D.5.0 - 811 E. 16th Street — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION PERMITS JUNE 28, 2021 PR-2021-080409 811 E. 16TH STREET D.5 – 1 PROPOSAL Partial demolition of stucco walls to reinforce framing, re-stucco over areas of selective demolition; installation of new windows to replace windows that have deteriorated beyond repair. The house is the Stasswender House, a potential historic landmark associated with Anton Stasswender, who was responsible for many of the headstones in the adjacent Oakwood Cemetery, State Cemetery, and other cemeteries and stonework sites in Austin. The applicant is aware of the importance of the house and is seeking Historic Landmark Commission review and approval of this project. The applicant proposes replacement of all wood-sash single-hung windows with a new product that reproduces the appearance of the existing wood sash single-hung windows. This product further satisfies modern energy and maintenance goals without sacrificing the historic appearance of the house. The applicant further proposes the removal of some windows from the back of the house that will not affect his historic appearance of the house. ARCHITECTURE AND RESEARCH The Stasswwender House is an eclectic house at the edge of the freeway and Oakwood Cemetery to the east. It was the longtime home of Anton Stasswender, a German immigrant who brought his stone-carving skills to Austin around the turn of the 20th century and made his name, along with fellow immigrants Peter Mansbendel and Fortunat Weigl, within the craftsperson community of Austin, bringing Old World craftsmanship to residential, religious, and commercial building in the city. This house is a stuccoed one-and-a half story frame house on a raised cut stone foundation with single and paired 1:1 wood fenestration; it was the home of the Stasswender family from around 1930 until the late 1970s and may qualify as a historic landmark for its architecture and associations with Anton Stasswender. This house was surveyed as part of an IH-35 historic resources survey performed by TxDOT. The house was determined eligible to a potential historic district that included several houses in the neighborhood, but not singled out as a potential city historic landmark or individual property eligible for designation under the National Register of Historic Places. D.5 – 2 STAFF COMMENTS The house has long been identified as a potential historic landmark due to its distinctive architecture and historical associations. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The building is more than 50 years old. 2) The building appears to retain high integrity. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff has evaluated the property and determined it may meet two criteria: a. Architecture. The house is an eclectic house with a raised stone foundation and basement level and the primary living areas above. The Stasswender family lived at other locations in the city before moving into this house, and Anton Stasswender had his stoneyard near this house for his work for many years, possibly using the basement level of the house as his stonecarving studio. Staff believes that the house may meet the criterion for architectural significance for its distinctive design and use of the house. b. Historical association. The house is associated with Anton and Anna Stasswender, who owned and occupaied the property from around 1930 until the time of their deaths. Anton Stasswender was a renowned stone mason in Austin and was responsible for some of the finest stonecarving in Austin’s Oakwood Cemetery and other major commissions. He is believed to have moved to this house around 1930 to be closer to Oakwood Cemetery and set up his stoneyard nearby. After his death, his son, Tony, continued the family business from this location. c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. d. Community value. The property may qualify for designation under community value due to its location adjacent to Oakwood Cemetery, a unique location, physical characteristic, or significant feature that contributes to the character, image, or cultural identity of the city, the neighborhood adjacent to the cemetery. 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 application as proposed but recommend that the applicant also consider wood-frame, wood-sash replacement windows as a more accurate restoration of the house that would certainly not foreclose landmark designation of this important house. LOCATION MAP D.5 – 3 PROPERTY INFORMATION 811 E. 16th Street ca. 1930 D.5 – 4 OCCUPANCY HISTORY 811 E. 16th Street City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office October, 2007 1987 Kelly Brown, renter Employed by Texas Mid-Continental Oil and Gas Association, a non-profit association, 400 W. 15th Street. ½: Arturo and Maria Borrego, renters Employed by Contessa Food Service, Contessa dormitory, 2706 Nueces Street. NOTE: The directory indicates that Arturo and Maria Borrego were new residents at this address. No return ½: Ida M. Manor, renter No occupation listed NOTE: The directory indicates that Ida M. Manor was a new resident at this address. A: B: Ann Stasswender, owner Widow, Anton Stasswender Retired Thomas Bertschler, renter Student 1981 1975  1969 1963 1957 1954 1952 1949 1947 1942 1940 1937 1944-45 D.5 – 5 Ann Stasswender, owner Widow, Anton Stasswender Retired Anna Stasswender, owner Widow, Anton Stasswender No occupation listed Anna Stasswender, owner Widow, Anton Stasswender No occupation listed Also listed is Anton Stasswender, the proprietor (with Grogan L. Howell), Howell-Stasswender Memorials, 2715 Hancock Drive; and Katherine Stasswender, no occupation given. Anna Stasswender, owner Widow, Anton Stasswender Proprietor, A. Stasswendder Granite Works (Tony Stasswender, manager), marble and granite monumental works, concrete burial vaults, 1400 E. 4th Street. Also listed is Katherine Stasswender, no occupation given. NOTE: Tony Stasswender lived at 1506 Waller Street. Anton and Annie Stasswender, owners Proprietor, A. Stasswender Granite Works, marble and granite monumental works, concrete burial vaults (Tony Stasswender, manager), 1400 E. 4th Street. