(CAMERON)  The City of Cameron laid out the red carpet today for Cameron native Drayton McLane, Jr.  During a 4 p.m. press conference, McLane unveiled the desires of his family to give to Cameron a downtown cornerstone.  With a picturesque backdrop for the press conference, McLane said he and his family desire to give something back to Cameron, in return for what Cameron has meant to them.  McLane told some 150 people in attendance, he and his family want to restore the old Green Building to it's 1891 grand style, and donate the building to the city to become the new Cameron City Hall.  

      McLane said he followed the storyline since the building became a downtown safety concern, and thought it would be "something if that building could be restored".   McLane said about 10 days ago, he called the Mayor with  a "big idea".  McLane said he remembered city hall and "thought it was kind of out of sink with the downtown portion of Cameron and not an impressive building that had a lot of character to it."  McLane said he has traveled around the world, and has seen a lot of cities with great downtown city halls. "So I asked the mayor if our family was willing to fund the cost to remodel the building, put it back the way it was originally, and then to give it to the city." McLane said. 

   "Our family had the privilege for 5 years to work on building a new baseball park in downtown Houston, Enron Field.  And when we started on that project, you might remember, we were out at the Astrodome which was about 30 minutes from downtown Houston. Never worked well, and baseball around the United States works well when it's in the downtown metropolitan area.  So I told the Mayor and County Judge we would be interested in building it but it had to be downtown.  It has really begun to totally change downtown Houston.  New buildings are being built and there is over $1 billion worth of new building construction that has just been started within the last year in downtown Houston, and hopefully is going to revitalize the whole area.  And my challenge to the Mayor (of Cameron), that maybe this could be the stake that is put in the ground, to revitalize and bring Cameron back in a very strong and powerful way." McLane said.

     Architect Charles Volter was contacted by McLane to come up with the plans to restore the building.  Volter (pictured right)  also spoke at the press conference today.  He said "It just dawned on us that this could really be something that could be a useful thing for the city of Cameron and could enhance this beautiful plaza you have here.  After a good deal of discussions and meetings, that's exactly what we intend to do, is to bring this building back just like it was in 1891."  Volter said he intends to take down what is there, all the pieces will be cataloged and reinstalled in their proper place once the structure has been completed.  New walls  will be placed where the old ones come down.  And the inside will not be as it was in 1891, but Volter said "we will contain the spirit of the building and I think it can take a fine place on this square."

     John Egger of EBCO Commercial in Cameron said " what a great opportunity for the city of Cameron to have something like this happen, and we really owe a great thanks to the McLane family."  Egger said this should be a very positive impression for Cameron.  Egger said "there will be a lot of changes to the building as far as the structure, but we've been tasked to try to capture the front and the sides and all the details on the building, and try to make it look just like the old building. I have a feeling that Cameron will be saying thanks to the McLane family for a long time".  

     The demolition of the current structure is the responsibility of the city, and will begin next week.  Egger said the design process should take about 3 months, and actual construction about 5-6 months.

     McLane concluded the conference today thanking Cameron for the opportunity.  "Cameron to me and our family has been so important to who we are today and has been such an important part of our life.  And we just think this is a great cause that we're very proud to be involved in."

City officials lined the press conference with old pictures of downtown Cameron including the Green Building and the original McLane Wholesale Grocers.  Click on the picture icons for a full view of the pictures.

For the developments that led up to today's announcement, click on the following links.