2021 Mansfield Historic Landmark Commission Annual Report

Mansfield Historic Landmark Commission

A N N UA L R E P O R T October 2021

Mansfield Celebrates Historic Preservation Month Page 7

Recognizing Cultural Landscapes in our city Page 9

Table of Contents 3

Message from the Chair

5

Preservation in 2020-2021

6

Preservation Programs

7

Historic Preservation Month Highlights

9

Cultural Landscapes

11 Goals for 2020-2021 12 Mansfield’s Endangered 12 Places 14 Preservation by the 14 Numbers

Discovered within the structure of a house that was being demolished in the Kennedale area, this c. 1864 log cabin was moved to Dr. Percy Cook’s backyard in 1964.

Efforts are being made to relocate the cabin to the Man House Museum as a demonstration area.

Annual Report | 1

COMMISSIONERS

WHO WE ARE

DR. ROBERT SMITH Chair

The Historic Landmark Commission was created in 1988

by Ordinance No. 782. There are seven regular members, all residents of Mansfield, who volunteer their time. The Commissioners are appointed by the City Council for two-year terms. The Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public. The Commission invites all interested citizens to attend.

DAVID LITTLEFIELD Vice-Chair BOB KLENZENDORF Commissioner AMANDA KOWALSKI Commissioner TOM LEACH Commissioner LYNDA PRESSLEY Commissioner MARK WALKER Commissioner

WHAT WE DO The job of the Historic Landmark Commission is to promote the preservation of Mansfield’s heritage through official recognition, recording, and preserving the historic resources of City. The Commission also recommends historic buildings and properties for local historic landmark designation to the City Council, administers the Preservation Plan, reviews proposed exterior alterations to a designated historic landmark and recommends incentives to encourage the preservation of our historic resources.

VISION STATEMENT The Commission’s vision statement sets out the guiding principle of its work: “The Historic Landmark Commission exists to preserve the past and educate the public on the uniqueness of Mansfield.”

OUR COMMITMENT CITY STAFF JASON ALEXANDER Director of Planning ARTY WHEATON-RODRIGUEZ Assistant Director of Planning ART WRIGHT Planner II & Historic Preservation Officer JENNIFER JOHNSTON Development Coordinator

Cover photograph: Commissioners receive handson training while learning how to repair historic wood windows from Hull Millwork in October 2020.

2 | Annual Report

Mansfield has seen tremendous growth in recent years, sometimes with the loss of our historic resources. The Historic Landmark Commission is committed to the preservation of Mansfield’s heritage, that of the rural community it once was and the modern city that it has become. The review requirements of the preservation ordinance are one of the best forms of protection for the historic buildings that tell our city’s story.

CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT Mansfield is one of only 77 cities and counties in Texas to qualify as a Certified Local Government (CLG) by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). As a member of the CLG program, Mansfield has access to CLG grants, technical assistance, training opportunities, and the experience and knowledge of the other participating CLG communities. In exchange, the Commission must honor a commitment to maintain a strong local preservation program. The Commission reports to the THC each year on the progress of Mansfield’s preservation program to maintain CLG status.

Message from the Chair On behalf of the Mansfield Historic Landmark Commission, I invite you to read and enjoy our Annual Report. Our Commission was active this year, despite the difficulties wrought by COVID, and we are happy to share some of the accomplishments here.

One of the most exciting things this year was completing the restoration of the Man House on W. Broad Street and the dedication of it as the Man House Museum. Our city leaders’ decision to acquire this unique, historic property and incorporate it into the preservation plan for all our citizens and visitors was a true triumph.

We celebrated a very successful Historic Preservation Month in May 2021. As part of that, the HLC presented certificates to 15 downtown property owners marking their structures as Officially Recognized Historic Resources. This level of recognition is important to encourage owners to preserve and protect the valuable resources they have. A subcommittee of this Commission was designated to work the magic that brought Historic Preservation Month to life, and we all enjoyed the activities and demonstations they put together. I want to thank Vice-Chairman David Littlefield, Tom Leach and Mark Walker for their excellent work alongside representatives of the Mansfield Public Library, the Mansfield ISD, the Mansfield Heritage Foundation, the Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center, and, of course, city staff.

