Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Erica and Tim McWilliams for Approval of a Historic Marker for the House Located at 504 West Virginia Street.
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: March 1, 2018
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 504 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: On February 15, 2018 the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a historic marker for the house located at 504 West Virginia Street, also known as the K.D. Thompson 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 504 West Virginia Street and the role they played in McKinney’s history.
The K.D. Thompson House was built in 1903 by John M. Martin. It is an example of the Folk Victorian Style architecture with Queen Anne detailing. This construction technique was popular from 1870 - 1910. Originally, the house was built on a rectangular plan as a one-story, pier and beam, wood-frame house covered with wood, lap siding. The porch extends across the front of the house and originally wrapped the front of the house on two sides. Attic space has been converted into bedrooms. These conversions make the house a one and a half story house. The house has cross gables extending from a pyramidal roof line located in the center of the house. The house is fenestrated with a variety of windows with the bulk of them being one-over-one mulled windows. The gables have imbricated wood shingles. The large front door has sidelights with transoms located above the door and sidelights. The left side of the porch was enclosed by the original owners around 1927. Two appropriate additions have been added to the rear elevation.
Historical Figures Associated with the House:
King Daniel (K.D.) Thompson (1862-1946)
• K.D. Thompson was born in 1862 in Aledo, Texas. He is the son of Sophronia and Thomas Thompson. K.D.’s family was involved in the grocery and dry goods business under the name Bateman & Brothers. His mother was a Bateman and it was most likely he started working in the Bateman & Brothers firm.
• In 1884, K.D. moved to Weatherford to start his own grocer firm which failed.
• In 1900, K.D. married Frances G. Abernathy, the daughter of a prominent McKinney Family of William M. Abernathy. They lived in Fort Worth for three years and then moved to McKinney in 1903.
• Thompson married into one of the wealthiest families in McKinney. He spent most of his career as a traveling salesman for food-related companies. His time spent on the road limited his civic and social activities, but his wife filled in where he wasn’t able to participate. He died in 1946.
Francis Gibbons (Abernathy) Thompson (1874-1968)
• Frances G. Abernathy was the daughter of William Meshcak and Lucy (Roberts) Abernathy. Her family moved to McKinney in 1876 and she lived in McKinney until 1968. She was 92 years old when she passed.
• She was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of McKinney and was the oldest member at the time of her death.
• Frances was keenly interested in local and state affairs. She was committed to women’s right to vote and was very involved in contributing to the cultural growth and betterment of the City.
• Frances was well educated. She had a tremendous literary background, a keen sense of humor, and a quick wit. She delivered the dedication speech at the unveiling of the statue of Governor Throckmorton in 1910. She delivered honors to several McKinney High School graduating classes and was a lifetime member of the Owl Club. The Owl Club dedicated their yearbook in 1961 to her. She was a member of the Rush Light Club and the Eastern Star.
• Not only was Ms. Thompson a talented and prolific artist, she also taught painting at the Jones Academy in McKinney.
• Francis had three children, Mary, Lucy, and King Daniel Jr. Lucy Thompson (1903-1997) was the only sibling to live in McKinney. She was the manager for Underwood Chevrolet Company located on south Tennessee.
• In 1930, Lucy married bank cashier Newton Burkett. He eventually became the Executive Vice President of the Collin County National Bank.
• Lucy was active in the Jeanne d’Arcs Club and was a founding member of the Heritage Guild in 1974.
• The Thompsons lived in the house for 65 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 504 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.