MIDDLE SCHOOL'S HISTORICAL SURVEY
By RACHEL HERRON AND LAUREN PRESLEY

Patricia Baker's residence as it appears today. The building appears small but is quite roomy inside.

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.

Patricia Baker's residence is a very old and historic building. It is in fact 76 years old.

From the outside this building looks small but inside it has 21 rooms total!

Baker's entire house is simply covered in decorations she has collected over the years. Baker even has real Victorian couches and ottomans.

This house, which was built in 1931 has been many things. Originally it was Hollywood School of Dance and the Black Cat Cafe.

Since then it has been Bill Morton Realty, Citizens Bank, Scrappy Holmes' office and a bar upstairs. It will probably remain a residence for the rest of its years.

A few recent facts are the square footage (2500 square feet) roofing, foundation, condition and exterior walls. The foundation is made of poured concrete, the exterior walls are vinyl siding, the condition is excellent and the roofing is made out of a white roll of material that Patricia didn't know exactly what it is.

RACHEL HERRON AND LAUREN PRESLEY

Unusual features are that the walls are an inch and a half thick. A historical thing about the house, Pat says is that it used to be a AA/Alanon and flop house.

At this time Patricia has no new plans for the buildingand is happy where she is.