Published: August 18, 2008 02:24 pm         

Small North Texas town resurges

The sounds of hammers and saws are becoming familiar in downtown Nocona, as construction crews move from one building to the next, bringing the old buildings to life, and generating a sense of town pride and unity in Nocona.

The Texas Downtown Association recently granted Dan Fenoglio, of Nocona, the Recognition/Heritage award for the building renovation of “Daddy Sam’s Restaurant & Saloon.” Dan said that he started renovating the building for Daddy Sam’s simply to restore the old building to the original look of the 1920’s. That project seems to have started a movement in downtown Nocona as its vacant buildings are coming back to life.

Fenoglio said he started renovating the building for Daddy Sam’s simply to restore the old building g to the original look of the 1920’s.

“It started out to be a museum for all the antiques and stuff I’ve collected over the years. Everything in here has something to do with the history of Nocona,” he explains.

Fenoglio then purchased the building next to it, which used to be Sam Arnold’s Grocery and Market in the 1920’s. Sam Arnold was Dan’s grandfather. In Daddy Sam’s, there is a large photograph displayed of Sam Arnold, his brothers, and George Steagall, Red Steagall’s father, in the old store.

He has decorated one part of the building to look like the front of his grandfather’s old store. Everyone called him “Daddy Sam,” recalled the grandson. Though Daddy Sam’s is not open to the public, Dan allows private parties to lease it.

The rebirth will not stop there as Fenoglio has recently purchased five buildings across the street from Daddy Sam’s. One is the old Bills Store. Fenoglio said that he is not sure what he is going to do with the buildings, yet. Whatever he does with the inside, the outside will resemble the original buildings before the turn of the century.

“I just hate to see someone buy them and not do anything with them. I grew up here, and it makes me sad to see these old, neat buildings just fall apart,” said the hometown boy.

A few doors down from Daddy Sam’s is the Nocona I.S.D. administrative offices, which are house in the old Farmer’s and merchant’s Bank building. Three years ago, the Nocona School Board elected to refurbish the exterior of the building due to some unsafe granite hanging from the west and north walls. The building was commemorated with a Texas Historical Marker.

As superintendent during this time, Harold Reynolds said, “I caught the fever,” and he and his wife, Sandra, approaching retirement, purchased a building on Clay Street to remodel. Harold and Sandra are opening a steak house in their newly remodeled building called “Times Forgotten.”

Inside, the restaurant is beautifully trimmed in wood throughout the restaurant, with an elegant staircase leading to a grand old style bar at the top. Sandra explained that the restaurant will serve alcohol; however, a membership will be required.

Kyle Reynolds, son of Harold and Sandra said that the restaurant will have sections designated to different parts of the history of Nocona.

“There will be a railroad section, one for leather goods, the oil fields section, and a section for the Chisholm Trail,” stated Kyle. “All are important parts of the history of Nocona,” he said. “We are from Nocona, and we think it’s important to remember where we came from, and to give back to our community,” Kyle declared.

Down the road, is the Legacy Salon, owned by Mike and Saprina Storey. Mike explains this building has been the old Barber Shop, since 1940. “The barber‘s name was Marvin Parr. Things have come full circle as his grandson, Casey Parr, is now a stylist at the Legacy Salon,” said Mike.

The couple is in the process of remodeling the exterior with timber to resemble the 1800’s. “We want to protect what we have, and preserve it the way it was,” Storey said. “We are all just hometown people that want to preserve Nocona.”

A few doors down from the Legacy Salon is Gibbs Pharmacy. Recently, Rusty and Carolyn Fenoglio, owners of Gibbs Pharmacy, purchased two buildings adjacent to the pharmacy. Carolyn said that they are turning the second level of the new building into an apartment.

“It used to be a boarding house back in the 1920’s,” Rusty claimed.

The builder, Jeff Palmer, stated, “A couple of elderly people stopped me, while I was working on it, and told me that they lived in the boarding house when they were kids.”

Carolyn added, “We will also be adding a front balcony, like you see in New Orleans.” There are old pictures of Nocona that also show these types of balconies on some of the buildings in the 1800’s.

“Eventually, we will remodel the front of the pharmacy, too. In New Orleans, we saw the oldest pharmacy in the United States. We may model it after that one,” explained Carolyn.

Ruby Grant, Gibbs Pharmacy employee, said, “I can’t wait to come to work to see what they have added. I simply think it’s beautiful.”

Paul LaMar, Nocona resident, said that he thinks the remodeled buildings look wonderful. “I think it’s great to see people showing such an interest in Nocona,” he said.

While preserving their town, the people of Nocona also know that the growth of Nocona is coming. “We can’t stop it, but we can be prepared when it comes,” declared James Yohe, Executive Director of Nocona Economic Development Corporations. Yohe is in charge of a campaign called “Turning the Stampede.” Yohe explained, “If we wait until we actually see the growth, it will be too late. It is the same with a stampede. You can hear a stampede coming. However, you can't wait until it gets to you, because you can’t stop a stampede. You can only control the direction in which it will go,” Yohe explained.

“By beginning now, we hope to determine a plan on the direction of growth for Nocona, and how to meet those needs before they occur.” Some major factors in preparing for growth include water supply and housing. If more people are moving to Nocona, there will be a need for more houses and a more extensive water supply.

“If we start now, we can develop a plan for what is to come,” explained Yohe. “We will be holding workshops, for the community, every other week, until the end of June,” stated Yohe. “With these workshops, we hope to educate ourselves in the direction we need to go in order to prepare us for the growth of Nocona.”

Some of the groups that will contribute to their education will include the Upper Trinity Ground Water conservation District and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

“We hope to have everyone in the community involved in this process,” stated Yohe. “We need to be ready so we don’t get trampled.”

Evidenced in the way this community is pulling together to improve and prepare their town, Nocona will not be “times forgotten,” but times remembered, treasured, and improved.