Abilene Heritage Square, a historic building in Abilene, Texas, commemorated its 100th anniversary with a lively celebration amidst ongoing renovations. The event, held on Monday evening on the front lawn of the square, featured various activities and speeches to honor the building’s rich heritage and promising future.
As part of the festivities, Abilene Heritage Square hosted a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) activity to launch a competition for naming its owl mascot. Local historian Jay Moore delivered a speech reflecting on the past and looking forward to the new chapter for this community landmark.
The building, originally constructed in 1923 and opened as Abilene High School in 1924, has undergone several transformations over the years. It served as Abilene High until 1955, when the current Abilene High School was established. Subsequently, the structure was repurposed as Lincoln Junior High in 1955, renamed Lincoln Middle School in 1986, and eventually closed its doors in 2007.
Following extensive renovations that began in November, Abilene Heritage Square is being transformed into a dynamic community hub that will cater to diverse needs. Despite these changes, the significance of its century-old legacy is being honored by retaining the AHS abbreviation, albeit with a new name: Abilene Heritage Square.
The revitalized Abilene Heritage Square is set to open its doors to the public in the fall of 2025, offering renewed opportunities for the community to engage with its rich history and embrace its future.