MIDDLE SCHOOL'S HISTORICAL SURVEY
ºBy Ke'Reya Ervin

Pate building as it appears today and, at left, below, the old safe dating from its history as a bank.

The building which is now occupied by Maness Furniture is owned by Ronny Pate.

The building was built 133 years ago and at one time was occupied by Kilgore State Bank.

The building has great architecture, the walls are cement with a poured concrete foundation, gravel roofing and is 5000 square feet.

Ronny has plans in the future to change the roofing, walls and paint.

There are seven rooms in the entire building, one is used for an office, another for the sale of furniture with some empty or used for storage.

I feel this is a very historical building, which is still in very good condition.

It would not surprise me if the building stands for another 133 years.

The vault is still intact from when it was a bank and that is where appliances are kept, the vault is from the 1940's.

Part of the building was added on ten years ago, it also housed a Montgomery Wards, a hair salon and several small shops.

KA'REYA ERVIN

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.