Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Timothy and Elizabeth Bagger for Approval to Receive a Historic Marker for the House Located at 201 North College Street.
Summary
MEETING DATE: October 2, 2014
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT: Guy R. Giersch, Historic Preservation Officer
Matt Robinson, AICP, Planning Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending approval of a historic marker for 201 North College 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 August 20, 2014, the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a Historic Marker for the house located at 201 North College (also known as the Bush 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 201 North College Street and the role they played in McKinney's history.
Constructed circa 1910 - 1912, the Bush House was built during a time when America was witnessing changes in house styles. The house replaced what was likely a folk Victorian house that was located on that location in 1908. The Victorian style of architecture was being replaced with Prairie and Craftsman style homes which in some cases morphed into a combination of styles called the American Foursquare or Prairie Box. These stylistic influences were in many ways a rebellion against the irregular plan of the Victorian house into a very practical layout on a rectangular/square plan. The transition years would produce many houses that were constructed using a blend of these stylistic influences. Interiors were usually simple in plan. Millwork was generally handcrafted on site as a rebellion against the ornate, mass-produced trims found in Victorian homes. The Bush House is an excellent example of this transitional styling.
The house is a two-story house constructed on a rectangular plan. The house is oriented toward both Virginia and College Street and at one time the house was addressed off Virginia while today it has a College Street address. When you look at the (South Elevation) of the blueprints you can more clearly see the symmetrical quality of the house while the (Front Elevation) does not present the same symmetrical view. Apparently the architect created two primary facades in order to address the two street frontages.
Both the east and south elevations have doors that are placed off-center thus creating an asymmetrical façade on both elevations. The porch runs the entire length of the College Street façade while the south elevation has the porch running one half the south façade. The porch on the east elevation locates the primary entrance between the four Doric columns that support the porch roof. The massive Craftsman style front door clearly defines the approach to the house. The second story of the front elevation shows a sleeping porch located on the left. Doric columns support the hipped roof on the screened porch. A dormer is centered on the hipped roof of the second story. It is not centered above the door, but is centered in the second story elevation. This particular configuration creates visual interest while at the same time is very practical.
The house today remains virtually unchanged. The Sanborn Fire Insurance maps do not indicate any changes to the footprint of the current house. The screened porch on the second story has been enclosed as has the screened porch located at the rear of the house. Enclosing the porches did not significantly change the original house. The wide over-hanging eaves are typical of the Prairie School while the brackets underneath the eaves are Italianate.
The Bush family has a long history in the America's since landing in Virginia in 1618. The Bush family was actively involved in the American War of Independence and later the establishment of Boonesborough in Kentucky. It would be later, in 1846 that many of the settlers in Boonesborough picked up and moved to Collin County in 1856. William Nelson Bush and his cousin Oliver Bush moved to what is Allen, Texas. William Martin Bush moved to Rowlett Creek near McKinney. Members of the Bush family served as officers in the Civil War. After the war the Bush's returned home and proceeded to amass large parcels of property. Many of the Bush's became bankers. Leslie Walker Bush was one of the largest land owner's in Collin County. He was the son of William Martin Bush. Leslie Walker Bush had purchased a piece of property on the northwest corner of Virginia and College and later sold it to his son Walter Hamilton Bush who constructed the house at 201 North College Street. Walter Hamilton Bush was born December 28, 1884. He attended TCU in Waco.
Upon graduation Walter moved home to McKinney. He went to work at the Continental Bank & Trust and was quickly promoted from bookkeeper to cashier.
He resigned from the bank in 1918 to start a wholesale grain business. Then, in 1922 Walter went into the automobile business to form the Bush-Kirby Motor Company. He later was the bookkeeper for Collin County Buick Company and later was employed by the Colin County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company.
Walter Bush married Elizabeth May Holloway, "Lizzie May," on June 10, 1908. Mrs. Bush was active in the Edelweiss Club, United Daughters of the Confederacy while William was a member of the Elks Club and the "good roads" movement. The Bushes were active in the First Christian Church of McKinney where Walter served as both a deacon and treasurer.
Walter and Elizabeth lived in the house until 1974. They moved to a nursing home and died February 1976, just 12 days apart. The house was sold in 1975 to E.L. "Tinker" Taylor who was the Fire Marshall for the City of McKinney and in 1979 became the Fire Chief. Since the Taylor's, there have been five other owners to the present.
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 201 North College 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.