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HomeMy WebLinkAbout303 West DexterR~G~I V E,D ~-~-0~ ~, ~. ~.~ . City of Co~e~eStation r ~~ ~ ~ ` ~ .~f~storical ~VLarFZer ~' ~ ~ ' ~ ` ~ ~ Revised June 2007 ~~°: Historic Marker Application, Historic Preservation Committee, Cih~ of College Station, Texas ollege Station ~fistoric ~VlarkerApplication Revised June 2007 APPLICANT'S NAME: ~~ ~-~ ~ f~SSG~r ADDRESS: ~ ~~ ~'1~i'~ ~~,~ CITY, STATE, ZIP: ~ ~ 'S~~lC7" ~ 7~ ~ 7 ~ ~~ PHONE: ~1~-~~3. s 76 I~E-MAIL: Ic~~/1®T~PA S~~C'T~G-*~2 ~ C-~~'1 I. THIS MARKER NOMINATION IS FOR A: A. L~7 S TR UCTLIRE MARKER Structure is a If a home, was it formerly located on campus? ~o (Yes/~ Address of structure: ~y3 ~~ ~~~ ~c.~ Sz~CvN '%~ ^7 ~B~ a Owner's Name, Current Mailing Address, Phone Number & Email address: t , 3~~ ~ • ~D~~-/z ~ ~e~ 57~7~~rv °7~ "?~~Lf a (979) ~~~-~f 6~0 1 ~ b -Z89~Q c~~oo ~ Cow, B. ^ SUBJECTMARKER This nomination is for: (Event/Topic/Person/Object) The title of this subject is: Is the proposed marker to be placed on public or private property? Address where marker will be placed: Historic Marker Application, Historic Preservation Committee, City of College Station, Teras -7- Historical significance of structure: The residence at 303W Dexter was built in 1952 in the College Station neighborhood known as College Park. College Park was commissioned in the early 1920's by the first landscape designer associated with Texas A&M University, Frederick Hensel. His design included a small tract with a lake to be enjoyed as community open space. Construction of a dam in the south part of the tract was completed in 1921 and Dexter Lake was created. In 1939, a malaria epidemic was sweeping the United States. Lake Dexter had an uncontrollable growth of weeds that made mosquito control too expensive. Concerned officials chose to drain the lake at this time. In 1947 most of the park, known then as Dexter Park (renamed Brison Park) was sold to the City of College Station for $2000. A small tract at the far northern end of the park was not purchased, and was divided into lots and sold. One of these lots became the residence at 303 W Dexter. Architectural significance of structure: The lot at 303W Dexter sloped steeply, due to the fact that it was part of the northern tip of Dexter Lake at one time. This made the landscape ideal for a new residential style becoming popular in the late 40's and early 50's: the split-level home. The split-level concept has been attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright, and was particularly adaptable to sloped lots, which is why there are not a lot of examples of split-level architecture in College Station, due to its relatively flat topography. The advantage of the split level was its design, which allowed for several bedrooms and living spaces in a smaller space. After World War II, families were becoming larger and families wanted more bedrooms as well as separate living spaces for parents and children (e.g. rec rooms and basements for children and more formal living spaces for adults). The residence at 303W Dexter is an example of this early type of split-level architecture. It features athree-level split. The bottom level is a walk-out basement (very unusual for College Station). The main level includes a kitchen, living room, dining room and parlor (originally a garage). The upper level (which sits above the basement) includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Another architectural significance is the uniqueness of the materials used for the home's facade. The brick, known as "Roman Size" and utilized on the two lower levels of the home, was fairly rare back in the 50's, and even more so today. A search of the College Park area only uncovered three other houses utilizing the same brick (700 Thomas, which was built at the same time and by the same builder as 303 W. Dexter, 800 Thomas and 700 Lee St.). The facade on the upper level is a Cedar shake siding which, although less rare than the Roman Size Brick, is somewhat rare. The original cedar siding is still on the house. Personal historical significance of owners: The residence at 303 W Dexter was built for Eugene A. and Dorothy L. Rush in the fall of 1952. The builder was