HomeMy WebLinkAbout46-HCDATE: May 17,2004
TO: Planning Commission and City Council
FROM: Stephen C. Richardson, Planning Manager
M
SUBJECT: Request for approval of an HC-L (Historic Cultural -Landmark Preservation)
Designation.
FILE: 46-HC
NOTE: At the meeting of May 10, 2004, the Historic Landmark Commission
recommended approval of 46-HC.
STAFF REPORT
The Planning Manager recommends approval.
The Planning Division is requesting that the City Council and the Planning Commission
consider designating the property at 2494 Avenue F as an historic site. Mitchell Normand, a
descendant of the original owner, has been working with the Planning Division on designating
this property because of its architectural and historical significance.
The house was built in 1896. The house is Victorian in style and is one of the oldest structures
in that part of the City. Deed records show that the land was once owned by G.W. O'Brien.
R. Cartwright, for which the Cartwright Subdivision was named, later owned the property.
In 1901, Alice Boykin Pattillo purchased the house, Ms. Pattillo was married to Jackson
Pattillo until they divorced in 1907. Ms. Pattillo retained the property in the divorce decree.
She was very active in purchasing properties throughout Beaumont until her death in 1946,
Jackson "Jack" Pattillo worked at the Beaumont Iron Works and was also listed in the
Beaumont City Director as a "huckster" or a seller of goods. During the early 1900's he was
also a real estate agent and during that time owned more properties than most African -
Americans or Caucasians in the City. Mr. Pattillo also opened the first Pattillo's Barbecue
stand.
The Pattillos had eight children. After the divorce, Ms. Pattillo did not remarry. On her own,
she ensured that all six of her adult children were college educated. The four daughters all
became school teachers. The eldest son became one of the first African -American mail carriers
in Beaumont. The other son attended Tuskegee Institute and studied with George Washington
Carver, He eventually became the only African -American blacksmith in Dequincy, I.,ouisiana.
The house is listed in the 1977 SPARE Beaumont survey, SPARE considered the house worthy
of a local historic designation.
Exhibits are attached.
April 16, 2004
Planning Commission and
City Council,
City of Beaumont, Texas
To Whom It May Concern:
This application for historical -cultural designation is submitted upon request from
the city planning office, point of contact is Adina Abshire, This application is for the
property at 2494 Ave. F and is based on the following criteria (but not limited to):
This home was built about 1896 and is one the oldest homes in the immediate
area.
It is one of the oldest family homes in the Black community. This home was
purchased by a black woman (Alice Pattillo) in1901 and remains in her family
to this date.
An interesting cultural point is that all six children of Alice Pattillo received a
college education and four of the six became public school teachers.
See attached information.
Ide
`/Lan
Mitche W. No d
2494 Avenue F
The original Home
The original Alice and Jack Pattillo's house was located at 1294 Galveston Street, in the Cartwright Addition, The cross
street was Grand Street (later in the 1900's it would become Corley). Galveston Street would become Avenue F and the
street address would change to 2494 Avenue F. At this time, there are no records or city directory that indicates prior to
1901 that the Pattillo's lived at another address. The deed records indicate that the house was built in 1896. The land
had been owned by the famous G.W. O'Brien (Jefferson Deed records, 1884- 1903), and R. Cartwright later owned it.
The property description was Block 18, Lot 12 in the Cartwright Addition. The records indicate that Alice (Boykin)
Pattillo had purchase the same lot in 1901 from Charles and Lenora Ingalls for the sum of $2,200.00. This was around
the time of the Lucas Oil Gusher. The Pattillos may have been renters or boarders prior to purchase by Alice Pattillo,
who eventually retained the property through a divorce decree against Jack Pattillo in 1907 (Jefferson County Divorce
Decree, 1907). Jefferson County Deed records indicate that Alice Pattillo was very active in purchasing land property
throughout Beaumont, Texas until her death in 1946. Alice is buried in Blanchette -Hebert Cemetery in Beaumont,
Texas
Ja( Ind Alice Pattillo Family
Jackson Pattillo married Miss Alice Parker (Boykin) in Beaumont, Texas in May 28, 1884 (Jefferson County Married
Record, 1884). Alice Pattillo was a fair complexioned woman, who hailed from around Zavalla, Texas, Angelina
County area. Alice Pattillo had registered her race as MW (Mixed- White or Mulatto) on her 1910 Jefferson County
Census card as head of household (Jefferson County 1910 Census). Early City of Beaumont, Texas Directory list
Jack's occupation as a Helper and Core maker at Beaumont Iron works in 1900 -1907 (City Beaumont Dir., 1900-07).
Jack was also called a Huckster (Seller of Goods). The City Directory of Beaumont list Jack as being colored (Negro).
