Downtown Van Alstyne Buildings
Bert Wetherill gave his presentation on the buildings of downtown Van Alstyne. He has done extensive research using old maps and was able to tell us the precise measurements of the buildings both then and now. Through this, he was able to determine when each building was roughly built as well as when modifications were made to the building. He has begun recording a history of each building from its beginning until present day. He has also photographed the buildings downtown and if there are older photographs of the buildings, he has included them in his history. The Van Alstyne Historical Society would like to create a brochure of all of the buildings so that individuals can go on a walking tour downtown and learn about each of the buildings. Members of the Van Alstyne Historical Society could also give private, more extensive tours of downtown Van Alstyne using this research as a guide. The members of the VAHS also mentioned working with the city to see if plaques or markers could be placed on some of the buildings at some point. However, for now, creating a map and walking tour, along with an extensive history of each building, will allow for individuals to learn about the history of downtown Van Alstyne. If you would like to help with this worthwhile project, please let me know!