West 11th Street Historic District
consists of three buildings at the corner of West 11th Street and
Central Street (N W). At the time of construction, the architects collaborated in
design of the three buildings to make a unique classical architectural look.
The American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association, 300 West 11th
Street, is a three-story, Neo-Classical Revival Building, constructed in 1919. Today
it is occupied by the Financial Holding Corporation. Ararat Shrine Temple,
222 West 11th Street, was constructed in the Neo-Classical Revival
style in 1926. There are five arched openings on the ground floor. Today it is
occupied by the Kirk Family YMCA. The W.R. Pickering Lumber Company Building,
301 West 11th Street, is a Second Renaissance Revival style building
constructed in 1925. Pickering was an early 20th century lumber
company that operated sawmills in Louisiana, Texas, and California. In
Louisiana, the company owned more than 70,000 acres in Vernon Parish and
operated mills in Pickering, Cravens, and Barham. In Texas, the company owned
120,000 acres in Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby Counties, and operated a
mill in Haslam, near the Texas-Louisiana state line. The company operated in
Louisiana and Texas until 1930 when it exhausted its timber supply. Over 73,000
acres of the Texas property was incorporated into the Sabine National Forest.
In California, the company operated a mill in Standard, California, near Sonora,
in Tuolumne County. The company stopped operating in California in 1931.
However, in the late 1930s, the company was resurrected as Pickering Lumber
Company and continued operating its California mill until 1963. The Standard
mill is now owned and operated by Sierra Pacific Lumber Company. Part of the
company’s landholdings was sold to the state of California in 1953 for
incorporation into Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Today the building is used
by Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company.