B-14 (C14H-2020-0011 - Lavada Durst (Dr. Hepcat) House; District 1).pdf — original pdf

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ZONING CHANGE REVIEW SHEET HLC DATE: PC DATE: February 24, 2020 February 25, 2020 CASE NUMBER: C14H-2020-0011 APPLICANT: Historic Landmark Commission HISTORIC NAME: Lavada Durst (“Dr. Hepcat”) House WATERSHED: Boggy Creek ADDRESS OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE: 1906 E. 21st Street ZONING FROM: SF-3-NP to SF-3-H-NP SUMMARY STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the proposed zoning change from single family residence, neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district to single family residence – Historic Landmark – neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION: Architecture and Historical Associations HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION ACTION: Pending. Will be heard February 24, 2020 as a consent item. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: DEPARTMENT COMMENTS: The house was moved from its location on E. 4th Street to its current location in 2019 to encourage its preservation, and was given to a community member who owns the 21st Street property after her house burned. The house was not recommended for designation in the East Austin Historic Resources Survey (2016). This house reflects a wealth of history in Austin and should be preserved at any cost. The house has significance as an example of mid-1920s working-class bungalow architecture, and long-term historical associations with Lavada Durst, a ground-breaker in race relations in Austin, bridging the gap between white and black through music and sports. Lavada Durst was the first African-American radio announcer in Austin, and brought the races together through his roles as emcee, performer, and director of the Rosewood Playground, promoting local talent presentations at traditionally white venues, such as the Hillside Theater in Zilker Park. He introduced white audiences to African-American music, and his contributions to race relations in Austin are invaluable and incalculable. ACTION: CITY COUNCIL DATE: March 26, 2020 ORDINANCE READINGS: 1ST 2ND 3RD CASE MANAGER: Steve Sadowsky NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION: Architecture: One-story, rectangular-plan, front-gabled frame bungalow with a partial-width inset porch; single and paired 1:1 fenestration; round attic vent in the tympanum of the front gable. ORDINANCE NUMBER: PHONE: 974-6454 1 of 33B-14The house is a frame vernacular structure, that was a typical housing form for the working class of both races in Austin in the early 20th century; this house is a “step up” from simpler vernacular structures, which had board-and-batten, rather than wood siding, suggesting a higher economic status for the inhabitants of this house over the simpler, smaller working- class houses elsewhere in East Austin. The basic form and features of the house remain fully intact. While certainly not a high-style building, this house reflects the typical housing of a skilled African-American working-class family in East Austin, and meets the criterion for architectural significance. Historical Associations: This house appears to have been built around 1926. There is a water service permit for this address dating from 1926, and the 1922 Sanborn map shows a different (ca. 1909) structure on this site. City directories also show that beginning around 1926, the house was owned and occupied by a single family, whose members lived here until around 1990. That family was extremely significant in Austin history and culture, as this was the home of Albert Lavada Durst – known to most Austinites from the 1940s onward as “Dr. Hepcat.” Albert Lavada Durst was born in Austin in 1913 to Maud and Katie Durst, the third of seven children. Maud Durst was born in Bastrop County, Texas, and worked as a carpenter and construction laborer for most of his life. He was also a church deacon, and several city directory listings reference him as Deacon M. Durst. Katie Durst was a practical nurse; she was born in Caldwell County, Texas. The Durst family lived in other houses in East Austin before moving into this house around 1926, and outside of a period of vacancy in the mid- 1930s, when the Durst family moved to a house on Hackberry Street for a very short time, this was the family home for the next 65 years. This house is across the street from the historic site of Mount Olive Baptist Church, which was a focal point of the African-American community in this neighborhood. It was in this church that young Lavada Durst first developed his taste and talent for music, learning to play the piano. He chose his own, more secular style as he grew older, playing blues and ragtime numbers, but from this church beginning, a major star of the local music scene blossomed and thrived. Lavada Durst worked several types of jobs early in life – like his brothers, he was a porter at the State Capitol for several years in the 1930s, a kitchen hand for a potato