Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Faith M. Kuczaj for Approval of a Historic Marker for the House Located at 605 North Bradley Street.
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in Downtown McKinney
MEETING DATE: February 4, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT: Guy R. Giersch, Historic Preservation Officer
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending approval of a historic marker for 605 North Bradley Street.
PRIORITY RATING: The property is listed as a high priority building according to the 2015 Update of the Historic Resource Survey. A high priority building contributes significantly to local history or broader historical patterns; is an outstanding or unique example of architecture, engineering or crafted design; retains a significant portion of its original character and contextual integrity; meets, in some cases, criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and/or is eligible for a Texas Historical Marker.
ITEM SUMMARY: On January 22, 2016 the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a Historic Marker for the house located at 605 North Bradley Street (also known as the Perkins House).
The purpose of the Historic Marker Program is to encourage owners of historic properties to become actively involved in the preservation of McKinney’s historic past through the recognition of historic events, people, and architecture. The applicant has submitted a written narrative relating the history of the various families that have owned the property or resided at 605 North Bradley Street and the role they played in McKinney’s history.
The Tom W. Perkins House was built circa 1895. It is an example of the most common Victorian, regional plan type; an L-plan, one-story frame dwelling, with weatherboard (cypress) siding, gable roof with composition shingles, and box eaves. The windows are wood sash double-hung with 1/1 lights. The single door primary entrance has a transom. The house has a three-bay port with shed roof within the front projecting wing the porch has turned wooden posts, squared wood balusters, and jig-sawn brackets.
There is classical detailing on door and window surrounds and at the eaves. The front door was featured on the cover of McKinney magazine in March, 2013. It is “an Eastlake door, original to the Victorian residence. It represents the late 19th century American fascination with Hints on Household Furnishings, Upholstery and Other Details (1872, Amer.) by English architect Charles Eastlake. His style was marked by multicolor schemes and architectural ornamentation that imitated intricately turned furniture.” The four original rooms; now used as bedrooms, a living room and a dining room; all have decorative trim around the ceilings, floors, windows, and doors that ranges in size from 5-8” in width. The ceilings are over ten feet tall in three of the four original rooms.
Historical Figures Associated with the House:
• The house was occupied by the Perkins family from 1898 till 1905. The house may or may not have existed earlier, 1892-1898. W. W. McDowell and John S. and Emma L. Bristol owned the land and possibly the home during this time.
• W. W. McDowell owned a clothing and grocery business on the west side of the Square. He was an excellent shot and was a member of The McKinney Gun Club. He was a deacon in the Christian Church. His wife was one of the original members of the Owl Club.
• Tom W. and Sallie R. Perkins purchased the home in 1898 and lived there until 1905. Tom was born in Lamar County in 1872. He moved to Collin County when he was seventeen and lived in McKinney for fifty-seven years.
• Tom married Sallie Faulkner around the time he was admitted to the bar at the age of 20. They had three children.
• In 1897 Clint Thompson sold a half interest in one of the local newspapers, The Gazette, to Tom Perkins. Tom, at the end of a year bought out Mr. Thompson’s interest and continued running the paper until 1906. Perkins has also established The Daily Gazette in 1899. On July 15, 1906 Perkins combined his papers with those of Walter B Wilson to form The Daily Courier-Gazette and The Weekly Democrat-Gazette.
• Tom Perkins was an astute business man. So much so that he was the first president of the McKinney Commercial Club. He was an active member of many of McKinney’s Clubs. Tom was an Elk, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman, and president of the Possum and Tater Club.
• He was the Mayor of McKinney 1905-1906 and again in 1923-1928. Tom won the race for State Senate in 1908. He was highly respected and a great leader. He always sought to improve McKinney.
ASSESSMENT: Staff believes that the applicant has met all of the requirements to obtain a Historic Marker under the Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone Program (Ordinance 2013-11-110). Therefore, Staff is recommending approval of a Historic Marker for 605 North Bradley Street.
Under Ordinance 2013-11-110, if the HPAB approves the Marker, the applicant will be responsible for purchasing and displaying the Historic Marker.
Also, under Ordinance 2013-11-110, if the HPAB approves the Marker, the applicant may make application for a Level 1 tax exemption (100% exemption of the City’s ad valorem taxes for a period of 7 years) providing the building has architectural integrity and has been properly rehabilitated/restored and maintained.