Mark in Texas History: Kilgore foundation restores historic Dean Keener Crim Home

KILGORE, Texas (KLTV) - At any given time, there are several renovations underway in our area. In Kilgore, volunteers are helping keep one piece of East Texas history alive.

The Dean Keener Crim Home was built in 1876, and Boy Scout Troop 252 has volunteered to help clear the property. The inside of the house will be cleaned and touched up, and there is some donated furniture ready to go.

Ken Rainey is the great grandson of Newton and Eudora Crim. They are the third owners of the home. In 1999, the family decided that the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation would be the proper guardian for the oldest home in Kilgore.

In the coming weeks, Rainey is hopeful more furnishings will come in, bringing the home closer to opening.

“This house represents an East Texas family from the 1900s to the 1990s,” Rainey said. “It is a part of the history of this town, and it’s something that I’m very proud of.”

Although a completion date has not been officially announced, the foundation is hoping to be able to open the house for public use this time next year.