Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Alfred & Kate Cheng for Approval of a Historic Marker for the House Located at 609 Tucker Street.
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: July 6, 2017
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 609 Tucker 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. This property is listed on the National Register.
ITEM SUMMARY: On June 20, 2017 the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a historic marker for the house located at 609 Tucker Street (also known as the R.F Newsome 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 609 Tucker Street and the role they played in McKinney’s history.
The R.F. Newsome House was built in 1921. It is an excellent example of what is sometimes called an Airplane Bungalow, which is a variant of the Craftsman style. The house is two-story, pier and beam, wood-frame house. The porch is defined by wood columns on brick piers. The house uses multiple groupings of nine-over-one double-hung windows. It is possible that the house was built by J.E. Cooper who built a similar home at 311 N. Waddill for S.E. Walker.
Historical Figures Associated with the House:
• The original piece of land where the house is constructed was owned by Jack Tucker.
• Robert Fitzhugh (R.F.) Newsome purchased the land from Tucker and constructed the current house in 1921.
• Fitzhugh Newsome was part of the three generations of Newsome’s to live in McKinney. Isaac D. Newsome married and moved to McKinney in 1852. Edwin is the son of Isaac D. Newsome and the father of Edwin Fitzhugh. Edwin married Laura Fitzhugh and, Robert Fitzhugh (R.F.) is the son of Edwin and Laura.
• Fitzhugh was a private banker. He eventually married Ella Rhea Emerson the great-granddaughter of Francis Emerson President of the First National Bank of McKinney.
• In 1921, Fitzhugh bought the lot and constructed the house at 609
Tucker.
• Fitzhugh’s father passed away in 1923 and Isaac and Fitzhugh took over the family business of selling insurance and making independent loans. Unfortunately, Isaac was killed in a car accident just a few months of formed a partnership with his brother R.F.
• R.F.’s business connections launched his political career. In 1943 he ran for the office of City Commissioner and won. He then ran for Mayor in 1945 and went on to serve McKinney for five consecutive terms, (10 years).
• Newsome was responsible for expanding the City’s water and waste-water infrastructure, helped with the rebuilding of McKinney after the 1948 tornado, aided the WWII vets who were returning home, and oversaw the completion of the Merritt Homes and Owens low-income housing projects.
• Fitzhugh continued his insurance business and remained active in the community serving as Director of the North Texas Municipal Water District and chairman of the City Charter Commission to form a new City Government. The charter proposed by Fitzhugh and his committee is still in use today.
• Fitzhugh died New Year’s 1962. His funeral took place at the First Christian Church where he was an active member and he is buried at Pecan Grove Cemetery.
• Ella, Fitzhugh’s wife sold the house in 1962 to Monty Nitcholas and wife Bettie.
• Between 1968 and today there have been 10 owners including Julia Vargo who was among the co-founders of the McKinney Historic Neighborhood Association and author of McKinney, Texas: The First 150 Years.
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 2015-12-105). Therefore, Staff is recommending approval of a Historic Marker for 609 Tucker Street.
Under Ordinance 2015-12-105, if the HPAB approves the Marker, the applicant will be responsible for purchasing and displaying the Historic Marker.
Also, under Ordinance 2015-12-105, if the Historic Preservation Advisory Board 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. The building must have a residential use in order to qualify for the tax exemption.