Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on a Request by Woodrow A. Weilage for Approval of a Historic Marker for the House Located at 414 West Louisiana 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, Program Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending approval of a historic marker for 414 West Louisiana 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 13, 2018 the applicant submitted the necessary documentation to apply for a historic marker for the house located at 414 West Louisiana known as the William Mesach and Lucy Roberts Abernathy 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 414 West Louisiana Street and the role they played in McKinney’s history.
The William M. and Lucy Roberts Abernathy House was built in 1910. It is an example of Prairie/Craftsman Style of architecture that was popular from 1900 - 1920. The house is a single story house constructed on a square plan using a pier and beam foundation which is typical of this style. The house is a wood-frame house covered with wood lap siding. The porch is located beneath the main roof of the house. The front door looks to be original to the house as do the large, single-pane, double-hung windows located on the front of the house. The front door has sidelights on either side of the door. The eaves are wide and enclosed which is a typical stylistic detail found in Prairie Style homes. The hipped roof on a square plan along with the hipped dormer, centered on the roof is a typical craftsman detailing element. Appropriate additions have been added to the rear elevation.
Historical Figures Associated with the House:
• In 1876, William Mesach and Mercer Green Abernathy came to McKinney to form a law firm. Descendants to this day practice law in McKinney.
• William Mesach was the oldest son of David and Frances Abernathy born in Mississippi in 1843. He joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and was wounded at Gettysburg and later served as a courier for General Robert Lee. He probably carried the last dispatch that passed between Lee and Grant concerning the details of surrender.
• The Abernathy’s were active in many local organizations including being a Knights Templar, President of the Texas Fireman’s association, a mason, a member of the McKinney Bar Association and the Episcopal Church.
• After the war he went to Cumberland University and earned a law degree.
• In 1873, William Mesach married Lucy Roberts and began to practice law in Ashland, Mississippi. He would eventually move to McKinney and work with his brother Mercer Green and his son William Roberts.
• William Roberts was the son of William Mesach and Lucy Roberts Abernathy and he was licensed to practice law in 1900. He married Ozella Perry in 1905 and they built the house located at 414 W. Louisiana.
• William Roberts was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He eventually passed in July 1940.
• April 14, 1919 William Roberts and Ozella transferred the property to Ozella’s parents, T.C. and Sarah Perry. T. C., a travelling salesman, died in Chicago on May 19, 1922.
• In 1943, Ozella Abernathy sold the property to O.L. and Irene Barker. Mrs. Barker was the District County Clerk. She lived in the house until September 15, 1978 when she sold the house to the McCoy’s.
• October 30, 1996 property sold to Mary Tamora McDermott.
• November 24, 1999 McDermott sold to Richard and Rhonda Hunt.
• December 16, 2010 Woodrow and Vanessa Vaughter Weilage became 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 414 West Louisiana 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.