A Jefferson County Census card in 1910 has Jack as being registered as Black, but a 1920 Jefferson County Census
card has Jack being registered with the race section initialed MW ( Mix -White or Mulatto -White). Jack Pattillo is
recorded on Jefferson county Deed records as having purchased many land properties. It appears that he owned more
properties than most Negroes or Caucasians during the early 1900's; he was even listed as Real Estate Agent. Jack
would eventually open and run the first Pattilo's Barbeque stand in the downtown area (Franklin St.). Jackson Pattillo,
met Alice Boykin on a trail ride down the Spanish Trail in Zavalla. Texas. They married and had eight children
(Jefferson County Census 1900)
The Divorce
Alice and Jack Pattillo divorced around 1907 according to the Divorce decree of January 5, 1907 (Jefferson County
Divorce Decree records, 1907). Alice retained the property on 1294 Galveston Street where she and jack had resided.
In Jtion, she received some property in the Herring Addition (Charlton Pollard area), and $6, 500, 00. Jack received
a buggy and horse, a trunk, some furniture, and some clothes, and a cow. Jack would later marry for a second time and
start another family. Alice did not remarry; she was a single parent in the early 1900's, she owned her own home and
more importantly she managed to ensure that all six of her adult children were college educated.
The Children
The daughters of Alice and Jack Pattillo were Sadie, Bertha, Aurelia, and Dora. They all became school teachers in the
Negro School system in Beaumont, Texas. Their daughter Clara died early. Dora (1896-1984) was married to the, local
well known Druggist (Pharmacist) in the Negro community named Mr. Baker. Bertha (1887-1982) married Felix (F.J.)
Normand and had four children. She and F. J. had a son named Mitchell, who later became a local Dentist. Sadie
(1897-197 1) was a Teacher at the well-known Elisha Adams School in Beaumont, Texas. Aurelia (1899- ) was a
teacher and librarian. Selestine a son may have died at an early age. Allison Pattillo (1885-1950), the eldest son became
one of the first Black Mail Carriers in Beaumont, Texas, and worked in Pattito Barbeque business. The other son James
Pattillo (1891-1972) moved his family to Dequincy, Louisiana area.
At. ix of Alice Pattillo's children that survived to adulthood graduated from college. Allison was a graduate of
Straight College of New Orleans, Louisiana. Bertha, Sadie, and Aurelia were graduates of Prairie View Normal &
Industrial College. Dora was a graduate of Spelman College and Madame C.J. Walker Beauty School. James attended
Tuskegee Institute, and studied with George Washington Carver before he returned back to Beaumont and eventually
became the only Black Blacksmith of Dequincy, Louisiana.
Home Successions
In 1916, Alice Pattillo sold the 2494 Avenue F property to her son -in law and daughter, Felix and Bertha Normand.
Bertha Pattillo had married Felix Normand in 1916. Felix and Bertha Normand would later purchase the adjacent
properties of Block 18, Lots 7, 8, and 9 of the Cartwright Addition on present day 1980 Corley Avenue and there build
a new house in 1923. The new home sits on Block 18, Lot 7. The Normand's son, the Dentist, Mitchell Normand Sr.
would purchase the old 2494 Avenue F and live in the old family home from the 1950's until his death in the 2001.
Mitchell Sr.'s son Mitchell Jr. is the current owner of the 1896 home, and owns the properties of Block 18, lots 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, and 12. Mitchell Jr. is a retired Naval Flight Officer and teaches Junior ROTC in the Beaumont School District.
Acknowledgement
S, ial thank you to Rennick Tuck (a neighbor) for his persistence and research of the information contained here in.
Thank you also to Roland Long (cousin) for information provided from his manuscript on the Boykin Family.
SPARE BEAUMONT ................................. #*#,* Inventory
DESCRIPTION NO. C-41
DIVISION q MAP NO, SE 6-4
ADDRESS 2494 Ave P.
ORIGINAL USE: 0 residential
9 single
0 multiple
0 commercial institutional
0 industrial
PRESENT USE: M residential
0 commercial i institutional
El industrial
CONSTRUCTION: X from*
13 masonry
El veneer
D other
INFORMATION available
STATE HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY
PERIOD SUIDIVI$ION VT
THEMATIC LISTING AAV
EVALUATION
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
0 national 120
C state IS
2 local 10
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
RELATION TO N
MODIFICATION!
OTHER
El excellent
40
N 9004
30
Cl fair
20
El non. descript
0
IIGHSORHOOD
0 residential grouping 130
C1 commercial grouping__
130
0 individual
to
0 minor
Ito
Clmoderot*
15
0 extensive
10
TOTAL 70
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