NPS Form 10-900
OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 1. Name of Property Historic Name: Arnold House Other name/site number: NA Name of related multiple property listing: NA 2. Location Street & number: 1170 San Bernard Street City or town: Austin State: Texas County: Travis Not for publication: o Vicinity: o 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this (þ nomination o 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 (þ meets o does not meet) the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following levels of significance: o national o statewide þ local Applicable National Register Criteria:
o A
___________________________
o B
þ C
o D
State Historic Preservation Officer Signature of certifying official / Title Date
Texas Historical Commission State or Federal agency / bureau or Tribal Government
In my opinion, the property þ meets o does not meet the National Register criteria. _______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Signature of commenting or other official
Date
____________________________________________________________ State or Federal agency / bureau or Tribal Government
4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that the property is: ___ entered in the National Register ___ determined eligible for the National Register ___ determined not eligible for the National Register. ___ removed from the National Register ___ other, explain: _____________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
5. Classification Ownership of Property X
Private Public - Local Public - State Public - Federal
Category of Property X
building(s) district site structure object
Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing 1 0 buildings 0 0 sites 0 0 structures 0 0 objects 1 0 total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: NA 6. Function or Use Historic Functions: DOMESTIC/ Single Dwelling Current Functions: DOMESTIC/ Single Dwelling 7. Description Architectural Classification: Queen Anne Victorian Cottage Principal Exterior Materials: Concrete Masonry, Clapboard Siding, Asphalt Shingles Narrative Description (see continuation sheets 6-8)
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. X C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations: NA Areas of Significance: Architecture Period of Significance: CA 1909 Significant Dates: CA 1909 Significant Person (only if criterion b is marked): NA Cultural Affiliation (only if criterion d is marked): NA Architect/Builder:
NA
Narrative Statement of Significance (see continuation sheets 9-10) 9. Major Bibliographic References Bibliography (see continuation sheet 9-xx) Previous documentation on file (NPS): _ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested. _ previously listed in the National Register _ previously determined eligible by the National Register _ designated a National Historic Landmark _ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # _ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #
Primary location of additional data: x _ _ _ _ _
State historic preservation office (Texas Historical Commission, Austin) Other state agency Federal agency Local government University Other -- Specify Repository:
Historic Resources Survey Number (if assigned): NA Page 3
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property: 0.1646 acres Coordinates Latitude/Longitude Coordinates Datum if other than WGS84: NA 1. Latitude: 30.270143060144598° Longitude: -97.72623321618086° Verbal Boundary Description: The boundary is Lot 2, Block 6, Outlot 56, Division B, Plat 33, Ward 5 located in Austin, Texas as recorded by the Travis County Central Appraisal District. Boundary Justification: The boundary is the original and legally recorded boundary lines and
includes all property historically associated with the building. 11. Form Prepared By Name/title: Geneva Sinkula Organization: University of Texas - Austin Street & number: 2320 Gracy Farms Lane City or Town: Austin State: TX Zip Code: 78758 Email: gsinkula@utexas.edu Telephone: (405) 371-9951 Date: 11-19-2021 Additional Documentation Maps
(see continuation sheets)
Additional items
(see continuation sheets)
Photographs
(see continuation sheets)
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
Photograph Log Arnold House Austin, Travis County, Texas Photographed by Geneva Sinkula September 6, 2021 Photo 1 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 2 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 3 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 4 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 5 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 6 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 7 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 8 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 9 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction. Photo 10 Façade View of Arnold House facing direction.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
Summary Soon constructed after 1900, the Arnold house in Austin, Texas sits on a corner lot. Facing East, this late Victorian cottage looks out to the expansive residential street of San Bernard. To the South, Hackberry Street abuts the property, with a Methodist church across the street. This one-story house is grounded by the wrap around porch with a beveled Southeast corner. Both turned balusters and columns support the structure while decorative brackets and spindles ornament the facade. The property shows little alterations that affect the overall integrity of the house, having only one sensitive renovation in the 1980s.
Immediate Surroundings This Victorian cottage sits on a corner lot, where two wide streets meet. With similar setbacks on both sides of the block, historic one to two story homes line the street, mixing both residential, commercial, and religious structures. Similar characteristics shown across the neighborhood include covered porches, mature landscaping, and centered walkways leading up to the houses. There are several lot size variations throughout the surrounding area, suggesting a possible dividing of original lots. Additionally, there are up to three vacant lots, including one adjacent to the 1170 San Bernard house, where houses once stood.