chip manufacturing company, and finally began his career with the City of Austin in the early 1940s. He was the janitor at the Rosewood Playground (now Rosewood Park), and later became athletic director for the Rosewood Playground, truly significant as Austin, like most segregated cities in Texas and the South, provided very few recreational amenities for its African-American population. He was also very active in promoting the talent of neighborhood youth for city musical programs at the Hillside Theater at Zilker Park and other venues, long before city facilities were integrated. While African-Americans could not use Zilker Park or Barton Springs, Lavada Durst brought the talent of his community to the greater attention of white Austin at programs throughout the city. By the late 1940s, he was very much in demand as an emcee for various talent programs in town, and was beginning to develop his signature style of jive, which attracted the attention of John F. Connally and Jake Pickle, the owners of KVET radio station; they recruited Lavada to announce Negro League baseball games on the air. Lavada Durst was the first African-American deejay in Austin, a monumental achievement in the late 1940s. His broadcasts were advertised in the Austin newspapers, and by the early 1950s, Lavada Durst was renowned throughout the city as “Dr. Hepcat” and even published a book in 1953. He was regularly noted with great praise in the entertainment columns in the newspaper, and continued to emcee major talent shows, announce baseball games for KVET, and he recorded a couple of blues numbers for the record company owned by a principal at the radio station. He continued his city job at Rosewood, maintaining that position until his retirement in 1979. For all his secular fame, however, Lavada Durst maintained his faith. He was a devout Baptist, and steadfastly refused to play or perform in bars and nightclubs. His career skyrocketed in the 1950s, but in 1963 he decided to leave the secular world of music and return to his roots in the Baptist church. He 2 of 33B-14became a Baptist minister in 1965, and led the congregation at Olivet Baptist Church. It was not until the late 1970s when he was convinced to return to the world of entertainment, and he had a comeback in the local blues scene. He retired from his city employment in 1979, and lived a relatively quiet life, more so after the death of his beloved wife Bernice, who passed in 1983. Lavada Durst moved back into this house in the mid-1980s to be with his remaining siblings, who continued to reside here. He passed away in 1995. His funeral was huge and was covered reverently by the Austin newspapers. The house was the home of Lavada Durst from around 1926 until the early 1950s, when he and his wife Bernice, moved to a new house on Ulit Avenue. Lavada Durst spent his young adult life in this house. When he married, he and his wife lived in this house with his parents until they bought their new house. It was in this house that Lavada Durst began his career that spanned several decades on the radio, and as emcee for major talent events in Austin. The house has significant historical associations. PARCEL NO.: 0211090809 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: E 45' OF S 95' OF LOT 2 BLK 9 OLT 46 DIV B JOHNS C R SUBD ESTIMATED ANNUAL TAX ABATEMENT: Unknown. The last valuation of this property occurred before the current house was moved onto the lot, so there is no information for determining the estimated annual tax abatement. The house will be used as a homestead, so the annual tax abatement will be under $8,500 with the caps imposed by the City of Austin, Travis County, and the Austin Independent School District. APPRAISED VALUE: Unknown. The last valuation of this property occurred before the current house was moved onto the lot. PRESENT USE: Single family residence CONDITION: Excellent PRESENT OWNER: Mary A. Clark 1906 E. 21st Street Austin, Texas 78722 DATE BUILT: ca. 1926 ALTERATIONS/ADDITIONS: Moved to its current site in fall, 2019. ORIGINAL OWNER(S): Maud and Katie Durst (1926) OTHER HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS: None. 3 of 33B-14LOCATION MAP 4 of 33B-14Current photograph - February, 2020 5 of 33B-14 Original location - 1608 E. 4th Street ca. 1926 OCCUPANCY HISTORY 1608 E. 4th Street City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office August, 2018 1992 Anita Mendutta, renter No occupation listed NOTE: The directory indicates that Anita Mendutta was a new resident at this address. Lavada L. Durst, renter Retired Katie C. Durst, renter Recreation center supervisor, City Parks and Recreation Department. NOTE: Lavada and Bernice Durst are listed at 1408 Ulit Avenue; he was the athletic director for Rosewood Park. Katie C. Durst, renter Recreation center supervisor, City Parks and Recreation Department. Katie C. Durst, owner Widow, Maude Durst Leader, City Parks and Recreation Department. NOTE: This reference may be in error – Katie C. Durst was the daughter of Maude and Katie Durst. 