D.8.0 - 307 E. 2nd Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS MAY 24, 2021 PR-2021-049619 307 E. 2ND STREET D.8 – 1 PROPOSAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH Relocate a house of uncertain age to 1200 Paul Teresa Saldana Street in East Austin. One-story L-plan frame house with single and double 4:4 windows; a partial-width shed-roofed independent porch on turned wood posts; asbestos siding; ornamental bracketwork in the tympanum of the projecting front gable. The house currently at 307 E. 2nd Street was moved on to the site from an unknown location around 1928 by Leonard and Vida East , who lived here for the rest of their lives. They had previously lived at other addresses in the same neighborhood, which had been an upper middle class neighborhood for many years before it began to decline with the conversion of many of the large, old houses into boarding houses and small hotels. At one time, Andrew Zilker, the prominent local ice merchant, lived at the west end of this block. Leonard and Vida East appear to have moved this house into the neighborhood around 1928 from an unknown location. It was one of the more modest houses in the neighborhood, but appears to have been fairly closely aligned with the other houses in the area in terms of age. Leonard East came to Austin from Lampasas in 1913 and established a wagon yard near the north end of the Congress Avenue bridge in the 100 block of Colorado Street. His wagon yard soon became one of the largest in Austin, and East began to expand his business to include the purchase of agricultural products, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea hens, hides, eggs, pecans, and other produce that local farmers would offer for trade. East also had an extensive ranch and raised cattle for resale at his Austin stores. Soon, East began to focus his business on buying local produce from area farmers for sale in Austin. For many years, East advertised in the local newspapers that he would buy local poultry, pecans, eggs, and other items. He began selling poultry to local restaurants and hotels, as well as opening a store, at first at his wagon yard location between 1st and 2nd streets on Colorado Street, then to a larger location at 8th Street and East Avenue (now IH-35). His businesses were very prominent in Austin, providing fresh produce, meats, eggs, and poultry to Austin citizens, as well as providing a buying from local farmers. He was an extremely prominent figure in the agricultural economy of Austin and central Texas’ agricultural community until his death in 1969; his son Alvin continues the family poultry business to local restaurants and supermarkets to this day from their current location on E. 5th Street. STAFF COMMENTS Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high integrity and has the promise of restoration if this relocation permit is approved. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined that it meets two criteria: a. Architecture. The building is a turn of the 20th century vernacular wing-and-gable plan that retains a high degree of integrity. While this is a fairly common form in older Austin neighborhoods, this house reflects a particularly good example, and displays architectural ornamentation that emphasize the architectural character of this house. The Leonard and Vida East House meets the chis criterion for land mark designation. b. Historical association. The property was the home of Leonard and Vida East from 1928 until their deaths (Leonard in1969 and Vida in 1977). Leonard was a very prominent businessman in Austin from the mid-1910s until today, when the business continues to be operated by their son, Alvin East. Leonard East’s first business was a wagonyard at 1st and Colorado Streets; he then established the city’s largest produce and poultry market, buying agricultural products from area farmers and selling them to citizens of the city of Austin. Leonard East was a leader in the marketing of local agricultural products. The Leonard and Vida East House meets this criterion for significant historical associations with a prominent figure in the history of Austin and central Texas. c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. D.8 – 2 d. Community value. The property 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. This house is one of the last remnants (along with a couple houses east of Red River Street on E. 3rd Street) of a once-thriving upper middle class neighborhood in the lower east side of downtown Austin. However, the context of this house changed so dramatically over the past 70 years that it serves the best interests of celebrating and interpreting this house to move this house to a more suitable location and use that will better ensure its preservation. 