Site features Specific to this site, the house sits offset from both sidewalks approximately 30-40 feet. The smaller 30 feet setback along with a straight sidewalk leading from one front door to the street suggests a main facade off San Bernard Street. Several mature trees and other overgrown landscaping block the Hackberry Street facade, while also continuing to the rear and side facades as well. By car, one would access this house by the Hackberry side, where a gravel driveway leads to a concrete parking pad and small fenced backyard. This wooden fence encloses the rear (West) and (North) side of the property, being mostly hidden from onlookers' view. There is a small recreational vehicle parked in the backyard, which is not a contributing resource to the property.
General characteristics The overall form of the house relates most closely to the Victorian Queen Anne style popular from 1880-1910. This fits with the general time the house was constructed. The foundation is low to the ground, with only one step to get to the porch level of this one-story cottage. This wood frame construction is clad in clapboard siding throughout each facade. The prominent wrap-around porch boasts details of slender turned spindles on the railing and columns, Page 6
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
stickwork at porch eaves, and several other prominent features. The roof is consistent with this Queen Anne style despite being a one-story house, having a hipped roof with two lower cross gables. Additionally, there are two added gabled dormers on two sides of the house. The house is painted stark white with a deep forest green trim.
Facades
Main facade (East) The primary facade of the house as earlier mentioned is off of San Bernard Street. The approach is guided by a central sidewalk centered on the front door which is occupying the recessed wrap-around porch one step off the ground. A prominent front gable on the right protrudes from the house with two double hung rectangle windows of similar size and shape and a small rectangle dormer window. Within the porch, there are two transom doors, with the main entrance to the house being off of this primary facade. An ornate lantern hangs adjacent to both doors. The railing of the porch has turned wooden spindles with five slender turned columns meeting the roof plane as it wraps to the second main facade. A spindle work freeze and ornate brackets are also present in the form of white painted woodwork. The wrap around porch as well as the house itself has a small 45 degree cut as it turns to the south facade. Before reaching this side, a pair of two double hung rectangle windows are placed on the main facade in similar style to the apertures on the front gable.
Secondary Primary Facade (South) Being a corner lot, there is a secondary, slightly less prominent facade on Hackberry Street. This south facade is similar to the east (primary) facade in that it is accompanied by the same wrap-around porch, identical front door and two rectilinear windows. There is a smaller side gable with one double hung rectangular window, and no centralized path from the main sidewalk. You are met with a small sidewalk leading from the rear parking slab to two steps up to the porch. There is a small belt course in the side gable, but no dormer window unlike the primary east facade.
Side and Rear facade (North and West) With the back and side lots obscured from view, much less is known about the north and west facades of the house. As previously mentioned, there is a small gabled dormer with a rectangular window on the north side of the house accompanied by a narrow side yard. The north facade also hosts five total rectangular windows all of similar style but with no definitive pattern or spacing. Less is identified on the rear (west) side of the house. It is known that Page 7
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
there is a backdoor that enters onto a square porch mostly blocked by the wooden fence. Additionally, the rear facade has a gabled roof with two windows touching side by side, yet covered by shutters that don’t appear on any other facade. Below this pair of windows, two more shuttered rectangular windows also reside.
Current condition vs. previous condition Local permits suggest that the house has been maintained and not heavily altered since its construction. No major changes on the exterior of the building have altered the integrity of the building. The aforementioned shutters covering the rear facade windows are most likely an addition added by the current owner to block off the view of the non-contributing recreational vehicle. Though a minor change, it should be noted that the shutters don’t draw attention to themselves and are easily removable. It is known that a renovation on the interior took place in 1980, where a bathroom had undergone construction. Mostly maintenance has been the crucial action taking place, with the house looking very similar to the earliest photograph that was taken.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
Section 8 Occupant Timeline The Arnold House is named after Richard Arnold, a prominent baker to the city of Austin. There is speculation as to when the house was built. In 1909, the city directory of Austin stated Richard Arnold owned property at 1300 San Bernard. By 1910, the address changed to 1166. From 1910-1928 renters including a plasterer, chauffeur, pharmacist, music teacher, and a county sheriff occupied the house. All renters were transient, staying only one or two years. Currently listed on the register, Richard lived at his bakery at 1010 East 11th Street until he retired in 1928. By the 1930s, he lived at 1166 San Bernard with his family. By the 1940s, the address had changed to 1170 San Bernard. Richard passed away in 1945, and his wife Marie lived in the house until she died in 1947. After Marie Arnold, the house was occupied by Jessie Jones, a widow and laundress who lived in the house from 1949-1961. After which, the Arnold House had seven occupants throughout ten years, mostly widows, or working class citizens. The 1970s brought the Easter Austin Musical Academy to 1170 San Bernard from 1973-1979. The house was left vacant from 1980-1983, not meeting minimum code requirements. Gary L. Gilleland, the current owner, bought the house in 1984, bringing it up to standard.
