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Calvert K. Collins Family Foundation
honors rich heritage of Jefferson, Texas
Few small towns in Texas possess the rich history enjoyed by
Jefferson,
in Marion County.
Situated on Big Cypress Bayou in East Texas, the town prospered in the
19th century as the inland endpoint for steamboats that plied the Big
Cypress River from the Port of New Orleans. As a result, much of the
town's architecture resembles that of New Orleans, with many homes featuring
the Greek Revival style.
Today the town is a significant tourist mecca. It is known as the Bed
and Breakfast Capital of Texas and remains historic with its brick-lined
streets and 19th-century merchant shops.
Calvert K. Collins grew up in Marshall, Texas, near Jefferson. Her love
for the timeless grace of the region, and Jefferson in particular, has
made preservation of the town's historical structures a focus of the
Calvert K. Collins Family Foundation.
In all, the Foundation has purchased more than 25 buildings in and around
Jefferson and is renovating them to be appreciated by future generations.
The
crown jewel of the Foundation's passion for historical preservation
is the exquisite museum tour home and bed and breakfast called The
House of the Seasons. Built in 1872, the house is an outstanding
example of the architectural style that was the bridge between the Greek
Revival and Victorian styles popular during the late 19th century.
Between
2008 and 2010, four more Jefferson, Texas, buildings will take on new
life thanks to the Foundation.
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The Collins Academy will transform what is now an
eyesore into a vibrant center for adult learning. The building will
house classes enabling area adults without a high school diploma to
earn one and help area high school students take honors classes that
are not available from their schools.
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An Environmental School, meanwhile, will become the
focus of a new ecological park the Foundation is helping fund along
Jefferson's riverfront. The school will offer learning adventures
and field trips designed to increase appreciation for the world's
natural resources and to encourage their preservation.
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