Nocona 2020: A Look Into the Future of Downtown Nocona

By Bill Spencer

The remodeling of the old F & M Bank building seems to be part of a plethora of downtown revitalization. Several local citizens have caught restoration fever and are preparing to bring old buildings back to a productive life.  The future of downtown Nocona is headed toward a potential renaissance as the interest in old buildings continues to grow.  Assuredly all citizens will benefit from this interest in historic preservation and renovation of old Nocona eyesores. However, let us look forward to see what might happen to this remote rural nest of 3000 residents in to the not too distant future.

Imagine that this is the year 2020 as we take a look at a few events that transpired in the years leading up to this time.  The setting for this daydream is a four block section of Clay Street in Nocona, Texas, just north of the newly upgraded HWY 82.  HWY 82 has completed the widening process to four lanes from the East coast all the way to West Texas, making it a major transportation artery for North Texas and Southern Oklahoma.

The corridor north of the metroplex along I-35 and US 287 has seen the fastest population growth in the US for 10 straight years.  The event that some citizens consider a dream come true, while others rue it as a nightmare, occurs as the spin-off from the urbanization of north Texas finally reaches to Nocona.  The Leather Goods Capital is experiencing the American population shift to the plains north of the metroplex area as nominal real state is being gobbled up by land speculators. Consequently, city leaders begin to plan for the same rapid growth that clobbered small towns like Coppell, Frisco, and Plano decades before.

Traveling on US 82, visitors have an easy exit and arrive at the center of a small town that has found a niche as a place to see interesting architecture while getting a good meal at one of the downtown restaurants.  The reputation of the cuisine of the several restaurants along Clay Street, as well as Business HWY 82, has traveled by word of mouth to surrounding counties, and even into nearby states due to the new accessibility from HWY 82. 

Angle parking spots along Clay are nigh impossible to obtain at any time of the day.  Most visitors have to park at one of the parking lots just off of Elm and Oak Streets and take the short walk to the pedestrian filled sidewalks of the main street of Nocona..  Once at Clay, visitors can select from several different cuisines, by simply wandering along a three block area being guided by the interesting smells being emitted by restaurants housed in old renovated buildings. Buildings that were almost falling down a decade ago have been restored making downtown Nocona an attractive place to visit, eat, and shop.

The leather crafting and boot making ambience is not only part of the history of the area, but is also a useful theme, albeit a lure to draw visitors to spend their money at local establishments.  As more and more urbanization spreads north west from the metroplex, small towns with rich histories including Nocona have become prominent spots for day tripping tourists.

Now back to reality.  Currently, at least a half dozen old buildings are undergoing some form of renovation.  In the 300 block of Clay, Dan Fenoglio has 3 store fronts under construction..  Daddy Sam's Restaurant and Saloon has the attractive motif of a barroom that harks back to the time when his grandparents owned the structure. Fenoglio is one of the local experts in the restoration of old buildings.

In the 200 block of Clay the old F &M Bank Building, now used by Nocona ISD, is undergoing a facelift to make it resemble its original pre-1950 architecture.  The F & M Building will encompass two old buildings, the original F & M front and the adjacent Ellis & Wilford's Dry Goods Store.

Just south of the F & M is a structure being renovated by Harold and Sandra Reynolds.  This building was the turn of the century dwelling for the original Farmers & Merchant's Bank before it moved a few doors north to its two story structure at 220 Clay.  When the bank moved, the store housed several subsequent businesses, including Crain's Cleaners, Bill's Men's Wear, and Norman's Catfish Inn.

Harold Reynolds is weighing the possibility of making this unique structure into steakhouse with a roaring twenties theme complete with piano.  The structure still contains the original tin ceiling tiles that date back to the old bank's occupancy. Reynolds is hoping that his establishment can get a regional reputation to draw customers from surrounding communities.

The growth potential and amenities of our community will be significantly enhanced by the renewal going on downtown.  The motivation for the revitalization of Clay Street buildings undoubtedly comes from the pride and love of this meagerly populated community for its heritage and from the hearts of many citizens with a tremendous vision of the future.