The City of Mansfield was honored to be chosen to host a meeting of the Texas Historical Commission in August 2021. We are one of only 77 cities and counties in Texas to qualify as a Certified Local Government and being selected as a host city for this meeting was something of which we can all be proud.

Without the tireless work, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the city staff, our Commission would have a difficult time achieving our vision for historic preservation in Mansfield.

I want to take this time to thank them most sincerely.

I am fortunate to work with the HLC Commissioners who serve as volunteers with me in this endeavor. They give their time freely for the good of all Mansfield, and I am grateful.

Robert A. Smith, O.D., Chairman Historic Landmark Commission

Annual Report | 3

The 1940 Old Rock Gym became a Mansfield Historic Landmark in 2020. The names of MISD students have been carved into the stone walls in the decades since the gym was built.

4 | Annual Report

Preservation in 2020-2021

Left, The Commission’s outreach table at Founders Day. Top center, Dr. Robert Smith, HLC Chair, presents a recognition certificate.

Right, a page of the 1998 Historic Resource Survey showing lost resources. The windshield surveys will help update the Survey.

WINDOW REPAIR WORKSHOPS In October 2020, the Commissioners attended a historic window repair workshop offered by Brent Hull of Hull Millwork at his Fort Worth facility. Hull Millwork is a nationally-known wood restoration and millwork company. Mr. Hull will be conducting a free workshop in Mansfield to share his knowledge about historic window repair with our residents.

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION The Commission designated 15 new properties in the historic downtown as Officially Recognized Historic Resources. The Commission honored the owners of the properties at Historic Recognition Day on May 8, 2021.

WINDSHIELD SURVEYS The Commission partnered with the Historic Preservation Advisory Board and the City Volunteer Program to conduct windshield surveys of historic

resources in the historic downtown.

The surveys provide a snapshot of the condition of our historic properties and whether they should remain on the official Historic Resources Survey.

MANSFIELD TRAINING GRANT Mansfield was one of two cities to receive a CLG grant from the Texas Historical Commission to host a two-day virtual training course for local preservation commissions across Texas. The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions offered its signature Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) covering topics on legal basics, alternative materials, outreach and other topics important to preservation commissioners. The course was held on August 26 and 27, 2021.

Annual Report | 5

PRESERVATION PROGRAMS HISTORIC MANSFIELD FAÇADE GRANTS The goal of the Historic Mansfield Façade Grant Program is to preserve the City’s cultural heritage through the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation and/or reconstruction of historic buildings. When funded, grants are offered to the owners of eligible historic buildings to assist with exterior restoration work. The grant program began in 2018.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX EXEMPTION Maintaining a historic building can be expensive. The Historic Preservation Tax Exemption program is designed to support historic preservation by providing tax relief to property owners for the repair, restoration and maintenance of their historic structures. The program offers three levels of exemption: 1) by receiving a Historic Landmark designation; 2) for exterior work over $5,000 for historic residential structures; and 3) for exterior work over $5,000 for historic commercial structures.

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM Not every historic property owner wants a Historic Landmark designation. The Official Recognition program allows the Commission to honor the owners of historic properties without landmark designation. Officially Recognized properties are not designated landmarks and the owners are not obligated to comply with the design guidelines or seek approval from the Commission for changes to the property. Official Recognition is designed to promote awareness of the need for preservation among the owners of historic properties and may encourage owners to apply for landmark status.

HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM It’s easy to recognize a local Mansfield landmark. The City offers the owners of landmark properties a distinctive medallion featuring the Man and Feild Mill. You will find these markers on many of the historic houses and buildings downtown.

Above: The Priority columns indicate the likelihood that a property will qualify for a National Register listing. H properties are the highest; L properties, the lowest.

6 | Annual Report

in

Historic Preservation Month Brings History and Visitors Together

Mansfield’s heritage was celebrated during Historic Preservation Month with costumed guides, living history demonstrations, recognition ceremonies and more.

COVID-19 had a major impact last year and blocked our first attempt to celebrate Historic Preservation Month. With vaccinations and safety precautions, we moved forward with in-person events to celebrate May 2021 as Mansfield’s first Historic Preservation Month.

