MIDDLE SCHOOL'S HISTORICAL SURVEY
By BLAINE SINCLAIR

The Lou Della Crim House from the 1920's. The statue of the Texas Ranger in the front yard of the home,with Blaine stading next to it showing the size of the statue.

Have you ever had Texas Rangers sleep in your house? Or, have you ever had three oil derricks in your very own front yard?

You probably haven't, but Lou Della Crim has. The Lou Della Crim home was built in 1920, it is 87 years old.

There are seven rooms and two bathrooms. Many interesting characters have lived in this unique home. At one time two Texas Rangers lived there.

The house is a certified historical marker. Lou Della Crim lived and died there. There three oil derricks were built in honor of her three sons.

There used to be roses around the fence which were kept and tended by Lou Della Crim. After her death, oil companies planted roses out of respect for her.

Both of the Texas Rangers graves are in the front yard.

The blue house next door is also a Crim house.

Texas history students of Dana Sneed, Maude Laird Middle School, researched the oldest of Kilgore's downtown buildings. Some of their reports will be published in coming weeks.

BLANE SINCLAIR