Stephen F Austin State University - Stone Fort Yearbook (Nacogdoches, TX)

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10-Downtown

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Nacogdoches boasted a population of both young and old. This diverse mix was a result of college graduates who chose to stay and of families who have chosen to stay in Nacogdoches all their lives. One of the nicest aspects of Nacogdoches life was the friendliness of its people. It was noticed everywhere — on the SFA campus, the streets of downtown and the sidewalks of the residential areas. Liz Hensarling, Nacogdoches resident, moved to the area three years ago and decided to stay because of the people. She said, The people of Nacogdoches are very friendly and easygoing The citizens were not only friendly, but they were also helpful. For example, one student was parking her car downtown on a Saturday afternoon when she discovered that she had no money for the parking meter. A passerby told the girl not to worry because parking was free on Saturdays. This was just one example of the helpfulness and old-fashioned values found among the people of Nacogdoches. — Lisa Reeves and Laurie Robinson Photos by Mitch Aiken People-9

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An admirable characteristic of Nacogdoches was the old-fashioned downtown area. Red brick streets and a town square were part of the uniqueness. Another unusual sight was Colony Mall, which was as quaint as the name sounded. The mall, located on Main Street, was a remodelled building that housed antique, craft and novelty shops. Lucy Litton, resident of Nacogdoches since 1969, said, People like the mall because of the old atmosphere. It has lots of unique items you can ' t find in other places. Another fascinating place of business was the Old Time String Shop, located on the south side of the square. The building was once an old cafe, which was evident from the stools still bolted to the floor near the bar. In the middle of the floor stood an old wood-burning stove and piles of wood. On a cold wintery day, students often stopped in to listen to area residents sitting around picking their guitars. Instruments old and new were found in the store. In additon, it was a place to take guitar lessons. The atmosphere of the shop gave one a sense of kinship with the past. Old-timers liked to tell that Bonnie Parker waitressed at the old cafe and Clyde stopped in to see her. The story, however, was not documented by historians. Tom Cornett, string shop employee, said he enjoyed working in downtown Nacogdoches. I get a kick out of standing in the front door and looking out and thinking ' this is as downtown as it gets. ' — Pam McLane and Melissa Lane Downtown- 1 1