Historians seek to save Austin, Texas, buildings

Although the buildings of the Austin/Travis County, Texas, Health and Human Services Department campus in East Austin look boxy and plain, they hold a rich history. They were once home to the Texas Deaf, Blind and Orphan School — one of the first in Texas and the nation to educate black students with disabilities. The health department wants to demolish some of the buildings to build an animal shelter and possibly new offices. A few historians and neighborhood leaders are fighting to save the two biggest structures, the auditorium and gym.