D.3.0 - 815 W. 11th Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2020 DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS HDP-2020-0410 815 WEST 11TH STREET D.3 - 1 PROPOSAL Demolish a ca. 1911 house. ARCHITECTURE One-story, rectangular-plan, hipped roof frame house with permastone siding, a central, hipped-roof front-facing dormer containing two windows; partial-width inset porch on non- historic wood posts; . RESEARCH The house was built around 1911; the first occupants were Jasper J. and Blanche Coulter, who lived here until around 1917. Jasper Coulter was a book keeper for McKean-Eilers, a large wholesale dry goods company on Congress Avenue (their building is a historic landmark). The house was rented by Lucy Scott, a teacher at Pease School, in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Patrick J. Moran, an oil driller, and his wife, Imogene, are listed as the owners of the house in the 1927 city directory; only Imogene Moran is shown in the 1929 directory. Following the Morans’ ownership of the house, it was a rental property again, with a meat cutter, the superintendent for the Austin Coca-Cola bottling plant, and a projectionist at the Varsity Theater among the tenants. Around 1946, Mrs. Gretta Catterall, a widow, purchased the property; she lived here until around 1970. STAFF COMMENTS The house was listed as a Priority 2 for research in the Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey (1984). 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 good example of a transitional house, between the older Victorian styles and the later bungalows. This house has a traditional form, but without the architectural ornamentation of earlier tastes, and without the simple floorplan and prominent front porch of the later bungalows. This neighborhood has a number of transitional houses; this one would be contributing to a potential historic district in the west end of downtown. b. Historical association. The house was the home of several middle class families, and represents the lifestyle of the middle class during the early 20th century. The house also has a history of both home ownership and rentals that typified residential patterns in this section of the city. While none of the inhabitants appear to have figured significantly in the history of Austin, the character of the house reflects middle class values. 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.  D.3 - 2 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 Strongly encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, including consideration of a recommendation for historic zoning. If the Commission votes to release the permit, then condition that release 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 as this 109-year old house has potential historical significance, and would likely be contributing to a historic district in the area. Every consideration towards rehabilitation and restoration rather than demolition should be made before losing this house.  LOCATION MAP D.3 - 3  D.3 - 4 815 W.11th Street ca. 1911 Detail of permastone siding, wood porch posts, and 9:1 window  D.3 - 5 OCCUPANCY HISTORY 815 W. 11th Street Cruz and Seferina Romo, renters Laborer Also listed is Zeke Romo, a student. John and Vivien Geneser, owners Contractor No return John Geneser, owner No occupation listed Zeke and Maria Romo, renters Research analyst Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, Ernest V. Catterall Retired City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office October, 2013 1992 1985-86 1981 1977 1973 1968 1962 1959 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944-45 Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, Ernest V. Catterall No occupation listed Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, Ernest V. Catterall No occupation listed Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, Ernest V. Catterall No occupation listed Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, Ernest V. Catterall No occupation listed Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, Ernest Catterall No occupation listed Gretta Catterall, owner Widow, E.V. Catterall No occupation listed Alfred J. and Mary Poldrack, renters U.S. Army D.3 - 6 Fred R. and Ella Colgan, renters Salesman, Austin Daily Tribune, 10th and Colorado Streets. Also listed is E. Heath Colgan, a student. William E. and Lillian B. Simpson, renters Operator, Varsity Theater, 2400½ Guadalupe Street. William E. and Lillian Simpson, renters Projectionist, Varsity Theater, 2400½ Guadalupe Street. James C. and Delma E. Barnett, renters Plant superintendent, Austin Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 311 Colorado Street. Walter