D.16 - 1903 E. 8th Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION OCTOBER 26, 2020 DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS HDP-2020-0417 1903 E. 8TH STREET D.16 - 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1921 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story, square plan, pyramidal-roofed board-and-batten sided frame house with a partial- width inset porch on non-historic posts; single and paired 1:1 fenestration. This address first appears in city directories in the 1922 edition, showing it as a rental property for Stanley and Elnora Scott, who lived here only a short period of time; he was a bellboy at the Driskill Hotel. Another series of African-American renters occupied this house until around 1933, when it was purchased by Albert and Mamie Bell Wilson, who lived here until they passed away, Albert in 1951, Mamie in 1964. Albert Wilson had a number of occupations listed in the city directories, all typical of African-American employment opportunities in the segregated city – he was a cement worker, a laborer, and finally a yard man. STAFF COMMENTS The house was listed with no recommendation for designation in the East Austin Cultural Resources Survey (2016). Staff has evaluated this house for designation as a historic landmark and has determined that the house may meet the criteria for landmark designation as set forth in City Code: a. Architecture. The house is a small, square, board-and-batten house typical of rental houses for African-Americans in east Austin in the early 20th century. While it has had some modifications, particularly the porch posts and railings, and possibly the windows, the house maintains its integrity of design and represents the lifestyle of a blue-collar African-American couple. The house may have architectural significance. b. Historical association. The house was the long-time home of an African- American couple, Albert and Mamie Bell Wilson, who represent a typical couple of the era in their occupations: Albert was a yardman and laborer, and Mamie Bell took in laundry. There may be significant historical associations. c. Archaeology. The house was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. d. Community value. The house does not possess a unique location, physical characteristic, or significant feature that contributes to the character, image, or cultural identity of the city, the neighborhood, or a particular demographic group. e. Landscape feature. The property is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive re-use, then relocation over demolition, but release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package, consisting of  D.16 - 2 photographs of all elevations, a dimensioned sketch plan, and a narrative history, for archiving at the Austin History Center. While the house appears to meet the criteria for individual designation, it has been modified and the historical significance is that of reflecting the larger demographic of African-Americans in East Austin.  LOCATION MAP D.16 - 3  D.16 - 4 1903 E. 8th Street ca. 1921  D.16 - 5 OCCUPANCY HISTORY 1903 E. 8th Street City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office October, 2020 1959 Mammie Wilson, owner Widow, Albert Wilson No occupation listed Mammie Wilson, owner Widow, Albert Wilson No occupation listed Mammie Wilson, owner Widow, Albert Wilson No occupation listed Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners No occupation listed Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners Laborer Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners Yardman Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners Yardman Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners No occupation listed Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners Laborer Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners Cement worker Albert and Mamie Wilson, owners No occupation listed 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944-45 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932-33 1930-31 1927 Lonnie Wilson, renter No occupation listed NOTE: Albert and Mamie Wilson are listed at 1103 Nueces Street; neither had an occupation shown. Henry and Henrietta Smith, renters No occupation listed Isaiah and Octavia Anderson, renters Isaiah: Octavia: Coach cleaner, Southern Pacific Railway shops Maid D.16 - 6 1924 1922 1920 Alfred and Edna Williams, renters Chauffeur, 701 Guadalupe Street. Stanley and Elnora Scott, renters Bellboy, Driskill Hotel The address is not listed in the directory. NOTE: Stanley Scott (colored) is listed as rooming at 2001 E. 10th Street; he was a bell boy at the Driskill Hotel. Elnora Scott is not listed in the directory. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: Albert and Mamie Wilson (ca. 1933 – ca. 1964) The 1940 UI.S. Census shows Albert and Mamie Wilson as the owners of this house, which was worth $1,500. Albert Wilson was 63, had been born in Texas, and was a manual laborer in building construction. Mamie Wilson was 47, had been born in Texas and was a laundress at home. Also in the household was Roland Allen, a stepson, 19; who had been born in Texas and was a manual laborer in building construction, and a niece, Ziola Teasdale, 22, who was born in Texas and is listed as a “new worker.”. Albert and Mamie Wilson appear in the 1930 U.S. Census as the renters of a house at 1103 Nueces Street in Austin. Albert Wilson was a 58-year old Texas-born laborer in the building trade. Mamie Wilson, 38, had been born in Texas, and was a laundress at home. With them lived Albert’s stepson, Roland Allen, 8, who had been born in Texas. His 1953 death certificate shows that Albert Wilson was living at this address at the time of his death. He was born in Texas in 1872 and was a laborer. Mamie Bell Wilson died in 1964. Her death certificate shows that she was born in Texas in 1892 and was a widowed housewife. She was living at this address at the time of her death. They are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Austin. Obituary of Mamie Bell Wilson  Austin Statesman, August 14, 1964 D.16 - 7 Sewer service permit for this address dating from 1933, when the house was still a rental property owned by F.W. Sternenberg, a local lumberman and developer. The house appears on the December, 1921 Sanborn map.