Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Robbie Chandler for Approval of a Historic Marker for the House Located at 608 West Virginia Street
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: February 6, 2020
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Guy R. Giersch, Historic Preservation Officer
Mark Doty, Assistant Director of Planning
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending approval of a historic marker for 608 West Virginia 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: 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 608 West Virginia Street and the role they played in McKinney’s history.
On January 13, 2020 the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a historic marker for the house located at 608 West Virginia Street known as the J. P. Harris House.
The J. P. Harris House was built in 1918. It is an example of the Craftsman/ Bungalow style which was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. The house is a single-story wood frame house constructed on a pier and beam foundation covered in wood lap siding. The general design of the house uses large four-over-one double-hung windows, exposed rafter tails, knee bracing, low sloped gable roofs, brick piers with tapered columns that support the front porch which runs almost the entire front of the house, and decorative half timbering in the front gable. These elements are common to the Craftsman/Bungalow style.
Historical Figures Associated with the House:
James Patrick Harris (1879 - 1932)
• James was born in Virginia on March 27, 1879. James Harris comes from a distinguished family whose parents were two highly educated teachers in Virginia. His family was active politically in Virginia with members of the family having served in the Virginia State Assembly and the U.S. Congress
• Harris moved to Farmersville area with his family around 1880. His Father, an attorney, was a graduate of Emory University.
• James worked as an educator in the Farmersville area eventually becoming a traveling salesman for the American Tobacco Company. After 12 years he started working in the grocery industry including the Mayfield Grocery Company and Webster Grocery.
• In 1914 James married Harriet L. Buck. He was a 32-degree Mason and a member of the Dallas Scottish Rite.
• Around 1917 James and Harriet moved to McKinney and purchased the house and lot. In 1918 he removed the house and had a six-room Craftsman/Bungalow style built in its place.
• As a traveling salesman, he was on the road a considerable amount of time. This limited his ability to be very active in civic affairs. He was an active member in the First Baptist Church in McKinney.
• In 1939, while on the road to San Antonio he appears to have had a heart attack and died in the Roberts Hotel. He was bought back to McKinney and Dr. J.H. Cozad preached his funeral at First Baptist Church and his burial at Pecan Grove Cemetery was performed by the local Masonic Lodge, St. John’s No. 51.
Harriet Lucille (Buck) Harris (1884-1952)
• Harriet, Hattie, Buck was born in Collin County on August 16, 1884. Hattie attended McKinney Public schools and then went to Baylor Female College in Belton. She returned to McKinney and became very active in the various women’s clubs in McKinney. She was a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy, the Priscilla Club, the McKinney Art Club and the Rushlight Club whose focus is on the earliest primitive lighting devices that used gas and electricity. The majority of clubs she joined focused on arts, literature, and geography.
• In 1914 she married James Harris with Dr. E.E. King of the First Baptist Church officiating.
• After James’ death in 1932 Hettie, divided the house into apartments and moved to Dallas to be close to her sister. She managed the property at 608 W. Louisiana until her death in 1952. She is buried in Pecan Grove Cemetery next to her husband.
ASSESSMENT: Staff believes that the applicant has met all 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 608 West Virginia 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.