D.10 - 910 West Elizabeth Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION OCTOBER 26, 2020 DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS HDP-2020-0395 910 WEST ELIZABETH STREET D.10 - 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1937 house. ARCHITECTURE One-story, rectangular-plan, front-gabled rock veneered frame house with a rear frame addition; symmetrical composition consisting of a central doorway with a front-gabled entry hood, and a single 6:6 window on each side of the door; the tympanum of the front gable is sheathed in wood planks following the contour of the gable roofline. RESEARCH The house was built in 1937 by John S. Minyard and his wife, Gertrude, who lived here until around 1943. John S. Minyard was listed as a carpenter in the city directories and as a contractor in general construction in the 1940 U.S. Census report. They lived in El Paso in 1935. John S. Minyard died in Littlefield, Texas in 1948; Gertrude Minyard died at the home of her son in Galveston in 1950. After a short period of tenancy by a renter, the house was purchased by Emma Anderson, a widow, in the late 1940s. Emma Anderson had no occupation listed in the city directories and lived here until around 1950. The house was then a rental property again through the 1950s. John Diaz, who had no occupation listed in the city directories, was listed as the owner of the property in 1959. STAFF COMMENTS The house is beyond the bounds of any City survey to date. Staff has evaluated this house for designation as a historic landmark and has determined that the house does not meet the criteria for landmark designation as set forth in City Code: a. Architecture. The house is a nice example of a stone-veneered house that characterizes some Austin residential building materials in the first half of the 20th century, but otherwise displays no architectural significance. b. Historical association. The house was built by a carpenter/general contractor, John S. Minyard, who lived here until around 1943; in the late 1940s, it was the home of a widow. There do not appear to 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  D.10 - 2 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 photographs of all elevations, a dimensioned sketch plan, and a narrative history, for archiving at the Austin History Center. The house does not meet the criteria for individual designation as a historic landmark.  LOCATION MAP D.10 - 3  D.10 - 4 910 West Elizabeth Street ca. 1937 Detail of stonework D.10 - 5 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944-45 1941 1939 1937 OCCUPANCY HISTORY 910 West Elizabeth Street City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office October, 2020 1959 John P. Diaz, owner No occupation listed Fred N. and Barbara L. Smith, renters Fred: Barbara: No occupation listed Office secretary, State Board of Insurance Commissioners Vacant Victor C. and Lela J. Sumner, renters Counselor NOTE: There is an Emma H. Anderson listed in the directory; she was a clerk at the Texas Insurance Checking Office and lived at 3309 Bryker Drive. Emma Anderson, owner No occupation listed Emma Anderson, owner Widow, Sam Anderson No occupation listed Kenneth A. and Minnie Wilson, renters Engineer NOTE: John S. and Gertrude Minyard are not listed in the directory. NOTE: There are several people named Emma Anderson in the directory, but none identified as the widow of Sam Anderson. John S. and Gertrude Minyard, owners Carpenter John S. and Gertrude Minyard, owners Carpenter The address is not listed in the directory. NOTE: John S. and Gertrude Minyard are listed at 1908 Whitis Avenue; he was a carpenter. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: John S. and Gertrude Minyard (ca. 1937 – ca. 1943) The 1940 U.S. Census shows John S. and Gertrude Minyard as the owners of this house, which was worth $4,000. John S. Minyard was 47, had been born in Texas, and was a contractor in general construction. Gertrude Minyard was 46, had been born in Texas. They had a son, Odell E., 17, who had been born in Texas. The family lived in El Paso, Texas in 1935. Also in the house hold were Gertrude Minyard’s parents. John G. and Viola E. Pruitt. John G. Pruitt was 76, had been born in South Carolina. Viola Pruitt was 65, had been born in Texas. They lived in Morton, Texas in 1935.  John Stafford Minyard was born in Polk County, Texas in 1892 and lived in Littlefield, Texas in 1948. Gertrude Minyard was born in Texas in 1893 and died in Galveston, Texas in 1950. Both are buried in Travis County. D.10 - 6 Obituary of John S. Minyard Austin Statesman, October 8, 1948 Obituary of Gertrude Minyard Austin Statesman, September 27, 1950 Funeral notice for Gertrude Minyard Austin Statesman, September 28, 1950  D.10 - 7 Building permit to John S. Minyard for the construction of this house (1937) service permit to John S. Minyard for this address (1937) Water  D.10 - 8 Sewer connection application by John S. Minyard for this address (1939)  D.10 - 9 Building permit to construct a frame addition (1969)