D.2.0 - 1400 Drake Avenue — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2020 DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS HDP-2020-0400 1400 DRAKE AVENUE D.2 - 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1937 house. ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH One-story, rectangular-plan, side-gabled frame house with a central, front-gabled independent porch on paired, plain wood posts; single and paired 1:1 fenestration. The house was built around 1937 by Paul Kirschner, a local builder and developer. The house was first purchased by Emmitt and Gertie Grosskopf, who lived here from around 1938 until around 1943. Emmitt Grosskopf was a blue print operator for the State Highway Department; Gertie Grosskopf was a service representative for the telephone company. Joseph C. and Wilhelmina Collins purchased the house around 1948 after it having been rented out for several years in the mid-1940s. Joseph C. Collins was a deaf mute who worked as a linotype operator for the Steck Company, a local printing and bookbinding company. The Collinses lived here until around 1956. Sam Alton Brooks, a longtime service man for the City Water and Light Department, purchased the house around 1956 and lived here until his death in 1988. STAFF COMMENTS The house was listed with no priority for research in the Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey (1984). It is contributing to the pending Travis Heights National Register Historic District. 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 classic vernacular 1930s cottage with an oversized, front-gabled porch. While a common type at the time of its construction, this is a vanishing resource type, and reflects blue-collar housing in South Austin. b. Historical association. The house is associated with several working class families, none of whom achieved significance individually, but as a group, represent blue-collar families who were able to purchase a house in a popular area of South Austin. 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.2 - 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 squarely meet the criteria for individual designation as a historic landmark.  LOCATION MAP D.2 - 3  D.2 - 4 1400 Drake Avenue ca. 1937  D.2 - 5 OCCUPANCY HISTORY 1400 Drake Avenue City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office February, 2012 1992 Anne E. Lancaster, renter No occupation listed NOTE: The directory indicates that Anne E. Lancaster was a new resident at this address. Sam A. Brooks, owner Retired Sam A. Brooks, owner Retired Sam A. Brooks, owner Retired 1985-86 1981 1977 1973 1969 Sam A. Brooks, renter Serviceman, City Water, Light and Power Department Sam A. Brooks, renter Serviceman, City Water and Light Department  1965 1962 1958 1953 1949 1947 1944-45 1942 1939 1937 D.2 - 6 Sam A. Brooks, owner Serviceman, City Water and Light Department Sam A. Brooks, owner Meter reader, City Water and Light Department Sam A. Brooks owner Meter reader Joseph C. and Wilhelmina Collins, owners Linotype operator, Steck Company, 205 W. 9th Street. Joseph C. and Wilhelmina Collins, owners Linotype operator, Steck Company, 205 W. 9th Street. Joseph L. and Barbara Tucker, Jr., renters Proprietor (with Joseph L. Tucker, Sr.), Tucker Drug Store, 201-03 W. 8th Street. Thomas A. and Maxine Regnier, renters U.S. Army Emmett H. and Gertie Grosskopf, owners Emmett: Gertie: Clerk Service representative, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Emmitt H. and Gertrude Grosskopf, owners Emmitt: Gertrude: Assistant blue print operator, State Highway Department Service representative, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. The address is not listed in the directory. NOTE: Emmett Grosskopf is listed at 1600 Congress Avenue; he was an assistant multi operator for the State Highway Department. Gertie Grosskopf is not listed; she married Emmitt Grosskopf in 1937. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: Emmitt and Gertie Grosskopf (ca. 1938 – ca. 1943) Emmitt Grosskopf married Gertie Mus in Travis County in October, 1937. Emmitt and Gertie Grosskopf are listed in the 1940 U.S. Census at this address; they owned the house, which was worth $2,900. Emmitt was 25, had been born in Texas, and was a multi-lith operator for the State Highway Department. Gertie Grosskopf was 21, had been born in Washington, and was a service representative for the telephone company. With them lived Emmitt’s sister, Lucille Grosskopf, 36, an office nurse for a doctor. His 1940 World War II draft registration card shows that Emmitt Herbert Grosskopf was living at this address. He was born in Pflugerville, Texas in 1914 and worked for the Reproduction Division of the State Highway Department. Gertie is listed as his wife. He was 5’-8” tall, weighed 130 pounds, and had a light complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. The 1930 U.S. Census shows Emmitt Grosskopf as the 15-year old son of Augusta Grosskopf, a 51-year old Texas-born widow. Augusta Grosskopf was a farmer in the Dessau area of Travis County. The 1920 U.S. Census shows that Emmitt was the youngest child of the family; his mother is listed as a farm operator, and his older siblings were all farm laborers.  D.2 - 7 Obituary of Emmitt Grosskopf Austin American-Statesman, August 21, 1994 Gertie Mus Grosskopf Gertie Mus Grosskopf of Austin, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2005. Gertie was born May 24, 1917, in Deer Lodge, Montana, and lived with her family in Washington State and New Mexico before coming to Austin in the 1930 s. She graduated from Austin High School and found a career which extended for 40 years with Southwest Bell Telephone. She made many life-long and dear friends through her work. Although she worked full time, Gertie raised  D.2 - 8 three children with her husband and with the assistance of her mother who lived with the family. Gertie was an adventurer who took her children on many trips near and far. She continued to travel the world with friends into her late seventies. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emmitt and her brother, Richard Mus, Jr. Gertie is survived by her three children, their spouses, and two granddaughters: Richard Grosskopf and wife, Carolyn of Houston, their daughter, Courtney McHenry and husband, Daniel of San Antonio, Sharon Rosenthal and husband, Ed of San Antonio, Vicki Beran and husband, Doug of Austin and their daughter, Lindsay. The family will receive friends at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 6, 2005, in the Davis Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home. A private graveside service for the family will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 7, 2005, at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. The family extends their appreciation to Tilda Cruz, Dr. Nuzhat Ahmed, Dr. Hillary Miller, Westminster Manor Health Center and Hospice Austin. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association, Capital of Texas Chapter, 3429 Executive Center Drive, Ste 100, Austin, Texas 78731 or Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78759. Obituary of Gertie Grosskopf Austin American-Statesman, July 5, 2005 Joseph C. and Wilhelmina Collins (ca. 1948 – ca. 1956) The 1940 U.S. Census shows Joseph C. Collins and his wife, Garnet, as the renters of a house at 1907 E. 21st Street in Austin. Joseph C. Collins was 37, had been born in Ohio, and was a linotype operator for a printing company. Garnet Collins was 33, had been born in Louisiana, and had no occupation listed. They had a daughter, Iris, 2, who had been born in Texas. His 1942 World War II draft registration card shows that Joseph Carlton Collins was living at 1907 E. 21st Street in Austin. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1903, and was employed by the Steck Company at 9th and Lavaca Streets. He was 5’-8 ½” tall, weighed 210 and was a deaf mute unable to hear or talk. He had a light complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. Joseph C. Collins married Wilhelmina Wood in Travis County in March, 1947. Wilhelmina Collins died in 1986. Joseph Carlton Collins died in 1993 in Georgetown, Texas. Both are buried in Marshall, Texas. Sam A. Brooks (ca. 1956 – ca. 1988) His 1940 World War II draft registration card shows that Sam Alton Brooks was living at Mount Sharp in Hays County, Texas. He was born in 1914 in Hays County and worked for a Peter Trease in Hays County. He was 5’-10 1/2 “ tall, weighed 180 pounds, and had a ruddy complexion with brown hair and gray eyes.  D.2 - 9 Obituary of Sam A. Brooks Austin American-Statesman, December 3, 1988  D.2 - 10 Sewer connection application for this address (1937)  D.2 - 11 Water service permit for this address (1937)