Old Town Residential Historic District

Two blocks east of Palestine's courthouse square, this nine-block neighborhood grew between about 1890 and about 1955, with the heaviest building from 1910 to 1940. It takes in parts of the original 1848 town plat, the 1897 Reagan Addition and unplatted land. Most of its 90 resources are small, modest houses and outbuildings of wood, brick veneer or stone veneer, built by local carpenters. Bungalows, pyramidal and L-plan houses predominate, with a few larger residences on East Lacy Street and later Ranch style homes. Residents were white and African American, often tenants, working in rail, manufacturing, government and service jobs. The absence of racially restrictive covenants and the area's edge-of-town location produced a racially mixed neighborhood. Much of the nearby African American neighborhood to the north has since been demolished. This district remains the largest and best preserved group of dwellings linked to Palestine's east side residential history, and 50 of its 90 resources contribute to its character.