Old Town Festival aims to save Sears & Roebuck home from demolition
BY PAM GREENE STAFF WRITER

The Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association (PAPHA) has planned an Old Town Festival to raise funds to save the historic Sears and Roebuck home from the wrecking ball. The hope is to restore it to use as a museum and starting point for historic walking tours.

The home is in the process of being sold, and plans have been made to remove the home and erect other buildings on the site.

PAPHA would like to be able to accept the building if it becomes available to the organization, but that would require money for moving, for a foundation to hold the house and most importantly for land to place it on.

Consequently, PAPHA is holding the festival on Saturday, Nov. 25, to raise money; raise awareness of the organization's accomplishments and goals and to celebrate "old town".

The celebration will include history, art and holiday shopping by partnering with businesses in Port Aransas. Businesses in town will host "old-timers" spinning yarns, a parade of bagpipers, antique cars, golf carts and more winding through the streets of "old town Port Aransas". Drinks, snacks and musical entertainment will be available in the Tarpon Inn courtyard where PAPHA will be honored in a brief ceremony. A street dance also will be held at Pelican's Landing.

PAPHA story-telling DVD's, tshirts and calendars will be for sale at participating businesses that will be designated by PAPHA participation signs, and maps will be distributed to visitors. Other clubs are invited to join the celebration.

Anyone wanting to participate in any capacity of the festival may contact Pam Greene at (361) 443-4683 or at rattraxx@centurytel.net.

PAPHA invites everyone here for Thanksgiving to join in this celebration.

A brief presentation of a plaque honoring PAPHA's completion of the Texas Historical Commission's Visionaries in Preservation Grant requirements will be held at the Tarpon Inn courtyard.

PAPHA is dedicated to preserving and encouraging the preservation, restoration and reproduction of historic buildings, sites, objects, culture, ecology and customs of Port Aransas as a means of positively contributing to and enhancing the community's natural beauty, well-being and distinctive character.

PAPHA plans to establish a museum and/or heritage site(s) to display and preserve historical artifacts, documents, records, structures and other appropriate items. It promotes interest and participation.

Anyone wishing to become a member of PAPHA, donate, partner or give ideas to help PAPHA reach the museum goal, may contact president John Fucik at 749-7295 or vice-president Beverly Charles at 749-2136.

PAPHA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded on Nov. 15, 2002.