HomeMy WebLinkAbout39-HCDATE: April 19, 1999
TO: Planning Commission and City Council
FROM: Stephen C. Richardson, Planning Director
SUBJECT: Request for an HC-L (Historic Cultural -Landmark Preservation Designation), for
the Sprott Hospital located at 2390 Cartwright Avenue at San Antonio Street in an
RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) District.
FILE: 39-HC
STAFF REPORT
Brenda Garrison, a registered nurse, has submitted this request on behalf of Alyxandria
Sprott, granddaughter of Dr. Maxie C. Sprott, Sr., for consideration by the Historic
Landmark Commission, the Planning Commission and City Council.
The application meets four of the ten criteria required for approval as per Section 30-39
(F, G, I and J).
The clinic was founded in 1944 by E. D., Jr., and Maxie Sprott to meet the health care
needs of Beaumont's black citizens. The Sprott Hospital, operated by Dr. E. D. Sprott,
Jr., Dr. M. C. Sprott and Dr. C. B. Sprott continued in general use until the late 1950's.
It is still used today by Dr. Maxie Sprott, Sr., as a neighborhood clinic and office.
The patriarch of this large family, Edward Daniel Sprott, Sr., arrived in Beaumont in
1903. He and his wife, Myrtle Mills Sprott, raised nine children, all of whom received
college degrees. Three of the children became medical doctors and others did post-
graduate work in professional disciplines. Many members of the Sprott family still live
in Beaumont.
Recognition of the Sprott Hospital and the role it and the Sprott family played is deserving
of the HC-L designation. The hospital served a great need prior to the integration of the
medical staffs of the city's major hospitals. The structure is now of historic value not on] y
to the neighborhood, but to our entire community.
At the Historic Landmark Commission meeting held April 12, 1999, the Commission
voted 8:0 to approve this request.
Exhibits are attached.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
Notices mailed to property owners 18
Responses in Favor J Responses in Opposition
LEGAL DESCRIPTION FOR ORDINANCE PURPOSES
Being Lots 5, 6 and 7, Block 44, Cartwright Addition to the City of Beaumont, Jefferson
County, Texas, containing 0,48 acres, more or less.
I * d Abuse and Beyond, Inc.
CH
"Non -Profit Organization Dedicated to justice and Education" —
"Beyond Tradition"
FoRENSic NuRsING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brenda Garison, R.N.
President
Judith Ayres, R.N.
Vice -President
Glenda Blackwell, R.N.
SecretarylTrra5urrr
Sgt. Bill Davis
Judge Jim Farris
Hal Patton
Ann Rothkamm
Luis G. Silva
Walter Umphrey
CONSULTANTS
Dr. Maxie C. Sprott, 11
Medical Director
Dr, Christopher Dowdy
Assist. Medical Director
Dr. Gary Samples
Pediatrics
February 15, 1999
City of Beaumont
Planning Division
P.O. Box 3827
Beaumont, Texas 77704-3827
Dear Committee,
I am pleased to request your review of the application to designate Sprott Hospital
as a Historical Cultural Landmark Preservation Designation. The Sprott Hospital
was founded in 1944 to meet the health care needs of Beaumont's black citizens.
The Hospital building is located 2390 Cartwright Street, Beaumont, TX
Prior to the founding of the Barnwell Health Clinic, Douglas Hospital, Central
Hospital and Sprott Hospital, black physicians had no place to admit their
patients. If hospitalization was required, the care had to be transferred to a white
physician. These facilities served a vital function and purpose but once hospitals
became integrated they could no longer compete.
Sprott Hospital still stands today and serves as a neighborhood clinic and office for
Maxie C. Sprott, Sr. MD, Sprott Hospital stands as a reminder of segregation and
the great advancements that have been achieved since Brown vs. Board of
Education in 1954 ruled "separate but equal" was unconstitutional. Preservation of
this building would foster civic pride in the accomplishment of Beaumont's
medical community not only for the black citizens but for all citizens. We must
preserve the past to educate our future generations.
I am requesting this review on behalf of Alyxandria Sprott, granddaughter of
Maxie C. Sprott, Sr. MD., who plans to continue the family tradition of providing
health care to our citizens.
Sincerely,
Brenda Garison, RN
810 Hospital Drive Suite 105
Beaumont, TX 77701
office 409-832-0421
Fax 409-839-8980
HISTORICAL CULTURAL LANDMARK
Sprott Hospital
Narrative
In 1944, E.D. Sprott founded the Sprott Hospital, a unique facility with 16 beds built to meet the
health care needs, including surgery, orthopedics and childbirth, of Beaumont's black citizens.
Brothers, Curtis and Maxie Sprott, ran the Sprott Hospital for over two decades. At the time,
black doctors could not practice in white hospitals. Doctors had to be members of the Jefferson
County Medical Society to be on hospital staffs, and to be in the medical society, you had to be
white. Only white physicians could admit a black patient for hospitalization, and their black
physician could only visit the patient during regular patient visiting hours with the rest of the
public. After the establishment of the Barnwell Health Clinic in 1932, Beaumont's first health
clinic operated by black doctors for black patients, other black hospitals followed, Douglas
Hospital, Central Hospital and Sprott Hospital. Though they served a vital function and purpose
at the time, many black hospitals of the 1930's and 40's began to decline after the late 1950's.
