Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Lisa Hammett, for Approval of a Historic Marker for the House Located at 418 North Waddill Street.
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: October 8, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Planning Department
CONTACT: Guy R. Giersch, Historic Preservation Officer
Samantha Pickett, Planning Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending approval of a historic marker for 418 North Waddill 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 September 19, 2016 the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a Historic Marker for the house located at 418 North Waddill Street (also known as the Jack McCullough 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 418 North Waddill Street and the role they played in McKinney’s history.
The Jack McCullough House was designed and built by J. Ed Michael in 1931. It is an example of a Tudor (Gothic/Cotswold) Revival Style house. Tudor Revival homes typically have steeply pitched roofs and are usually side gabled. They typically have a cross gable and multi-pane windows and large prominent chimneys.
The Jack McCullough house is a one-story, wood framed structure constructed on a pier-and-beam foundation. The house has the original six-over-one, wood sash, single-hung windows. The exterior remains largely unaltered. The door occupies its original location on the north side of the crossing gable.
Historical Figures Associated with the House:
• J. Ed. Michael designed and built the home located at 418 North Waddill Street for John Pickney “Jack” McCullough (1900 - 1973).
• Jack was born in Bryan, Texas in 1900. He attended Texas A&M. While attending A&M he set the Southwest Conference pole vaulting record at 12 feet 6 inches. In 1924 he competed in 21 state competitions and finished first at every meet. He became eligible to compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics but, his new employer at Purina Mills in Wichita Falls was not in favor of Jack being gone. So out of fear of losing his job he did not go.
• Jack was one of 35 salesmen at the Purina Mills. He was responsible for Denton, Wise, Collin, Grayson, and Cooke County. He was the leading salesman. Jack worked for Purina for 4 years and then became the assistant county agent for Dallas County.
• In August of 1929 Jack married Catherine Cartwright of Van Alstyne. She was the secretary to the Dean E.V. White at Texas Women’s University. They eventually moved to McKinney in 1929 to become the County agent for Collin County. In 1931 they had their house built at 418 N. Waddill.
• Jack worked as the County Agent in Collin County for 20 years. He organized 252 4-H Clubs. From 1930-1938 he organized the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) program in the county. AAA was a program that was part of the New Deal designed to reduce agricultural production.
• In 19515 Jack and wife moved to Tarrant County.
• During the time Jack was in McKinney he was a member of First Baptist Church, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and the Collin County Fair Association.
• Jack died of a stroke on June 27, 1973.
• Bessie Cowan, widow of Dr. Robert Cowan, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in McKinney purchased the house in 1951. After her death in 1956 the home was sold to the McKinney Country Club Manager and golf pro, Bob Yeager, in 1957.
• Six owners have lived in the house since the Yeager’s. The Hammett’s are the current owners.
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 418 North Waddill 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.