Beginning with City Council’s proclamation of Historic Preservation Month, May events were held downtown at the Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center, the Man House Museum and the Mansfield Library.

Some of the highlights include:

Coordinated by the Commission’s Preservation • MISD students participated in a Historic Month Subcommittee and with the help of Poster Contest with the winning entries staff and volunteers, Mansfield hosted several displayed at the Library. preservation events and presentations to • A special Historic Preservation Month showcase our city’s unique history during the information table was set up in the month of May. Library with brochures, maps and other Annual Report | 7

information on historic preservation.

• Presentation to the MISD Board of two historic landmark medallions for the • Guided walking tours of Historic Mansfield 1924 High School and 1940 Old Rock were offered each weekend in May. Gymnasium.

• Live demonstrations of life in the 1800s were presented at the Man House Museum. The Commission looks forward to next year’s • The Historic Recognition Day ceremony Preservation Month with new ways to bring was held at the Mansfield Historical history, residents and visitors together.

Museum on May 8 to honor the owners of 15 The Commission also wishes to thank the Officially Recognized historic properties.

Mansfield Heritage Foundation for their • The Historic Mansfield Downtown Business generous donation. The Foundation provided Association sponsored a Shop Main Street very popular Preservation Month cookies for weekend May 21 through 23. guests at attending some of the events.

8 | Annual Report

CULTURAL LANDSCAPES: More than just buildings can be historic Not all historic properties have buildings.

Sometimes a landscape also has historic value.

In July 2021, the Commission created a new Cultural Landscape designation to honor these properties. The designation is an extension of the Official Recognition program and does not place landscape restrictions on a property.

of the cotton gin are still on the property and demonstrate the relationship of Mansfield’s early industries with the natural environment.

From this location, the gin had access to water from the creek, electricity from Milton Farr’s electric plant on Walnut Street and access to North Street and the railroad. The remains of a peanut A cultural landscape is a geographic area mill were also found on the property. The gin and associated with a historic event, activity, or other buildings were damaged or destroyed by a person or exhibiting other cultural or aesthetic flood in 1922. values. There are four general types of cultural landscapes: These photographs are from a case study of the Harrison property.

Historic Designed Landscape A landscape that was consciously designed or laid out by a landscape architect, master gardener, architect, or horticulturist according to design principles, or an amateur gardener working in a recognized style or tradition.

Historic Vernacular Landscape A landscape that evolved through use by the people whose activities or occupancy shaped that landscape.

Historic Site A landscape significant for its association with a historic event, activity, or person.

Top row from left: Concrete ribbon foundation from the

gin; Detail of the Mansfield Gin buildings from the 1921 Ethnographic Landscape Sanborn Insurance Map. A landscape containing a variety of natural and cultural resources that associated people define Center row from left: The Mansfield Gin during the 1922 flood; Brick footing for a building pier; Concrete base of a as heritage resources. water tank.

In Mansfield, the historic vernacular landscape is the most common. The Commission is reviewing properties along Walnut Creek, one of the key factors in the City’s founding, for the new designation.

Bottom row from left: Brick foundation for a steam engine; Glass insulators for electric lines embedded in tree.

Red Bluff is one location under consideration.

Another is the Harrison property on North Street, site of the Mansfield Gin in the 1920s. The remains Annual Report | 9

10 | Annual Report

HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION GOALS FOR 2021 - 2022 The annual preservation goals guide the and City Council to discuss the historic Commission in its work for the upcoming preservation program. year. These goals supplement the Mansfield Preservation Plan and represent the most 3) Promote the work of the Historic Landmark Commission. immediate needs of the preservation program.

• Produce an annual report of the 1) Identify and prioritize Mansfield’s historic Commission’s activities to educate the public resources. on the Commission’s role and the need for • Work with the Tarrant County Historic historic preservation.

Preservation Commission on updating • Keep other City departments and boards the Historic Resources Survey as part of a abreast of the Commission’s policies and county-wide effort actions so they may act in a mutually • Expand on the windshield surveys taken by supportive fashion. the Volunteer Program and HPAB. • Seek recognition for the City’s preservation • Request funding from City Council for a efforts through programs such as Preserve formal Downtown Historic Resource Survey America. in conjunction with a CLG grant 4) Increase the Commission’s public engagement • Integrate survey information into the City’s programs.