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Proprietor, A. Stasswender Granite Works, marble and granite monumental works, concrete burial vaults (Tony Stasswender, manager), 1400 E. 4th Street. Also listed is Catherine Stasswender, no occupation given. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Proprietor, Texas Concrete Vault Company and Stasswender Granite Works, marble and cut stone monumental works, concrete burial vaults, 1400 E. 4th Street. Anton and Annie Stasswender, owners Proprietor, Texas Concrete Vault Company, monumental work, 1400 E. 4th Street. Also listed are Anne A. Stasswender, a teacher in the public schools; and Katherine M. Stasswender, no occupation given. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Proprietor, Texas Concrete Vault Company, monumental work, 1400 E. 4th Street. Also listed are Anne A. Stasswender, a student at the University of Texas; Anton H. Stasswender, a draftsman; and Katherine Stasswender, no occupation given. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Designer and manufacturer of granite and marble monuments, all kinds of stone work, 1400 E. 4th Street; show yard, 811 E. 16th Street. Also listed are Anne A. Stasswender, a student at the University of Texas; Anton H. Stasswender, no occupation given; and Katherine Stasswender, the secretary to Anton Stasswender. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Designer and manufacturer of granite and marble monuments, all kinds of stone work, 1400 E. 4th Street; show yard, 811 E. 16th Street. Also listed are Anne A. Stasswender, a student at the University of Texas; Anton Stasswender, D.5 – 6 Jr., no occupation given; and Katherine Stasswender, no occupation given. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Designer and manufacturer of granite and marble monuments, all kinds of stone work, 1400 E. 4th Street; show yard, 811 E. 16th Street. Also listed are Anne A. Stasswender, a student at the University of Texas; Anton Stasswender, Jr., no occupation given; and Katherine Stasswender, no occupation given. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Designer and manufacturer of granite and marble monuments, all kinds of stone work, 1400 E. 4th Street; show yard, 811 E. 16th Street. Also listed is Katherine Stasswender, a stenographer for Anton Stasswender. Anton and Anna Stasswender, owners Designer and manufacturer of granite and marble monuments, all kinds of stone work, 1400 E. 4th Street; show yard, 811 E. 16th Street. Also listed is Katherine Stasswender, an assistant book-keeper for Jacob Schmidt & Company, dry goods, 143-45 E. 6th Street. 1935 1932-33 1930-31 1929 Vacant NOTE: Anton and Anna Stasswender are listed as living at 901 E. 16th Street, which is east of Waller Street; this house is on the west side of Waller Street. Stasswender is listed as a designer and manufacturer of granite and marble monuments, and did all kinds of stone work; his show yard was at 901 E. 16th Street. Katherine Stasswender is listed as residing in the household; her occupation is not listed. Anton and Anna Stasswender are shown as renting the house at 901 E. 16th Street; his occupation Anton and Anna Stasswender are shown as renting the house at 901 E. 16th Street; he was a STASSWENDER HISTORY 1927 was the same as listed in 1929 with the show yard for his work at 901 E. 16th Street. Anton and Anna Stasswender are shown as renting the house at 901 E. 16th Street with his show 1924 yard at the same location. Stasswender was a partner with John Schmidly of Stasswender and Schimdly, marble and granite works, 1400 E. 4th Street. 1922 partner with John Schmidly in Stasswender and Schmidly at 1400 E. 4th Street. Anton and Anna Stasswender are shown as renting the house at 901 E. 16th Street; he listed 1920 monuments, tombstones and all kinds of architectural marble work, with his place of business at 1400 E. 4th Street; Schmidly is not listed as his partner. 1918 as a granite cutter for Aubry L. Gooch, a granite and limestone contractor, 1400 E. 4th Street. The 1940 U.S. Census shows Anton and Anna Stasswender as the owners of this house, which was worth $7,000. Anton Stasswender was 54, had been born in Germany, and was the proprietor of a monument works. Anna Stasswender was 51, had been born in Germany, and had no occupation listed. With them lived their daughter, Anne, 22; and their son, Anton H., (Tony), 21. Both children had been born in Texas. Tony was a salesman for the monument works. The 1930 U.S. Census shows Anton and Anna Stasswender at 811 E. 16th Street; they owned the house. Anton Stasswender was a monument maker. Their daughter Katherine, then 20, is listed with them. She had been born in Germany. Anton and Anna Stasswender are shown as living at 1208 E. 12th Street. He listed his occupation Anton Stasswender’s 1954 death certificate shows that he was living at this address at the time of his death. He was the owner of a monument works who had been born in Germany in 1886. There does not appear to be an obituary in the Austin newspapers. D.5 – 7 Business story for Anton Stasswender’s monument works Austin Statesman, July 7, 1934 D.5 – 8 Story on Stasswender’s business Austin Statesman, October 22, 1953 D.5 – 9 Obituary of Anna Stasswender, who lived in this house until her death Austin American-Statesman, May 10, 1976