Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Renita Diane Browning for Approval to Receive a Historic Marker for the House Located at 503 Tucker Street.
Summary
MEETING DATE: August 7, 2014
DEPARTMENT: Planning Department
CONTACT: Guy R. Giersch, Historic Preservation Officer
Matt Robinson, AICP, Planning Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending approval of a historic marker for 503 Tucker Street.
PRIORITY RATING: The property is listed as a high priority building according to the 1985 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 June 10, 2014, the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a Historic Marker for the house located at 503 Tucker (also known as the Smith-Roberts 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 503 Tucker Street and the role they played in McKinney's history.
Constructed in 1904, the Smith-Roberts House was built during a time when America was seeing changes in house styles. Victorian style architecture was falling out of favor in the housing market at the turn of the 20th century. Single-family housing styles transitioned to Prairie and Craftsman style influenced homes. The transition years would produce many houses that were constructed using a blend of stylistic influences. The Smith-Roberts house is a good example of this transitional styling. The use of the broken pediments supported by columns is a very common Victorian stylistic influence while the lower pitched roof, wide eaves, simplified floor plan, and large one-over-one windows are a Prairie/Craftsman stylistic influence.
The house today remains virtually unchanged. The Sanborn Fire Insurance maps indicate a change in the north façade between 1914 and 1920. The façade on the north side of the house, which faces Tucker Street, indicates the addition of a porch. Current photographs of the house show a porch which is very similar in style to the original porch.
Howell E. Smith had the home built in 1904. He began his banking career as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank in McKinney. He worked his way up to becoming the President of the bank, a position he held until the First National Bank merged with the Collin County National Bank in 1931. He was the President of the Texas Bankers Association from 1917-1918. In 1921, he was elected the Commissioner of Insurance and Banking of Texas and was appointed the Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He served in that position until 1929.
In addition to being involved in banking in McKinney, Mr. Smith organized and held stock in the Texas Power and Light Company, was assistant treasurer for the Texas Electric Railway Company, Interurban, and served on the executive committee of the Dallas Currency Association. Howell E. Smith, besides being a well-known banker, was an active Mason and helped organize the McKinney Commandery No. 34, Knights Templar. Howell E. Smith died December 12, 1937.
The Smith's lived at 503 Tucker until 1917 when they sold the home to Dr. W.R. Mathers. The Mathers then sold the home in 1938 to R.C. Roberts and wife Emma. Emma and R.C. raised their two sons, Geldon and Herbert Ray Roberts.
Ray Roberts was born in McKinney in 1913. He went to McKinney High School, attended Texas A&M University and North Texas State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in agribusiness. He went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Texas. Roberts served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 and later saw action in the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Roberts was on the staff of Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn from 1941 - 1942. He obviously developed an interest in politics because after two wars he came home to McKinney and was elected in 1955, to the Texas State Senate where he served as president pro tempore for the next six years. In 1962, he was elected to Congress from the 4th Congressional District. He would go on to serve for nine terms, for a total of 19 years.
Lake Ray Roberts is named after the Congressman. He was also riding in the motorcade the day John F. Kennedy was shot.
In 1969, Geldon and Nina Roberts became the owners of the 503 Tucker Street property. They updated the interior, but maintained the exterior. In 1999, Ken and Debbie Olthouse purchased the home and sold it to Renita Diane Browning in 2013.
Ms. Browning has been in the process of restoring the house. The house is currently receiving a 50%, Level 2 exemption, for money they have spent on the restoration. Plumbing, electrical, and the complete restoration of the exterior wood siding, windows, and trims have made this home one of the premier homes in McKinney's Historic District.
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 503 Tucker 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.