1985-86 1981 1977 1973 6 of 33B-14 1968 1964 1960 1957 1955 1952 1949 1947 1942 1940 1939 1944-45 Katie C. Durst, owner Manager, Palladium Club, 1500 E. 12th Street. Maud Durst, owner No occupation listed Also listed is Katie C. Durst, the manager of the Palladium Club, 1500 E. 12th Street; and Andrew L. Durst, the manager of the Palladium Club. Maud and Katie M. Durst, owners No occupation listed Also listed are Andrew Durst, a porter at the State Education Agency; and Katie C. Durst, no occupation shown. Maud and Katie M. Durst, owners No occupation listed Maud and Katie M. Durst, owners No occupation listed Deacon M. and Katie M. Durst, owners No occupation listed Also listed is Katie C. Durst, no occupation shown. NOTE: LaVada and Bernice are listed at 1408 Ulit Avenue; he was an announcer on KVET Radio. Deacon M. and Katy M. Durst, owners Carpenter Also listed is Lavada Durst, a leader at the City Recreation Department. Bernice Durst is not listed in the directory. Deacon M. and Katie M. Durst, owners Laborer Also listed are Albert L and Bernice Durst; he was a caretaker for Rosewood Park; Andrew Durst, no occupation shown; and Katie C. Durst, no occupation shown. Maud and Katie Durst, owners Laborer Also listed are A. Lavada and Bernice Durst, noted as employed but with no indication of a place of employment; Andrew Durst, a deputy sheriff; and Charles Durst, a porter for the State Attorney General’s Office NOTE: The house is listed as 1610 E. 4th Street. Maud and Katie Durst, owners No occupation listed Also listed are Albert and Bernice Durst; he was a janitor at the Rosewood Community Center; she was a maid for a private family. Maude and Katie M. Durst, owners No occupation listed Also listed are Albert (Lavada) and Bernice Durst. He was a kitchen hand at Sani-Products of Texas, potato chip manufacturers, 810 W. 5th Street. Maud and Katie Durst, owners Carpenter 7 of 33B-14Also listed are Albert Durst, no occupation shown; Andrew Durst, a chauffeur; Bernice Durst, a maid; Charles Durst, a porter; Maudie B. Durst, a maid; and Nellie Durst, a domestic. Vacant NOTE: Maud and Katie Durst are listed at 1612 E. 4th Street, the house next door; neither had an occupation shown. Also listed with them are Albert Durst, no occupation shown; Annie M. Durst, no occupation shown; Bernice Durst, a domestic; and Maude B. Durst, no occupation shown. Vacant NOTE: Maud and Katie Durst are listed at 1508 Hackberry Street. Neither had an occupation shown. Also listed at 1508 Hackberry Street were Albert (Lavada) Durst, Andrew Durst; and Margaret B. Durst. None had an occupation shown. Maud and Katie Durst (colored), owners Carpenter Also listed are Charles Durst and Andrew Durst; neither had an occupation shown. Maud and Katie Durst (colored), owners No occupation listed Also listed are Charles Durst, and Veda Durst; neither had an occupation shown. Jesus and Mariana Martines, renters No occupation listed NOTE: The following listings are for a ca. 1909 house on this site, prior to the construction of the instant house. 1924 Salvador and Maria Martines, renters No occupation listed NOTE: There is a listing for a Mose and Maud Durst at 1611 E. 4th Street; neither had an occupation shown. There is no listing for Maud and Katie Durst in the directory. James Jones (colored), renter Gas maker Priscilla Ferrell (colored), owner No occupation listed NOTE: Maude and Katie Durst are listed at 2209 E. 8th Street; he was a carpenter. There was a family named Durst at 1601 E. 4th Street – Charles and Mable Durst – he was a laborer, Mary Durst, a laundress, and Nellie Durst, a cook at the Union Hotel. Priscilla Ferrell (colored) No occupation listed Priscilla Ferrell (colored) No occupation listed Georgia Ann Wilson (colored) NOTE: There is a listing for a Georgianna Wilson at 1614 E. 3rd Street, but none for a Georgia Ann Wilson at this address. Georgianna Wilson had no occupation shown. 1935 1932-33 1929 1927 1922 1920 1918 1916 1914 8 of 33B-14 1912-13 1910-11 1909-10 Georgia Ann Wilson (colored) No occupation listed John Wilson (colored) Laborer Vernon Mitchell (colored) Driver, Heidenheimer, Strassburger & Company, wholesale groceries and produce, 201-03 E. 3rd Street. NOTE: John Wilson is listed as a laborer living at 1502 E. 4th Street. The address is not listed in the directory. NOTE: Vernon Mitchell is not listed in the directory. 