Tax Credit Program Highlight: W.A. Freear Furniture Co./Maskat Shrine Temple

Wichita Falls, Wichita County

1929


Designation	Individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Historic Use	Retail, warehouse, offices, fraternal society
Current Use	Senior apartments, retail
Date Certified	June 19, 2020
	Also certified for federal historic tax credits.
Project Contact	Overland Property Group, Jones Gillam Renz Architects, MCP Build, Corlett, Probst & Boyd PLLC, Post Oak Preservation Solutions

History

The Freear Building/Maskat Shrine, was constructed in 1929 as headquarters for the W.A. Freear Furniture Company. Designed by local architects Voelcker and Dixon, the building exhibits a mix of classical and art deco styles. Interior spaces were large, and open, to accommodate changing displays. The furniture company moved after less than 20 years, to another location downtown. After serving as a USO during World War II, the building because the long-time home of the Maskat Shrine. Minor modifications were made to the building to support the fraternal organization, though they also made of the open floors for shrine purposes and public dances. The building was abandoned in the 1990s.

Rehabilitation Project

Little historic fabric remained in the building, apart from a grand staircase between the first and second floors, and some plaster-ornamented columns and beams. A large retail area was retained on the first floor but most of the building has been subdivided for apartments, which serve qualifying seniors as affordable housing. The grand staircase now serves as a memorable entrance for the apartments. The new apartments take advantage of the large unique windows on the street facades, which were fully restored. A new blade sign and storefront awnings were added to the exterior of the building, based on historic images.

All photos courtesy of the applicant.

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