a Mr. Hughes, who also built the O.D. Butler home on Thomas Street at the same time. According to Mr. Rush, there was no architect. Instead, Mr. Rush and Mr. Hughes used a floor plan out of a magazine to design and build the house. In September 1962 the home was sold to Sherman K. and Bula Fitzgerald who lived in the home for about a year before selling it to Dr. James Bassett, Sr. and his wife, Mary, who raised their six children there and continue to live in the home today. Dr. Bassett attended Texas A&M in the early 1940's. In 1943, the Texas A&M campus was the site of the film "We've Never Been Licked," a World War II morale film for Texas A&M graduates fighting overseas. Numerous scenes involved using current members of the Corps of Cadets, and at one point, the university put out a call for the entire Corps to assemble at Kyle Field for a scene. Rather than participate in the Kyle Field scene, then sophomore James W. Bassett hitchhiked to Houston and joined the U.S. Navy. After the war, James returned to Texas A&M and received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M in 1948. After graduation, marriage and time spent in Wyoming and Montana, he returned to Texas A&M in 1962 as a professor of Animal Science, where he taught until he retired Professor Emeritus in 1987. Mary Bassett was instrumental in beginning two well-known and loved developmental preschool programs in the 1960's. The first started at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the second at A&M Presbyterian Church (now Covenant Presbyterian Church). Both preschools are still taught in the same developmental style Mary began in the 60's. Alterations to the Property: 1. 1977 -The garage was enclosed, resulting in a slightly larger kitchen area, a front parlor/sun room, a small home office and a half bath. This project also included adding two 20" X 20" skylights to the living room. 2. 1980 -Storm windows were installed in the 2 lower levels of the house. The original wooden eaves were replaced with an aluminum product. 3. 1988 - A large deck was added to the front of the house, in front of the original garage entrance. 4. 1991 - A second deck was added to the back of the house directly behind the dining room. 5. 2006 -The interior separating the formal dining area from the kitchen was removed, creating a more open floor plan on the main level. Property Ownership: The property was sold to Eugene and Dorothy Rush on September 11, 1952 by H. G. Johnston. The house was built later that fall. On September 8, 1962 the Rushes sold the property to Sherman and Bula Fitzgerald. One year later, on September 23, 1963, the property was sold to James and Mary Bassett, who still occupy the residence today. Tenant History: 1952 - 1962 -Eugene and Dorothy Rush -two sons and one daughter. 1962 - 1963 -Sherman and Bula Fitzgerald -children (no known details). 1963 -Present -James and Mary Bassett -four sons and two daughters. All six children lived there for the majority of their childhoods, and even on occasion after that. Over the years various other relatives stayed at 303 W. Dexter for a time, as well as the occasional college student needing a place to stay for a period of time. Narrative History: College Park was commissioned in the early 1920's by the first landscape designer associated with Texas A&M University, Frederick Hensel. His design included a small tract with a lake to be enjoyed as community open space. Construction of a dam in the south part of the tract was completed in 1921 and Dexter Lake was created. In 1939, a malaria epidemic was sweeping the United States. Lake Dexter had an uncontrollable growth of weeds that made mosquito control too expensive. Concerned officials chose to drain the lake at this time. In 1947 most of the park, known then as Dexter Park (renamed Brison Park) was sold to the City of College Station for $2000. A small un- subdivided portion at the north end of College Park was not part of the College Station purchase, and the 303 W. Dexter tract was part of that unpurchased property. On September 11, 1952, the tract was conveyed by H. G. Johnston to Eugene A. Rush. References: 1. Information relating to the development of College Park and the photographs of the site were obtained from the archives of the City of College Station's Project Hold website (Historic Preservation / Domestic/Residential /Neighborhoods / Brison Park & College Park). 