1906-07 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: Maud and Katie Durst Lavada and Bernice Durst Katie Durst (daughter) ca. 1926 – ca. 1990 Maud and Katie Durst appear in the 1930 U.S. Census as the owners of this house, which was worth $3,500. Maud Durst was 50, had been born in Texas, and was a carpenter. Katie Durst was 39, had been born in Texas, and was a practical nurse. They had 7 children listed: Charley, 20, a cook in a cafe, and his wife, Fannie M., 20, who did housework for a family; Andrew, 19, a carpenter’s helper; Albert (Lavada), 16; Maudie B., 14; Annie M., 12; Callie, 8; and Katie, 3. All the children had been born in Texas. The Durst family also had a boarder, Albert Soles, 8, who had been born in Texas. The 1940 U.S. Census shows Maud and Katie Durst as the owners of this house, which was worth $2,000. Maud Durst was 65, had been born in Texas, and was a laborer in building construction. Katie Durst was 59, had been born in Texas, and had no occupation listed. They had 2 single and 3 married children living with them. The single children were Charlie Durst, 35, who had been born in Texas and was a porter at the State Capitol; and Katie Corrine Durst, 15, who had been born in Texas and had no occupation listed. The married children were Albert (Lavada) Durst and his wife, Bernice, and their son, Albert, Jr. Albert (Lavada) Durst was 27, had been born in Texas, and was a porter at the State Capitol. His wife, Bernice, 25, had been born in Texas and was a maid in a private home. Their son, Albert, Jr., was 6. Maud and Katie Durst’s daughter Maud was married to Willie B. Pender. Maud Pender was 24, had been born in Texas, and was a maid in a private home. Her husband, Willie B. Pender, 27, had been born in Texas, and was a porter at the State Capitol. Maud and Katie Durst’s daughter Callie was married to Howard Williams, a 22-year old Texas born porter at the State Capitol. Callie Williams was 18, had been born in Texas, and did housework for a private family. Annie May Durst died in a 1938 auto wreck. She was married (her husband’s name was John Henry Hicks), and living in this house at the time of her death. She was born in Austin in 1917 and was a housewife. Maud and Katie Durst’s son Charlie Durst died in 1958; he was living in this house at the time of his death. He was born in 1905 in Austin and was a porter at the State Capitol. He was divorced. His death certificate reveals that Katie Durst’s maiden name was Mackey. Katie Durst died in 1959; her last address was this house. She was born around 1885 in Caldwell County, Texas, and was a housewife. His 1966 death certificate shows that Maud Durst was born in 1875 in Bastrop County, Texas, and was living at this address at the time of his death. He was a retired construction laborer. 9 of 33B-14 Obituary of Katie Durst Austin American, October 23, 1959 Obituary of Maud Durst Austin American-Statesman, June 4, 1966 10 of 33B-14Dr. Hepcat From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Albert Lavada Durst (January 12, 1913 – October 31, 1995) known as Dr. Hepcat, was an American blues pianist, singer, and baseball commentator who became the first black radio DJ in Texas, influential in the spread of rhythm and blues and rock and roll music. Biography Durst was born in Austin, Texas and learned to play piano as a child. He grew up playing barrelhouse blues locally, and developing a talent for hip rhythmic jive talk which won him a position as announcer at Negro League baseball games in Austin. He was heard by radio station KVET manager John Connally, later the Governor of Texas. With the support of station owner Jake Pickle, he hired Durst to be the station's baseball commentator and first black disc jockey, in 1948. Naming himself "Dr. Hepcat", Durst's presentation made him successful with white as well as black radio listeners, and according to the Texas State Historical Association, he "can be credited for introducing an entire generation of white Austin listeners to jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues." Pickle said of Durst: "[He] had a lingo all his own... A lot of people listened to Senator games solely for the pleasure of hearing Dr. Hepcat.... He was as good an entertainer as he was an announcer, and he became famous all over Austin..." Durst also recorded for Uptown Records, a label owned by KVET program director Fred Caldwell, and managed a gospel music group, the Charlottes. He wrote the gospel song "Let's Talk About Jesus" for the Bells of Joy, and also published a dictionary of jive talk, The Jives of Dr. Hepcat, in 1953.[ The magazine Wax in 1978 credited him as one of the inventors of rock’n’ roll radio. He was also responsible for bringing many prominent black entertainers to perform in Austin. He retired from KVET in the early 1960s and was ordained as a minister at Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1965. He gave up performing for several years, returning to play the blues from the mid-1970s at festivals and other venues. From the mid-1940s until retiring in 1979, Durst also worked as director of athletics for the Rosewood Recreatin Center in Austin. He died in Austin in 1995. DURST, ALBERT LAVADA [DR. HEPCAT] (1913–1995). Albert Lavada "Dr. Hepcat" Durst, pianist and first black disc jockey in Texas, was born in Austin on January 9, 1913. As a youth he taught himself to play piano in the church across the street from his home. Later, influenced by Boot Walden, Baby Dotson, Black Tank, and others, Durst became a master at playing the 1930s and 1940s barrelhouse blues. He also had a talent for a pre-rap method of rhythmic "jive talk." During the mid-1940s this