Once hospitals became integrated, there was no way for smaller hospitals like Douglas and
Central to compete with the multimillion dollar facilities, Sprott Hospital still stands today,
however, and serves as a neighborhood clinic and office for Maxie C. Sprott, Sr., brother of Ed
Sprott who died in 1970.
Sprott Hospital stands as a reminder of segregation and the great advancements that have been
achieved since the Supreme Court ruled "separate but equal" was unconstitutional in Brown v.
Board of Education in 1954. This decision ruled null and void the social structure of the South
that had existed since Reconstruction.
,4LUk-'K9W1 Plot'] AW W" 0
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This application must be submitted with an application for amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.
Prepare a letter and the necessary documentation that supports as many of the criteria listed below
as possible. In addition, you may submit other documentation that may be appropriate to support
an historical -cultural designation.
The Historical Landmark Commission, the Planning Commission, and the City Council shall consider,
but not be limited to, one or more of the following criteria in establishing an H-C, Historical -Cultural
Landmark Preservation District (Section 30-39 C., City Code of Ordinances).
a. Existing or proposed recognition as a National Historic Landmark, or Texas Historic
Landmark, or entry, or proposed entry into the National Register of Historic Places;
b. Existence of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type o . r specimen, or of the
social, economic or political heritage of the City;
C. Identification as the work of a designer, architect or builder whose work has influenced the
growth or development of the City;
d. Embodiment of elements of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which
represent a significant architectural innovation or an outstanding example of a particular
historical, architectural or other cultural style or period;
e. Relationship to other buildings, structures or places which are eligible for preservation as
historic places;
0 Exemplification of the cultural, economic, social, ethnic or historical heritage of the City,
County, State or Nation;
(D Location as the site of a significant historical event;
h. Listing in the S.P.A.R.E. Beaumont Survey;
Identification with a person or persons who, significantly contributed to the culture or
development of the City, County, State or Nation; and
A building, structure or place that because of its location has become of historic or cultural
value to a neighborhood or community.
FILE 39-1-IC: Reauest for an Historical Cultural Landmark Preservation District NOWF11
designation. A
Location: 2390 Cartwright Ave.
Applicant: Alyxandria Sprott sCALE
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Sprott Hospital
Sprott Hospital makes an important contribution to health care in
Beaumont. The name "Sprott" has distinguished several generations of
prominent black citizens in Beaumont beginning soon after the turn of the
century.
Edward Daniel Sprott, Sr., arrived from Coldspring, Texas, in 1903. He and
the former Myrtle Mills married in 190�6 and bought a home on Roberts
Avenue. There, they reared five sons and four daughters.
Each child, knowing he or she was expected to attend college, worked to help
pay tuition and board. The older ones helped the younger ones accomplish
their parents'dieam of higher education for all their children. All nine
received college. -degrees with three eventually earning M.D.s, one an M.A.,
and one a Ph.D.
Among those children, three became physicians. In 1944,,Ed, Jr:,'and Maxie
were instrumental in establishing the Sprott Hospital, a unique facility built
to meet the health care needs of Beaumont's black citizens. At the time,
black doctors could not practice in white hospitals, so they opened this
hospital with 16 beds to handle minor surgery and childbirth. The hos" ital
continues today as a neighborhood clinic. p_
10
GENERAL INFORMATION/PUBLIC UTILITIES
APPLICANT: Alyxandria Sprott by Brenda Garrison, R.N.
PROPERTY OWNER: Dr, Maxie C. Sprott, Sr.
STATUS OF APPLICANT: Granddaughter of owner
LOCATION: 2390 Cartwright
EXISTING ZONING: RM-H (Residential Multiple Family
Dwelling -Highest Density) District
PROPERTY SIZE: 150' x 140' (0.48 acres)
EXISTING LAND USES: Medical clinic and office
FLOOD HAZARD ZONE: "C" - (Minimal Hazards)
SURROUNDING LAND USES: SURROUNDING ZONING:
NORTH: Residences RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest
Density) District
EAST: Residences RM-H
SOUTH: Residences RM-H
WEST: Residences RM-H
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Conservation and Revitalization
OTHER PHYSICAL
FEATURES: None
STREETS: Cartwright Avenue - a residential 60' right-
of-way and a 30' pavement. San Antonio
Street - a residential 60' right-of-way and an
18' pavement.
DRAINAGE: There is an 84" storm sewer in Cartwright
and 60" storm sewer in San Antonio.
WATER: There is an 8" water line in Cartwright and
a 2" line in San Antonio.
GENERAL INFORMATION/PUBLIC UTILITIES continued
SANITARY SEWER
SERVICE:
ADEQUACY
OF SERVICE:
There is a 6" sanitary sewer in San Antonio
and a 6" sewer in the alley at the rear.
Fire protection is provided by Station #10,
3855 Washington Boulevard.
Existing public services and utilities are
adequate.