office under Postmistress Banie Kincaide (1920-1945), who bought and renamed the hotel.

The post office in the Buffalo Gap Historic Village is the first free-standing post office in town. It was built by Charlie McDonald in 1950, who was appointed postmaster in 1948 when the post office was still in the Kincaide Hotel. He built the post office in his front yard (easy work commute!) just a few blocks from where it is now. The post office boxes and teller’s window came from the town’s second post office – the one from the Racket Store.

When Myra Marie Seale became postmistress in 1957, the post office moved again to the former icehouse – a tile building near Stewart’s Grocery. It was later moved to City Hall, which then was where the Senior Center is today.

The current post office, at 1218 Litel Street, was built in 1974 and is under the jurisdiction of Tuscola Postmaster Susan Laird. (The term "postmistress" disappeared years ago.) Susan has been with the postal service for more than 18 years. Alyse Lamb has been the smiling face at the Buffalo Gap post office since 2021, and Verna Walker, who was born and raised in Buffalo Gap before most of the street signs existed, has been the area carrier since 2015. Together, the three women offer the friendliest service in all of Taylor County!

Sources:

Texas State Historical Association; “Buffalo Gap Historic Village” by Juanita Zachry, Nortex Press; Buffalo Gap Post Office

Board of Directors

Spotlight on Phil Morehead

Phil has been a driving force behind the Buffalo Gap Historic Village for more than 20 years. An attorney specializing in estate planning and tax issues, he holds two law degrees (JD and LLM) and is an inactive CPA.

Phil and his wife, Kathy, moved to Abilene in 1983 from Dallas. He joined a local accounting firm before going into private legal practice. Both Phil and Kathy were asked to serve on an advisory board for the Village in 2002, and Phil later helped with the legal paperwork to form the nonprofit foundation that now manages the center. He also helped found the Community Foundation of Abilene, spearheaded the Abilene Education Foundation, and served on the board of AISD for 10 years. He is currently vice president of the Historic Village board.

His vision for the Village includes encouraging young people to understand and enjoy history, which, he believes, requires the ability to “see and experience” history. The Village is a great demonstration of an earlier lifestyle – the hardships, early deaths, and extreme manual labor required of adults and children alike. He believes it gives families a greater appreciation for our current lifestyles and awakens a curiosity about possibilities ahead.

Phil believes the Village is a topflight destination for West Texas and has many opportunities to continue to evolve. “There’s nothing like it anywhere close,” he notes. He would like to see more volunteers involved with the Village, serving as docents, field-trip supervisors, actors in re-enactments, special event hosts, fundraisers, and advisors and board members. “We need more young people involved in both history and tourism,” he concludes, “to keep history alive and relevant to future generations.”

Speaking of Volunteers:

Your Perfect Opportunity

As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Historic Village is reliant on volunteers for many of our programs and events. If you are interested in getting involved anywhere in Taylor County, chances are one of our opportunities is just perfect for you. Whether you have a few hours every week, or just a couple of hours every now-and-then, check out some of these possibilities:

Village Greeters

Volunteer in our admissions office, helping visitors get their tickets, providing them maps or items from the gift shop, answering questions about the Village. You’ll meet some fantastic people from all walks of life and serve as an area ambassador in welcoming them to the Greater Abilene area. Training provided!

Special Events

Helping out during our Scarecrow Festival, Christmas Tea, Comanche Moon, weddings, or other special events where extra hands and creative minds are always needed. You can be on a committee to help plan and execute the event, or just show up the day of to help run games, check people in, and make sure all participants have fun.

Fundraising

Helping us find and apply for appropriate grants or identify foundations who may have an interest in helping launch new educational programs. Or area corporations who may wish to underwrite a program or sponsor a building. This can be online research from your own home, if that’s your passion, or helping write and present the grant application in person if you like.

Education

Participating in our school field trips, either helping shepherd groups of students on their rounds, or serving as a volunteer teacher at one of the buildings. Training and curriculum provided! Seeing these precious kids get so excited is a huge boost to your day! Are you more into adult education? Help us plan speakers and lecturers for our Chatauqua Learning Series. Topics include both historical data and current information useful to today’s rural residents.

Maintenance

Despite having some professional help, there is always more to do to keep our 100-year-old-plus buildings looking their best. Dusting, sweeping, straightening, mowing, painting, repairing, fixing. If you enjoy maintaining and sustaining the past, this one’s designed for you!

Leadership

Do you like developing policy? Are you a born leader? Do you have a special business skill to share? Serve on an advisory committee in a specific discipline (marketing, finance, legal, education, history, construction, etc.), or join the board of directors and help steer the future. Share your professional expertise!

If you’re interested in any volunteer opportunity – these or others – please click here. We’d love to get to know you!

Tell Me More!

For the latest information on history and happenings in the Village, follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages and be sure to check out our website.