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 Approve the permit to relocate and grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the restoration of this house. The proposed new location will be adjacent to a park and community garden; it will be restored to its historic appearance, and has the potential to interpret this house as an important chapter in the history of Austin. Staff recognizes that relocation of this house from its historic location is not the best preservation practice but this Commission has approved the relocation of other historic houses, and then designated them as historic landmarks, to encourage and ensure their preservation, principally the Roy Thomas House from its original site on Hemphill Park to San Antonio Street, the relocation of the University C-Op offices from West Campus to Shoal Cliff Court, and the relocation of the Lavada Durst house from E. 4th Street to E.21st Street, all with the goal of promoting the preservation of these important historic landmarks, LOCATION MAP D.8 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION 307 E. 2nd Street Probably moved onto this site ca. 1928 from an unknown location D.8 – 4 2017 photograph courtesy Google Streetview OCCUPANCY HISTORY 307 E. 2nd Street City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office February, 2021 1985-86 Knight Real Estate Corporation Robert E. and Betty B. Knight, proprietors Knight Real Estate Corporation Robert E. and Betty B. Knight, proprietors Vacant 1981 1977 1973 1968 Vida H. East (not listed as owner) Widow, Leonard East No occupation listed NOTE: Alvin G. East was the owner of L. East Produce, wholesale poultry, 706 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin G. East), L East Produce, wholesale poultry, 706 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin G. East), L East Produce, wholesale poultry, 706 E. 8th Street. D.8 – 5 Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin G. East and Jewel E. Wolf), L East Produce, wholesale poultry, 706 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin G. East), L East Produce, wholesale poultry 706 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin G. East), L East Produce, wholesale poultry, 700-06 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin G East and Jewel E. Wolf), L East Produce, groceries and produce, 706 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor (with Alvin C. East), L East Produce, groceries, 706 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, groceries, 700-06 E. 8th Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, groceries, meats and produce, 103-05 Colorado Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, 103 Colorado Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L. East Produce Company, 103 Colorado Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, groceries, meats, wholesale and retail, turkeys, poultry, eggs, butter, ducks, pecans, guineas, geese, furs and hides, 103-05 Colorado Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, groceries, meats, wholesale and retail, turkeys, poultry, eggs, butter, ducks, pecans, guineas, geese, furs and hides, 102 W. 2nd Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, groceries, meats, wholesale and retail, turkeys, poultry, eggs, butter, ducks, pecans, guineas, geese, furs and hides, 102 W. 2nd Street. Leonard C. and Vida H. East, owners Proprietor, L East Produce Company, groceries, meats, wholesale and retail, turkeys, poultry, eggs, butter, ducks, pecans, guineas, geese, furs, mohair and hides, 102 W. 2nd Street. The address is not listed in the directory. The directory shows a 305 E. 2nd Street, which is depicted on the 1900 Sanborn map, and a 309 E. 2nd Street, also depicted on the 1900 map. It is very possible that the current house was moved onto the site around 1928, but from an unknown location. 1962 1959 1955 1952 1949 1947 1944-45 1941 1939 1937 1935 1932-33 1930-31 1929 1927 D.8 – 6 NOTE: Leonard C. and Vida H. East are listed at 204 E. 2nd Street, in the next block west (between Brazos and San Jacinto). The 1935 Sanborn map shows this as a two-story wood house with a large one-story rear addition with a large side porch. It does not appear on the 1900 Sanborn map. NOTE: The following entries follow Leonard C. and Vida East in their residences prior to moving into the house at 307 E. 2nd Street: 1924 1922 The Easts lived at 407 E. 3rd Street. He was the proprietor of a wagon yard at 102 W. 2nd Street. Leonard and Vida East lived at 407 E. 3rd Street. He was the proprietor of a wood and wagon yard at 506 and 509 E. 5th Street. The Easts lived at 205 E. 2nd Street. He was the proprietor of a wagon yard at 509 E. 5th Street. Leonard and Vida East lived at 205 E. 2nd Street; he had no occupation listed. Leonard East is not listed in the directory. 