Built Context The original lot has not changed dramatically since 1910. Sanborn maps show multiple detached auto structures in the back corner of the site that are no longer present today nor contributing. Additionally, an alley was added between 1920-1935, eventually becoming Short Hackberry Street, which creates eight street-locked plots between Hackberry, Navasota and Short Hackberry Street. Its address has changed frequently. In 1909, the house was 1300 San Bernard. By 1910, the house was 1166 San Bernard. Finally, between 1934-35 the address changed for the last time to 1170 San Bernard. This central east Austin neighborhood, with wide streets and setbacks looks very similar to its time of significance. Located within a mile of the state capital, the streetcar used to traverse the street, while development mainly happened between 1900 to approximately the 1940s. Mature landscaping line San Bernard, which runs from Rosewood to Oakwood Cemetery.
Additions or Alterations Classified advertisements in the Austin Statesman show that the house had five bedrooms and two bathrooms from 1910 to the mid 1970s-1980s. By that time, several permits and inspections took place since the house was in poor condition after being left vacant for several years. When the current owner, Gilleland, took ownership of the property, he restored original details of the house, such as the porch structure, bathrooms, and roofing while adding an Page 9
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
addition. This addition cannot be seen from the front of the house off of San Bernard. It is matching in size, scale, and character to the original Queen Anne Cottage style. Siding, roofing, windows, and doors are all sensitively chosen to not detract from the Arnold House in any way. Contact has not been made to access the interior condition of the house.
Previously Listed After Gary Gilleland purchased 1170 San Bernard, the house was added to the National Register in September of 1985 as a part of a multiple property listing. Limited information was given, but the listed name was “House at 1170 San Bernard”. Arnold Bakery was listed in January 2004, which is associated with Richard Arnold, first owner of 1170 San Bernard. This nomination form and research base can serve as an addendum to this property or contribute to a district nomination.
Architecturally Significance
The Arnold House’s significance lies in its architectural qualities. Despite having gone under renovation, it is a great example of a Queen Anne Style, one-story house. It’s original architectural characteristics, including the wraparound porch, turned columns and spindles, four panel front doors and decorated brackets are all preserved. These qualities are retained, demonstrating character and craftsmanship of houses built soon after 1900.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C.460 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 100 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Office of Planning and Performance Management. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C. Street, NW, Washington, DC.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
MAPS
Aerial photograph showing Arnold House. Source: Google Maps. Accessed November 21, 2021. Latitude: 30.270143060144598°
Longitude: -97.72623321618086°
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
The boundary of the Arnold House, within the red line follows the boundary definition from the Travis County Central Appraisal District, “Lot 2, Block 6, Outlot 56, Division B, Plat 33, Ward 5 located in Austin, Texas”. Site Dimensions measure 67 X 107 FT. Source: Accessed November 21, 2021; aerial image from Google Maps.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
1921 Sanborn Map; Section 82, East Austin. Red square denotes location of the Arnold House. Source: Austin History Center.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
1885 Map of Austin. Red square denotes location of the Arnold House within section 56 of the city map. Source: Texas State Library and Archives.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
1900 Sanborn Insurance Map; Section 50, East Austin. Arnold House located in the pink square numbered 50 directly south of the City Cemetery. Source: Geography and Map Collection, Library of Congress.
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United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018
Arnold House, Austin, Travis, Texas
1935 Redlining Map; Section D. Hazardous Area. White square denotes the block location of the Arnold House. Source: Perry Castaneda Map Collection. University of Texas - Austin.
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