F. and Pauline Hale, renters Meat cutter, Slaughter’s Rio Grande Cash & Carry, 1109 Rio Grande Street. J. William and Annie Gilbert, renters Yardman, State Board of Control Imogene Moran, owner No occupation listed Also listed is Paul Moran, no occupation stated. Patrick J. and Imogene Moran, owners Oil driller Also listed is Paul E. Moran, an office boy for the Austin American-Statesman, newspaper, 7th and Brazos Streets. William G. and Virginia Gordon, renters Waiter, Bon Ton Café, 609 Congress Avenue. Mrs. Lucie H. Scott, renter Widow, William L. Scott Teacher, Pease School Lucy Scott, renter Widow, William L. Scott Teacher, Pease School Vacant NOTE: Jasper J. and Blanche Coulter are listed at 1204 West Avenue; he was a book-keeper for McKean-Eilers Company, wholesale dry goods, 321-27 Congress Avenue. Jasper J. Coulter Book-keeper, McKean-Eilers Company, wholesale dry goods, 321-27 Congress Avenue. Jasper J. Coulter Book-keeper, McKean-Eilers Company, wholesale dry goods, 321-27 Congress Avenue. 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932-33 1930-31 1929 1927 1924 1922 1920 1918 1916 1914 D.3 - 7 1912-13 1910-11 Jasper J. Coulter Book-keeper, McKean-Eilers Company, wholesale dry goods, notions, men’s furnishings, 321-27 Congress Avenue. The address is not listed in the directory. NOTE: Jasper J. Coulter is listed as book-keeper for McKean-Eilers & Company; he lived at 501 W. 6th Street. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: Jasper J. and Blanche Coulter (ca. 1911 – ca. 1917) The 1910 U.S. Census shows J.J. and Blanche Coulter at 110 W. 9th Street in Austin. J.J. Coulter was 36, had been born in Texas, and was a book-keeper for a wholesale grocery business. Blanche Coulter was 30, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. They had a daughter, Dorothy, 5. With them lived Blanche’s mother, Florine Heth, a 67-year old Kentucky- born widow with no occupation listed, and Blanche’s sister, Ottie Heth, a 22-year old Texas-born saleslady in a dry goods store. The 1920 U.S. Census shows Jasper (listed as James J.) and Blanche Coulter renting the house at 1204 West Avenue with their two daughters, Dorothy, 15, and Marjorie, 7. James J. Coulter was a book-keeper for a wholesale house. Jasper and Blanche H. Coulter appear in the 1930 U.S. Census as the renters of a duplex at 506 West Avenue. Jasper Coulter was 56, had been born in Texas, and was a real estate accountant. Blanche Coulter was 50, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. They had a daughter, Marjorie, 17, who had no occupation listed. Obituary of Blanch Coulter Austin American, January 17, 1944  D.3 - 8 Obituary of Jasper J. Coulter Austin American, August 25, 1951 1930 U.S. Census The 1930 U.S. Census shows Bernard Saladee and his wife, Opal, as the renters of this house. Bernard Saladee was 42, had been born in Kansas, and was a salesman. Opal Saladee was 40, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. They had a daughter, Florence, 16, who had no occupation listed. Gretta Catterall (ca. 1946 – ca. 1970) Gretta Catterall is listed in the 1910 U.S. Census as the wife of Ernest Catterall of Galveston, Texas; Ernest was a bank teller. By the time of the 1920 census report, they were renting a farm in Travis County. Ernest V. Catterall was 36, had been born in England, and was a farm book- keeper. Gretta Catterall was 33, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. They had 4 daughters: Eunice, 14; Constance, 12; Miriam, 3; and Sybil, 3 months. Ernest Catterall died December 15, 1922 in Kendall County, Texas. Gretta Catterall appears in the 1930 U.S. Census as a 43-year old widow renting a house at 405 W. 7th Street in Austin. She had no occupation listed. With her lived her daughters Constance, a stenographer for the railroad; Miriam, and Sybil, neither of whom had an occupation listed. By 1940, according to the U.S. Census report, Gretta Catterall was renting a house at 307 W. 10th Street in Austin with her daughters Miriam and Sybil. Miriam was a junior clerk and stenographer  D.3 - 9 for the National Park Service; Sybil was an odd-job typist. Gretta had no occupation listed. They had two lodgers: Selma Patterson, 21, a Texas-born waitress in a café who had lived in Beeville, Texas in 1935; and Eddie Yantis, 23, an Oklahoma-born bus driver who had lived in San Antonio in 1935. Travis County real estate records show that she purchased this property in 1946.  D.3 - 10 Obituary of Gretta Catterall Austin American-Statesman, January 28, 1977  D.3 - 11 The 1935 (above) and 1961 (below) Sanborn maps show the house with the same configuration as appears today. Permit to John Gracy to re-roof the house (1940)