1920 1918 1916 The 1900 Sanborn map shows a different house on this site. The lot had houses addressed as 305 and 307 E. 2nd Street. D.8 – 7 The 1935 Sanborn map shows the house with its current configuration and current address. It appears as a wood frame house with no synthetic siding. The house appears in its current configuration and with its current address on the 1961 Sanborn map. The map indicates that the house has asbestos siding. D.8 – 8 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Leonard C. and Vida H. East (ca. 1928 – ca. 1977) Leonard East married Vida Henderson in Lampasas, Texas in October, 1905. Leonard and Vida East appear in the 1910 U.S. Census of Burnet County, Texas, where they rented a farm. Leonard East was 25, had been born in Texas, and was a general farmer. Vida East was 24, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. They had a son, Alvin G., 3; and a daughter, Altha, almost 2. The household also included a hired man, Frank Day, 16, who had been born in Texas and is listed as a farm laborer. The 1920 U.S. Census shows Leonard and Vida East as the renters of the house at 205 E. 2nd Street. Leonard East was 37, had been born in Texas, and was the manager of a produce company. Vida East was 35, had been born in Tennessee, and had no occupation listed. They had a son, Alvin, 13, and a daughter, Jewel, 11, both of whom had been born in Texas. Also in the household were three of Leonard’s brothers: Earnest East 39, the manager of a produce company; Malcolm East, 29, a salesman for a produce company; and Jasper East, 26, a manager of a produce company; additionally the household included a nephew, Clovis East 21, a salesman for a produce company. All of the family members had been born in Texas. The 1930 U.S. Census shows Leonard and Vida East as the owners of this house, which was worth $3,500. As a comparison, Andrew J. and Rose Zilker lived next door at 301 E. 2nd Street, in a house that was worth $15,000. Leonard East was 46, had been born in Texas to a Tennessee-born father and a Texas-born mother, and was the proprietor of a produce business. Vida East was 44, had been born in Texas to a Tennessee-born father and a Texas-born mother, and had no occupation listed. They had a son, Alvin, 23, who had been born in Texas and is listed as a book-keeper for the produce company. The Easts had 6 roomers at this address as well: Raymond Dearing, 28, a Texas-born auto mechanic; Henry Gordon, 19, a Texas-born electrician; Berney Dooley, 17, who had been born in Texas and was a surveyor for the city; Ollie Wilford, 21, who had been born in Texas and was a laborer for the produce company; Floyd Henderson, 18, who had been born in Texas and was a laborer for the produce company; and Benita Williams, 19, who had been born in Texas, and was an beauty operator. Leonard and Vida East appear at this address in the 1940 U.S. Census; their house was worth $5,000. Leonard East was 56, had been born in Texas, and was the proprietor of a produce company. Vida East was 54, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. Also in the household was Floyd Henderson, their 27-year old Texas-born nephew who worked as a truck driver for a stockyard, and their daughter, Jewel Mitchell, a 31- year old Texas-born divorcee who worked as a stenographer at the produce company. Jewel Mitchell had two young daughters, both of whom had been born in Texas: Vida Lucille, 11; and Juanita, L., 9. His 1942 World War II draft registration card shows that Leonard East as living at this address. He was born in Lavaca County, Texas in May, 1882 and was self-employed with a business address of 103 Colorado Street in Austin. He was 5’-9” tall, weighed 155 pounds, and had a light complexion with gray hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on the middle finger of his left hand. D.8 – 9 Business page story on the L East Produce Company Austin Statesman, February 9, 1929 D.8 – 10 Description of L. East’s business Austin Statesman, October 26, 1929 D.8 – 11 Booster article for L. East Produce Company Austin Statesman, January 31, 1931 D.8 – 12 D.8 – 13 D.8 – 14 D.8 – 15 Full-page story on the opening of L East Produce Company’s new headquarters at 103-05 Colorado Street Austin Statesman, October 27, 1933 D.8 – 16 L East Produce extends Christmas greetings Austin Statesman, December 16, 1933 D.8 – 17 D.8 – 18 D.8 – 19 Opening of the new location of L. East Produce at East Avenue and 8th Street Austin Statesman, June 9, 1944 D.8 – 20 Story on the retirement of a veteran L. East Produce employee relates the history of the business Austin Statesman, November 20, 1952 D.8 – 21 D.8 – 22 Society page column on the barbecue thrown by Leonard and Vida East Austin American-Statesman, October 24, 1954 D.8 – 23 D.8 – 24 Obituary of Leonard East Austin Statesman, April 23, 1969 D.8 – 25 D.8 – 26 Obituary of Vida East Austin American-Statesman, June 17, 1977 The East Poultry Company is still in business at 2615 E. 6th Street in Austin