Downtown Stamford set for upgrades as town celebrates 125 years

STAMFORD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – On February 11, 1900, the railroad arrived in Stamford — a day that Mayor James Decker considers the town’s founding. As Stamford celebrates 125 years, Decker reflects on its rich history, especially the downtown square, which he calls the heart of the community. Now, plans are in motion to restore and enhance this historic centerpiece.

“I moved here when I was two years old. It’s been home to me for 38 of my 40 years. I’m old enough to remember when the war memorial was put up in the early nineties. I was in junior high when the outside of the square on the highway was redone and we put in the brick, the brick medians. But the interior of the square was mostly just like this for the duration of my lifetime,” explained Decker.

While it’s been years since the downtown square has seen renovations, changes are on the way. The city council has secured a $350,000 grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Downtown Revitalization Program to fund upcoming improvements.

“They’re going to pay to redo all of the sidewalks on the interior of the square. They’re going to pay to redo all the electrical work, the electrical infrastructure between the lot’s outlets at the bottom of the lots and they’re going to help us refurbish the old historic lampposts,” added Decker.

The grant does not cover landscaping, which is why Square Renovation Committee Chair Jessica Vaughan shared that city leaders from the Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation and others are working together to raise $200 thousand.

“This project will cover the landscaping, tree maintenance, replanting new grass, planting new plants. Add a memorial for our most recent war, the Iraq and Afghanistan war, because we haven’t ever been able to replace that yet. Providing that update to that war memorial is a vital piece of this project,” explained Vaughan.

These renovations are an investment in Stamford’s future. Once complete, Decker hopes they can inspire businesses to move into Stamford, making the square a symbol of town pride.

“Because if you’ve got a square that looks rundown, not maintained, any of those negative connotations, it’s hard to ask new businesses to come and invest hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money in a new building or a new business or to hire people. Redoing the square, which is the true centerpiece of our community, is the next stage of that and will really make people feel like Stamford’s future is as bright as it’s ever been,” shared Decker.

Vaughan is excited that this project will begin in 2025, as it is not only about enhancing the square’s visual appeal but also signifies a deeper meaning for the town.

“It’s so cool that we’re kicking off this project in 2025 because Stamford was founded 125 years ago, just this past month… We want this to be kind of the phase that starts the next hundred and 25 years of Stamford,” added Vaughan.

Renovations funded by the grant are expected to start around April of this year. Project leaders hope to begin the landscaping portion later in the year. Vaughan also mentioned that individuals who wish to donate can either drop off a check at the SGDA law firm or go to First State Bank on the square and make a direct donation to the account. When at the bank, donors should ask the clerk to deposit their contribution into the Community Foundation of Stamford account.

To support the downtown revitalization efforts, donations can be made online, or sent to:

Jessica Vaughan
Community Foundation of Stamford
PO Box 7
Stamford, TX 79553

For questions, call: 325-669-1511

Make checks payable to: The Community Foundation of Stamford