We’re excited to introduce our new 2020 Fairmount Neighborhood Association board members! The nominees were approved by a vote at the August 24 general meeting. Keep reading to learn a little more about each Director.
- Director of Preservation: Michael McDermott
- Director of Promotions: Lori Gallagher
- Director of Public Safety: Elizabeth Brammer-Mayben
- Director of Finance: Regina Jackman
- Director of Communications: Rachel Jenkins
Director of Historic Preservation: Michael McDermott
The neighborhood known to all Fort Worth as the Near Southside was mostly an enigma to me when my mom told me about a tour of historic homes happening here in 1983. My first experience in what is now Fairmount was walking thru a scary looking neighborhood full of abandoned houses, cars parked on lawns and broken and out of repair pothole covered streets. But for a twenty five year old lover of old houses it was the only place in town where a person could buy an old house so cheap. It was also the neighborhood where my ancestors had raised their families from the late 1890s through the 1960s.
The next year I bought what would be my first home in a neighborhood in which I’ve now lived for the last 36 years. Since then between my husband Stan and I we’ve restored more than almost a dozen houses as near to their original appearance as possible, three of which were in near tear down condition, and three that had been badly butchered into multiplexes cheaply as possible. It only made my love of historic homes greater as I was forced to learn all about early twentieth century domestic architecture. It’s been amazing learning all about why the styles evolved as they did with a mission to providing comfortable, substantial and even artistic homes to middle class families for the first time in U.S. history.
I was asked to write a book about the history of what was now the Fairmount Southside Historic District in 2007 and after researching the area’s history and structures for three years it was published in 2010. I’ve spent the last ten years learning everything I can about the architecture and history of Fairmount’s unique homes and businesses. I’ve been involved in historic preservation and revitalization of the neighborhood for three and a half decades and have been either on the committee or director of historic preservation off and on for twenty years. I’m honored to have helped many of you either with your house histories or with projects related to your homes and happy to continue doing so.
Director of Promotions: Lori Gallagher
I first visited Fairmount in May of 1993 and immediately knew I wanted to live here. We made an offer on a house and moved in August 1993. I have said many times to many people this is where I chose to raise my family.
My love of my neighborhood and community involvement ultimately led me to my career in real estate. For years it was like pushing a bolder up a mountain to get people to even consider looking at a house in Fairmount. I have considered promoting Fairmount my full-time job for the last 20+ years. I can’t count how many parades and home tours I have either participated in or sponsored. The last 2 years Kelly Bowden and I have headed the committee for Fairmount Festivus light tour and loved it!
I am bought my 6th home in Fairmount in August 2018 and have been renovating it ever since. Some day I might get close to being “done” with it.
So now as an empty-nester, I have agreed to step in as Director of Promotions. I would love input from anyone about how we can bring the neighborhood together more and support each other in the mess that is 2020. We will have events but they may not look like they have in the past.
Director of Public Safety: Elizabeth Brammer-Mayben
Howdy, neighbors! As an Air Force brat, I have spent most of my adult life looking for the perfect place to put down roots for my twin boys and pilot husband. We knew we hit the jackpot when we found our 1905 home on Lipscomb in 2015, and love living here more than we ever could have imagined! In addition to the “front porch” lifestyle, I have an addiction to Spice, Melt, Tribe Alive, and walking our monstrous Great Danes down to Daggett Montessori when the kiddos get out of school. I’m a newly licensed attorney that works hard to serve my clients, and would love the opportunity to serve my amazing neighborhood, too, as Public Safety Director.
Director of Finance: Regina Jackman
I moved to Fort Worth 3 1/2 years ago from the Pittsburgh, PA area and rented in West 7th for 6 months before buying a home in Fairmount. I was drawn to the historic homes in the neighborhood and proximity to Magnolia. Once moving in, I found it was even better than I expected with a close knit community. I’ve worked in various areas of accounting for XTO Energy for 8 years. I’m running for the Finance position because I’d like to get more involved and assist the community.
Director of Communications: Rachel Jenkins
My partner and I bought our house in Fairmount this past January. We’ve always admired the neighborhood from afar, so we’re excited to finally be a part of this community. I originally moved to Fort Worth to attend TCU for my bachelor’s degree back in 2010. I recently completed a master’s degree at UTA and now work as an urban planner, specifically a transit planner, for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Personally, I’m committed to doing whatever I can to make the city and my neighborhood a great place to live. In my free time, I love just walking through the neighborhood and checking out all the cool houses. I see something new and interesting almost every day. When it’s too hot to do that, I really enjoy lounging on our beautiful front porch (one of the main reasons we love our house) with a good book, or ordering food from any of the many amazing restaurants around here. I very much appreciate the opportunity to be considered for this Board position and to serve my community in this way. Fairmount is such a special place and I’m so grateful to be living here.