Depot Sq Historic District Wichita Falls.Pdf
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(Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM T NAME OF PROPERTY HISTORIC NAME: Depot Square Historic District OTHER NAME/SITE NUMBER: N/A 2. LOCATION STREET & NUMBER: Roughly bounded by 8 Street, Indiana Street, 5 Street and the MKT Railroad tracics CITY OR TOWN: Wichita Falls VICINITY: N/A NOT FOR PUBLICATION: N/A STATE: Texas CODE: TX COUNTY: Wichita CODE: 485 ZIP CODE: 1. STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act. as amended, I hereby certify that this (^nomination) (_ request for determination of eligibility) meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property ( ji_ meets) ( _ does not meet) the National Register crit eria. 1 recommend that this property be considered significant ( _ nationally) ( _ statewide) ( x locally). ( See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of certifying official Date State Historic Preservation Officer, Texas Historical Commission State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. ( See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CERTIFICATION 1 hereby certify that this property is: f Action entered in the National Register _ See continuation sheet, determined eligible for the National Register _ See continuation sheet determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain): USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Depot Square Historic District, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas Page 2 5. CLASSIFICATION OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY: Private CATEGORY OF PROPERTY: District NUMBER OF RESOURCES WITHIN PROPERTY: CONTRIBUTING NONCONTRIBDTING 31 9 BUILDINGS 0 0 SITES 1 0 STRUCTURES 0 0 OBJECTS 9 TOTAL NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES PREVIOUSLY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER: 1 (Wichita Falls Route Building, NR 1978) NAME OF RELATED MULTIPLE PROPERTY LISTING: NA 6. FUNCTION OR I SE HISTORIC FUNCTIONS: Commerce/Trade: business, specialty store, financial institution, professional, warehouse Domestic: hotel Transportation: rail-related Government: post office CURRENT FUNCTIONS: Commerce/Trade: business, specialty store, financial institution, restaurant, professional, warehouse Domestic: multiple dwelling Recreation/Culture: theater, museum Work in Progress Vacant/Not in Use 7. DESCRIPTION ARCHITECTURAL CLASSIFICATION: Other: l-part commercial block, 2-part commercial block Late 19"" and early 20"' century movements: Commercial Style Late 19"' and 20"' Century Revivals: Classical Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival, Romanesque Revival NO STYLE MATERIALS: FOUNDATION STONE, CONCRETE WALLS BRICK, GLASS, STONE ROOF ASPHALT OTHER NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION (see continuation sheets 7-5 through 7-20). NPS Form lO SOO-a 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Depot Square Historic District Section 7 Page 5 Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas The Depot Square Historic District is located in the far northeast comer of downtown Wichita Falls, Texas, and its buildings reflect popular commercial architectural designs of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Occupying portions of seven city blocks adjacent to the Ft. Worth & Denver and the MK&T ("Katy") Railroad tracks, the district features a collection of late 19"' and early 20"' century commercial and industrial buildings which reflect the city's development as a regional center for commerce and industry. Most buildings in the district were built between 1885 and 1925 and are modestly adorned l-part and 2-part commercial blocks. Several buildings with more elaborate detail include the Beaux Arts Holt Hotel (1910) and the Romanesque Kemp Wholesale (1892) and Route Buildings (1909). Overall, the district retains a good degree of integrity, with 31 of 40 buildings classified as contributing. The Depot Square Historic District echoes the early history of Wichita Fails. The district is located along the Ft. Worth & Denver and the MK&T Railroad tracks on the east side of downtown Wichita Falls, primarily along Ohio Street and adjacent blocks between 5"' Street and 9''' Street. The streets are laid on a rectilinear grid. Typically, the historic district buildings are one or two stories with "zero lot'" property lines, with buildings built to the sidewalk. Buildings located four blocks north of Seventh Street on Ohio were used to stable horse and wagons, but as the automobile arrived, this area transitioned into automobile sales and service. The original street patterns of the district accommodated the horse and wagon. Streets once known as LaSalle, Michigan, and Lee are only now wide enough to be used as alleyways. The majority of buildings in the district are brick l-part and 2-part commercial blocks with omament relegated to the parapet. Some buildings feature cast iron columns produced by the Gainesville Iron Works (Texas), which were probably manufactured prior to 1907. In 1884, the first local bricks were made west of town by John Swinbume. J.W. Bell of nearby Crowell, Texas, hauled the brick for the first brick building and his father held a contract for the construction of about five commercial properties, one being the famous White Elephant Saloon. Most of the bricks were produced by locally by craftsman at the Wichita Brick Works, owned by M.O Reilly. Architecture in the district Depot Square Historic District contains 39 buildings within a V/i rectangular block profile. Three building periods and several architectural styles are represented within the district, sub-divided in the following eras: 1. Settlement Period 1880 - c. 1908 2. Railroad Period 1882 -1925 3. Oil Boom Period 1901 - present The historical architecture found in the Depot Square Historical District exhibits diverse stylistic tendencies, often combining elements of classical or revivals styles with popular contemporary movements in commercial architecture. A general categorization of styles prominent in the Depot Square, with examples of each: Commercial Style Example: J.F. Keller Building General Characteristics: Paneled brick fa9ade with articulated pilasters, brick corbelling, cast-iron storefront structure. Recessed entry, corbelled brick or metal cornices, awnings. Romanesque Revival Example: Kemp Wholesale NPS Form 10-900-a 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-861 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Depot Square Historic District Section 7 Page 6 Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas General Characteristics: Roman arch openings, articulated arch and pilasters, rusticated masonry. Classical Revival Example: Holt Hotel (Kemp Kell Building) General Characteristics: Differently articulated floor levels, enriched and projecting cornices, stylized classic ornamentation, and window lights. Renaissance Revival Example: Route Building General Characteristics: Renaissance detailing, quoins, articulated openings, flat segment arches, floor levels articulated, stylized projecting cornices. Commercial Transitional (1920s and 1930s) Between the periods of classic revivals and modem/international periods of architecture, there existed a transitional period of commercial building design. The characteristics of this style include retention of classic fa9ade arrangement and mild articulation of structural systems through expressed pilasters and spandrels. Historical stylistic elements and details are minimal and mainly occur only at important openings, parapets, and corners. The products of this period were austere, utilitarian, and because of their construction, usually concrete frame with generous bays - they were adaptable to a wide variety of uses. Many examples can be found in downtown and throughout Wichita Falls. Each of the contributing and noncontributing resources is described below. 1. 501 Indiana This unique stucco covered building located on the northern boundary of the District was a simple rectangular brick structure was built pre-1919. Early wood frame windows on three sides door opening to Indiana depict a storage facility or ancillary building of the settlement and oil periods of the City. The parapet walls extend above the roof line with catch scuppers on the north and south side of the building for drainage. Oral history indicates an early barber shop use. After construction of the ice company building just northwest, this building was the check-in office for People's Ice Company. In 1907 the property was used as Andy Morris Livery Stable.' Stucco was the major construction repair and maintenance material used in the early 1950's in Wichita Falls and the brick exposed on parts of the structure indicate similarity to the Ice Building. The window sash and sills have weathered to a critical point of replacement. The front door and jamb appear have also weathered. The building is used today for storage by owners Backdoor Theater, a non-profit corporation. Contributing. 2. 510 Indiana A significant four story red brick structure rises above all of the buildings on northern Indiana and Ohio acting as the beacon node. A stepped parapet crowns the top with some excellent