Notes From Michael Mathews

Join us for "Old Town: Preserving the Past" in the McFaddin-Ward House Visitor Center!

The long-anticipated event has been planned to highlight the historical jewels in one of Beaumont's oldest communities. Each participating house will tell its story as you walk, drive or bike your way through the oak-lined streets.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to learn about the homes that have helped build our Southeast Texas heritage!

When: Friday, April 13
4:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.
Where: McFaddin-Ward House Visitor Center, on the corner of Calder and Third Street

Free and open to everyone! Call (409) 832-1906 for more details.

If you haven't tried it yet, you are in for a treat.  Ana's Bakery at 2570 Calder, just behind the Tattered Suitcase, opened a few weeks ago.

The food is outstanding and the prices surprisingly low.

There is an terrific selection of Mexican pastries, cookies, cakes, and homemade ice cream.  They have freshly made Kolaches in the morning and will be adding sandwiches for lunch soon.

They are open 7 days a week.

Drop by and welcome them to the neighborhood.

Thanks to the efforts of the Southeast Texas Antique Dealer's Association (SETADA), the Beaumont City Council has officially designated Calder from IH 10 to the Mildred Building (Calder at MLK) as Beaumont's Historic Antiquing District.

This will help promote Beaumont and southeast Texas as an antiquing destination.  It will encourage the existing antique dealers in the district and hopefully will cause more people to open antique shops in the area.

There will be signs and banners along Calder to help publicize the district.  Signs have been requested from Texas Department of Transportation as well.  These signs would be on the exit ramps for Calder on IH 10 and Hwy 69.

This is just one more great thing happening in the Oaks Historic District and another wonderful thing for Beaumont.

Take time to visit and support the local antique shops in Beaumont's Historic Antiquing District and the surrounding area.

Antique Mall of Beaumont, 2594 Calder, Beaumont TX
Antik Haus, 2195 Calder @ 6th St, Beaumont TX
Art Antiques & Stuff Gallery, 3145 Calder, Beaumont TX
Cave Interiors, 1425 Calder, Beaumont, TX
11th Street Market, 2470 North 11th Street, Beaumont TX
Finder's Fayre, 1485 Calder @ MLK Blvd, Beaumont TX
Select Antiques, 2694 Hazel, Beaumont TX
The Book Bazaar, 1445 Calder, Beaumont TX
The Tattered Suitcase, 2590 Calder @ 10th St, Beaumont TX
Urban Habitat, 2405 Calder, Beaumont TX

Saturday's just haven't been the same for several months since Rao's decided to close on Saturday's.  This was primarily a result of the Calder construction and the resulting drop in business.

Well, now with Calder open from downtown to 14th Street, the traffic on Calder has been building.

And so, the good news?

Starting on Saturday March 5th, Rao's will be open again on Saturdays.  Let's all stop by and show our appreciation.

While we're at it, we might show our support for all the businesses along Calder.  It has been tough on all of them.

I'm sure everyone has noticed by now but there has been great progress on Calder Street.  It is now open from downtown all the way to 14th Street.  It should be open to IH-10 anytime now.

Naturally the business and shop owners on Calder are very pleased to see the progress.  It is fun to see cars going up and down the street instead of dump trucks and utility vehicles.  While a few businesses failed during the construction, the ones who survived are looking forward to the growth that will surely come with all the improvements.

While it is not official yet, there is a move underway to have the Calder Street area declared an Antique District.  It is just a part of the effort by SETADA (Southeast Texas Antique Dealers Association) to help promote Beaumont and southeast Texas as an antiquing center.

Antique shops around the Calder area are rather excited about the plan.  Most of them are members of SETADA and are spearheading the move to raise awareness of the surprising quantity and quality of antiques and collectibles in this area.

Do you have news about the Oaks Historic District?  How about a story to tell about the early days in Old Town?  If so, become an Oaks Historic District Blogger.

For your username and password, contact Virginia Jordan.