Howdy Nocona!

I am a J.D./M.P.A. dual degree student at Texas Tech University. As a part of my Masters in Public Administration degree, I am required to have an Internship Experience.

The Texas Department of Agriculture's (TDA) Rural Internship Program (TRIP) places "urban" students in rural communities. TRIP provides the chance for urban students to connect with and experience rural Texas as well as maximizing the opportunity and experience for the community. The purpose of the program is to introduce a college upperclassman, raised in an urban environment, to rural Texas, living and working in a small community for a period of 5 weeks, or 1 summer session.

So I am heading to Nocona, Texas for the entire month of June, 2011. Nocona is a city along U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 175 in Montague County, Texas. The population was 3,198 at the 2000 census.

The city is named for Peta Nocona, the Comanche chief. The area was first known to white settlers as the last stop in Texas before crossing the Red River on the Chisolm Trail. It was founded in 1887 along a particaular bend in the Gainesville, Henrietta and Western Railway line, which soon became part of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, connecting Gainesville and Henrietta, and later Wichita Falls. Nocona assumed the role of economic and industrial center of northern Montague County, and many older towns in the area, bypassed by the railroad, shuttered and its citizens moved to Nocona. The town has steadily maintained a population of around 3000 since the 1940s, though industries responsible for its growth have come and gone. The "North Field", an oil field between Nocona and the Red River, contributed to Nocona's economy for much of the 20th century and continues to do so on a small scale. The MKT line, which was responsible for Nocona's founding, was abandoned in 1969 and the tracks removed in 1971. Nocona also has a proud history of leather works and has been home to Justin Industries,Nocona Boot Company, and the Nocona Belt Company. Nocona Boot Company and Justin Industries have since moved; however, the Montague Boot Company has been established in downtown Nocona making boots for the Larry Mahan line at Cavender's Boot City. Also integral to the Nocona economy is the Nocona Athletic Goods Company (product names are spelled "Nokona"), which manufactures baseball gloves, bats, catcher's equipment, and other sports accessories. The Athletic Goods' facilities burned in July 2006, and production has been moved to a temporary facility. Significant efforts are currently underway to revitalize the Clay Street downtown area. See an example of refurbishing a downtown landmark from start to finish at the F&M Bank Face Lift Project.

Nocona has a lake approximately 10 miles north of the city appropriately named Lake Nocona, or Farmer's Creek Reservoir. It is a recreational lake popular with people from across north central Texas. On Lake Nocona sits Nocona Hills, an attractive gated lakeside "city" with many homes, a hotel, golf course, landing strip, and other amenities. Nocona is also home to an 18-hole golf course, airstrip (FAA identifier F48), hospital, and one of the finest city parks in Texas.

Nocona, Texas, is rich in history and alive with opportunity. From its heritage along the famed Chisholm Trail to its well established leather industries, Nocona continues to attract visitors and industries. 

For my month-long stay in Nocona, I have three projects to work on:
1. Nocona Historical District Ordinance

Several years ago Nocona city officials passed an ordinance to help preserve and revitalize downtown Nocona. There is now an effort to expand the ordinance to create an historical district and apply the previous ordinance language to Hwy 82 from city limit to city limit.

The challenge has been to create a consensus for application and enforcement. A committee was formed by the city council, but attendance is spotty and agreement limited between the various committee members and community formal and informal leadership.

Drafting a document that meets the needs of the community and then coordinating it with the various stakeholders would greatly assist this effort.

2. Revitalization Ballot

Additionally, during the last legislative session Senate Bill 252 allows small rural communities, like Nocona, to freeze property taxes downtown for revitalization. However a local ballot is needed to approve the tax freeze.  No other community has taken advantage of the bill, so no ballot language is available. Efforts are needed to draft the ballot and have the city council approve it for the next available election.

3.  Montague Historical Vineyard and Museum Project

Following the repeal of Prohibition, Texas A&M established an experimental vineyard outside  Montague the county seat for Montague County. Besides the vineyards there were also other fruit programs involved.  Unfortunately in the mid‐1950s the program was discontinued and the property cleared and returned to county ownership. However, eight vines, which grew onto an overhead trellis, were left and they have been growing wild. There are also four buildings that are in need of rehab, that could be used for a variety of purposes.  

  

The concept is to reestablish the vineyard and create a heritage museum that would explain about the history and  life at the start of the county. This would include information about the Munson Project, which included this area. The Munson Project helped restore the French vineyards in the late 1800s, which were being devastated by disease. Vines from this region were less susceptible to  the disease and grafts were sent to save the French wine industry.  

  

The county is willing to allow use of the property, but we need to develop a strategic plan developing the  

vineyard and the museum mission and vision. The proceeds from the vineyard would help maintain the museum  

and hopefully the museum would attract people to the vineyard. We do have several vineyards in the area and  

some of them would like to see the property also contain research and development capacity.   

  

Coalescing this vision into a formal plan with strategies, objectives, responsibilities and timelines would be a  

great valuable benefit for the area. Participating organizations and individuals would include Montague County  

Officials, AgriLife Extension officials, local and regional vineyard owners, Tales & Trails Museum board members,  

The viticultural program  at Grayson College in Denison and others.