2. Narrative relating to the design and construction of the house was based on conversations between Mr. Rush and Dr. And Mrs. Bassett. 3. The survey site map done by J. A. Orr was left in the house by the former occupants. 4. Property ownership information was gathered at the Brazos County Courthouse by examining the deed registries. 5. The hand drawn sketch map was based on a map found on the College Station website. SITE MAP -SKETCH ~ 303 ,~, ~~~~~~ T"~'` 1 I Y4;if • •M SITE MAP - J.A. ORR SURVEY ~ ~ ~ „',; ~ ' ~} ~ y y~ o f- N 38 °~ - - - /! r-------- z- - T4 -t-_-r--- 33•.x. -~_ ~ _-7 r ~~ ,~ ~ ~ , ~ OLQ~ ~vi4~1).~Q~•~dr/~/~I f~ I [!fdl~+oll~~~l/N~'~, •1~ T I ~ I tt~ ~~ `~ l,~ ~ al ~ ~~ ~ ti~ ~ ~s~ .a7" ~ ~ ~ ' -... -.. f ~ -_ ~, 1 J \:~~, ._._. _ .._ ----~•I -ems/c, Gai1G. '7 ~ ' C() ~~ 4' . ~ h' r , . S>'\ ,~6i 8 ~ j ~o ~, ~~~~. CoRc, j+. LI ~~ .. '14, g'S. J • I , J. A. Orr, registered Givil Engineer No.4772, with 30 years experience, do hereby certify thot the above plat is true and correct 'and ~~agrees with a survey made on the ground on Feb. 2~, iR5'~~• I further certify that no improvement on this .property encroaches on ad jaGent property nor ~do -any improvements on adjacent property encroach on this property. ~r ,~.. - .. .. r..~-.~ f' - . C o ~. ~. E G ~~. r:. ~, f~ ~~. ~• ~~.~ i T ~ o N c o ir. l_. F~~ ~. sTA`~"I ors - T~Xf~~~ J.A. ORR SURVEY DESCRIPTIONS '1'hi~ treat of land is a Taart of ~.r, un-subdivides nor~5.er~ of C o2.l0~• ''arl{ ilddition to the City cF College ~~tation, Texas. Theo sold tract also being a part o.f a trsot of land conveyed. by ii. t;. Jot:z~stan to E~one gash bw etaaci daterd 3ea?ter~Y~r ~1' 1952 mnd recorded in.. ti^l,..] ~' pag® 52~, of .the ~~.c+s County nePU Rcaaord~; and also bein,n, ~.'~ai-t"t~f' a treat conveyed to ~S~ F3. qty by H.. ~. JoP~nston and dated 9 - 2 3 - 5 2 and recorded ~,~. Vol. 15 6 s page 13 2 a o1' the 't~azos County l~tod Records. The said trs,ct of land Ueing more ps,rtioularly doscribod by metes And bounds a~ f ollvWe s 11~.II+~1IPl(3 rat iron in the southeast lino of Jersey. Tftis iron sl~o b®ing looat~d ~ 38': ~ a distnnoe of ,~~0.~ ft. fr~cxu the interseotion oS the southeast lirns of Jersc~~r Street .With th~a northeast line of ,tyrshire ~ttx^e®t. This ir~rn also bQir~ the north GorrrQr of the said tract of land conveyFx3 by~ ~~. C. Johnston to gughan Itiah; TFI1~µ1GTi :5 1~0° E a ciiat~:~noe~ of 166.l~ feet to a c©ncret~ marnrmar:t far the bgygiiu~ir~ aornor of this traot of land; TFl~C1~ 3 !~0° ~ a distanoe of 61t.~ fog}t to a concrete monument for cornor; 'TN~tiG~ ~ 15 ° W a distance of 72.8 feat to a ooxieratQ raonurnent f'or corner; Tri1~~+K;~ ~ l~q° ~ a di,atanae of 50 feet to an iro~a bear in thc~ rzor,th liJ1~3 ,bJ~' *-~~8t I~-3Ct6X' ~l`i~'9 fOp COrner. die aOrnQr ra1S0 bein;~ tho roost south©r~.y Qor~r of the $sid tractt~ of land conveyed to Lngeno ~h by H. G. JoYulston; ~'~~~~ ~ 7Q ° 30' ,GI along thc~ north line of West Dexker wive a distanae of bt~.5 f®et to a- concratA r~onuarent zoz' the ori~~.~',r~l. southeast. corner of the said tract oi' l~.nct cosiveycad to J. li, 33aaty by ~{. ~. Johnston; ?'E~.S~E N 71' 30° }~T aloe the north kris of -~st ~acter give n distance of 35 reet~ to a epnareta monument for the southwest etornQr of t1~is trraat of land; Tl~t~tiL;3~ ~ l7° 27' W a distance of 13f'.3 teat to a eaneret® manuuent for the northwest voyn~r,af this tract of land; ~'ti~1~;g,?~ ~l° N a dietancc~ of.9li.d feet to tP~ Point of beginning. .'~`tarvvyed b; J. ~, 4rr, f~~rch, 195. ~~ 303 W. Dexter, circa 1965 Garage to the left, kitchen to the right. Mary Bassett's mother, Mary McIntosh, with Bassett dog Bridget. _ _, ~X . ,,; ~~ ,f _.~ 3 L ter, l ~~ .{'rye'`-J~v5.. ..4-,. _.4;.'h .. ~ . .... ~ ~ P' ~yy ~~ r ~ ~~~• ~; ~,~ ~ , . =~ ;~` ~ r, , . yam. r, }'~ '~ ~a,:~t.. ~~.•r i_" _ >~ . `, fix.; ~ t~ ~~ , „, r "ROMAN SIZE" BRICK COLLEGE PA~~C ~ PNi]TCI~RAPHIC REPROOUCTICIN ClF THE MAP CIF CCILLEGE PARK, CCiLL£~E STATtOtd, TEXAS. ~RA7dIS f~tilt~lTY 1"FxA DEED RECORtIS. 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