Geographic Information System (GIS).

• Promote events to celebrate Historic 2) Develop incentives for historic preservation Preservation Month. in conjunction with the City Council.

• Inform owners of historic properties of • Formulate a proposal for incentives such the benefits and incentives for becoming a as tax abatements, low-interest loans, designated historic landmark. and grants to promote the restoration, • Work with the Museum on educational rehabilitation and reuse of historic programs for adults and youth to connect resources and discourage the demolition of them with Mansfield’s history. these resources.

• Support a heritage tourism program for • Request a joint work session with the Mansfield.

Downtown Revitalization Subcommittee

Annual Report | 11

MANSFIELD’S ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES 2020 Historic preservation in Mansfield is voluntary, approved for a demolition permit due to its which means only properties with the Mansfield poor condition.

Historic Landmark designation are protected under the City’s preservation ordinance. Without • Demolition permits have been issued for three other historic resources this past year. the protection of a landmark designation, many of our historic buildings have suffered incompatible ENDANGERED: The Britton Community alterations, demolition, or neglect.

After the most prominent building in Britton, the The following are historic resources or historic Citizens Bank, was destroyed by a storm in 2019, districts that are in danger of being lost or were several houses on the Historic Resources Survey were demolished to make way for new housing. demolished in 2021.

There are few historic resources left in Britton and ENDANGERED: Historic Downtown Mansfield Historic resources throughout the Original the community’s rural character is slipping away.

Town are threatened by neglect, demolition or • 1905 Citizens Bank of Britton, lost 2019 alteration. These include: • The 1900 McKnight Building, in need of • Center passage house at 928 Noah Street, lost 2019 expensive brick and mortar repairs.

• The 1885/1906 iron truss railroad bridge on • 1935 Center gabled bungalow at 916 Noah Street, lost 2021 Walnut Creek, renovations to replace the wood trestles with modern concrete supports.

When historic buildings are demolished or • The 1904 Buttrill-Nifong-Barnett House, inappropriately altered, the historic character of new exterior damage, particularly the roof, the neighborhood can be lost. columns and porches.

Care should be taken when seeking demolition or • The 1895 McKnight Building, in need of alteration of downtown historic resources. Often, rehabilitation of the historic structure can be foundation and brick and mortar repairs. achieved.

• Older houses on 1st, 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Elm Street, West Oak Street, Van Worth Street and The Commission maintains a list of historic Sycamore Streets need repair. properties online at www.mansfieldtexas.

• The 1985 Branson-Curry House has been gov/1167/Historic-Preservation. Find out if you own a piece of Mansfield’s history!

Buying a historic property?

Have questions?

We have advice and incentives to assist with restoration and rehabilitation of Mansfield's historic buildings. Contact the Historic Preservation Officer at (817) 276-4226 or art.wright@mansfieldtexas.gov for more information.

12 | Annual Report

New paint colors for the J.H. Alexander House

2

2016

2

The 1924 Mansfield High School was designated a local landmark in 2020

1 2016

2

Termite damage at the Branson-Curry House, c. 1895

1 2016

Annual Report | 13

2

PRESERVATION BY THE NUMBERS • Mansfield has 29 designated historic landmarks

Cases

6 4 2 1

2017

2018

2019

2020

• Twenty-seven properties have been designated as Officially Recognized historic resources • Six properties in Mansfield are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Ralph Man Homestead, the home of one of our town founders • There are nine Texas State Historical Markers in Mansfield.

Landmarks

• Mansfield has one Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, the Nugent-Hart House.

3 1

2017

0 2018

0 2019

2020

2017

• There have been five local historic landmark designations since 2016.

• Since 2016, there have been 18 demolition permits issued for structures listed on the City’s Historic Resources Survey. Four of the permits were issued this year.

Demolitions 5

• The Commission has reviewed 15 applications for Certificates of Approval since 2016.

5 4 3

2018

2019

14 | Annual Report

2020

• Additional properties have been removed from the Historic Resources Survey, including eight in 2020 and three in 2021.

Lost properties are noted each year during the ongoing update of the Survey.