helped land him a job as an announcer for Negro League baseball games at the old Disch Field in Austin. When players such as Jackie Robinson were in Austin some whites attended, including a young World War II veteran, John B. Connally, Jr., who was impressed by the talented, smooth-talking Durst. Connally and another progressive young war veteran, Jake Pickleqv, owned KVET radio in Austin. Connally was also the station manager. In the late 1940s the two opened their station to African-American and Mexican-American broadcasts. In 1948 Pickle hired Durst as the first black disc jockey in Texas. "Dr. Hepcat's" cool jive-talk was a hit and made him a celebrity with the local white college students. He can be credited for introducing an entire generation of white Austin listeners to jazz, blues,qqv and rhythm and blues. While working as a disc jockey, Durst made two singles, "Hattie Green" and "Hepcat's Boogie." Both were recorded in 1949 11 of 33B-14for Uptown Records, which was owned by KVET program director Fred Caldwell. During the 1950s Durst managed a spiritual group, the Charlottes. He also wrote the hit gospel song "Let's Talk About Jesus" for the group Bells of Joy, and published a pamphlet called The Jives of Dr. Hepcat, a dictionary of jive-talk. Durst retired from KVET in the early 1960s and gave up performing the blues to become a minister. He was ordained at Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1965 and was named an associate minister at Olivet Baptist Church in 1972. In the mid-1970s, convinced that God wanted him to use his talents, he returned to performing the blues. For the next several years, he played "boogie-woogie barrelhouse blues" at festivals, museums, and other venues. In addition to his musical endeavors, Durst worked for the city of Austin as director of athletics for the Rosewood Recreation Center. He retired in 1979, after working there for thirty-five years. Durst was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice, who died in 1983; he himself died in Austin on October 31, 1995, and was buried there in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery and Mausoleum. They had two sons and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1995 Durst was inducted into the unofficial Rock Radio Hall of Fame. In 2008 he was one of the inaugural inductees for the Austin Music Memorial. From the Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Association Advertisement for Lavada Durst’s broadcast of a local baseball game on KVET Austin Statesman, September 20, 1947 12 of 33B-14Story on Lavada Durst serving as emcee for the Barton Springs Sing-Song by Rosewood Park performers Austin Statesman, August 5, 1948 13 of 33B-14 14 of 33B-14Story on Lavada Durst serving as emcee for the Rosewood Recreation Center talent program at the Barton Springs Hillside Theater Austin Statesman, August 14, 1952 15 of 33B-14 16 of 33B-14News story on the release of Lavada Durst’s book, “The Jives of Dr. Hepcat,” Austin American-Statesman, March 29, 1953 17 of 33B-14Story on Lavada Durst’s providing game commentary Austin Statesman, July 15, 1955 Dr. Hepcat retires in favor of the ministry Austin American-Statesman, July 21, 1963 18 of 33B-14Last event emcee’d by Dr. Hepcat (Lavada Durst) Austin Statesman, July 31, 1963 19 of 33B-14Story on the honoring of Bernice Durst by Mount Olive Baptist Church Austin American-Statesman, May 5, 1973 Death notice for Bernice Durst Austin American-Statesman, May 8, 1983 20 of 33B-14 21 of 33B-14 22 of 33B-14 23 of 33B-14 24 of 33B-14 News story and obituary of Albert Lavada Durst – “Dr. Hepcat” Austin American-Statesman, November 1, 1995 25 of 33B-14 26 of 33B-14 27 of 33B-14 28 of 33B-14News story on the funeral and legacy of Albert Lavada Durst – “Dr. Hepcat” Austin American-Statesman, November 4, 1995 29 of 33B-14Obituary of Andrew Durst, the son of Maud and Katie Durst Austin American-Statesman, February 21, 1971 Water service permit for this address (1926) 30 of 33B-14Building permit to Katie Durst to remodel the house (1968) and to construct a frame addition (1973) The 1922 Sanborn map shows a different house on this site. City directories indicate a residence at this address as early as 1909. The historic home of Mount Olive Baptist Church (identified in green) was on the south side of the 1600 block of E. 4th Street. 31 of 33B-14The 1935 Sanborn map shows the existing house with its former address of 1610 E. 4th Street. Mount Olive Baptist Church was located across the street on the south side of the 1600 block of E. 4th Street. 32 of 33B-14The 1962 Sanborn map shows the house with the same configuration as shown on the 1935 map above; Mount Olive Baptist Church had moved out of the neighborhood at that time, and the south side of E. 4th Street was part of Chalmers Court, a public housing project. The house is still shown with its former address of 1610 E. 4th Street, although by the time of the publication of this map, the house had its current address of 1608 E. 4th Street. 33 of 33B-14