Charles A. Hamilton House. Historic Preservation Certification Application Part One. 10 June 2009 SCHNEIDER. Historic Preservation, LLC

Transcription

1 Part One 10 June 2009 SCHNEIDER, LLC 411 E. 6th Street, Anniston, Alabama Phone:

2 Form Rev. 12/90 NPS Office Use Only NRIS No: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CERTIFICATION APPLICATION PART 1 EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE NPS Office Use Only Project No: Instructions: Read the instructions carefully before completing application. No certification will be made unless a completed application form has been received. Type or print clearly in black ink. If additional space is needed, use continuation sheets or attach blank sheets. 1. Name of property: Address of property: Street City County State Zip Name of historic district: National register district certified state or local district potential historic district 2. Check nature of request: certification that the building contributes to the significance of the above-named historic district (or National Register property) for the purpose of rehabilitation. certification that the structure or building and, where appropriate, the land area on which such a structure or building is located contributes to the significance of the above-named historic district for charitable conservation purposes. certification that the building does not contribute to the above-named historic district. preliminary determination for individual listing in the National Register. preliminary determination that a building located within a potential historic district contributes to the significance of the district. preliminary determination that a building outside the period or area of significance contributes to the significance of the district. 3. Project contact: Name David B. Schneider, Schneider, LLC Street 411 E. 6th Street City Anniston State Zip Daytime Telephone Number AL 4. Owner: I hereby certify that the information I have provided is, to the best of my knowledge, correct, and that I own the described property. I understand that falsification of factual representations in this application is subject to criminal sanctions of up to $10,000 in fines or imprisonment for up to five years pursuant to 18 U.S.C Name Signature Date Organization Thomas Properties, LLC Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number Street City Anniston State Zip Daytime Telephone Number AL NPS Office Use Only 1415 Woodstock Ave. Anniston Calhoun AL East Anniston Historic District The National Park Service has reviewed the " Part 1" for the above-named property and hereby determines that the property: contributes to the significance of the above-named district (or National Register property) and is a "certified historic structure" for the purpose of rehabilitation. contributes to the significance of the above-named district and is a "certified historic structure" for a charitable contribution for conservation purposes in accordance with the Tax Treatment Extension Act of does not contribute to the significance of the above-named district. Preliminary Determinations appears to meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation and will likely be listed in the National Register of Historic Places if nominated by the State Officer according to procedures set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. does not appear to meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation and will likely not be listed in the National Register. appears to contribute to the significance of a potential historic district, which will likely be listed in the National Register of Historic Places if nominated by the State Officer. appears to contribute to the significance of a registered historic district but is outside the period or area of significance as documented in the National Register nomination or district documentation on file with NPS. does not appear to qualify as a certified historic structure. Date National Park Service Authorized Signature National Park Service Office/Telephone No: See Attachments

3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION CERTIFICATION APPLICATION- PART ONE NPS Office Use Only Project Number 5. Description of Physical Appearance: The is a two story asymmetrical stone dwelling with Tudor Revival and Gothic Revival architectural influences. The principal 5x1 bay core faces west and has a front-facing 1x1 bay gable wing at its northern bay, a secondary front-facing gable entrance bay, and a corresponding 1x1 bay rear facing hipped wing with a shed extension. The cross gable, hipped, and shed roofs are clad with slate and there are two shed dormers at its rear slope. Exterior walls are constructed of random coursed sandstone. An engaged stone chimney with an intermediate pent slate roof and a decorative multiple flue brick chimney cap projects slightly off-center at the façade. A similar chimney is located toward the front of the north elevation and a smaller but similarly detailed interior chimney is located between the rear wing and its extension. (See Continuation Sheet #1) Date of Construction: Date (s) of Alteration (s): Source of Date: Documented N/A Has building been moved? yes no. If so, when? N/A 6. Statement of Significance: The,built in 1924 and 1925, is listed as a contributing resource within the National Register nomination for the East Anniston Historic District (Resource #336). Built for a wealthy industrialist and designed by noted the Birmingham architectural firm of Warren, Knight, and Davis, the house is one of five houses known collectively as the Houses of Noble Park. As it originally developed in the 1880s, during the time when Anniston gained a reputation as the Model City of the New South, the compound included the estates of Samuel and William Noble along with Crowan Cottage. All of the houses were sited on a hillside overlooking the city the family was so instrumental in building and promoting. Only two of the houses from this period, Crowan Cottage and the William Noble (Noble/Acker) House, remain. In the city's next era of prosperity, when it gained renown as the Soil Pipe Capital of the World, other prominent families took up residence nearby, including Sen. Fred Blackmon, Judge J.J. Willett, Governor Thomas E. Kilby. W.F. Johnston, and Charles A. Hamilton among others. Of these latter houses, only three survive: the Governor Thomas E. Kilby House, the Hamilton House, and the William F. Johnston House. (See Continuation Sheet #2) 7. Photographs and Maps. Attach photographs and maps to application. Continuation sheets attached: yes no

4 Continuation Sheet #1 5. Description of Physical Appearance, Continued: The principal façade has an arched entrance opening at its second bay within an elaborate stone surround with a mock iron gate at its transom and a recessed paneled wood door. An oversized tripartite casement window with sidelights and multi-light transom is centered at the wing to the north of the entrance and had a decorative metal balcony. Similar smaller casement windows with transoms are located at the two bays to the south of the entrance. A triple arched transom at the southern bay surmounts a pair of modern glass doors that replace original French doors. Windows at the upper level include a double wood 4/4 windows at the northern bay with a wooden planter box below flanked to the south by a similar single window with an iron balcony, a small casement window with a planter box, a tripartite casement window with a planter box, and a grouping of three casement and 4/4 sash windows with iron balconies. A single flight of stone steps accesses the main entrance and is flanked by a stone terrace with a metal railing that extends across the three southern bays of the façade. A large Palladian entrance is centered at the 1st floor of the south elevation of the core and all of its openings are infilled with plywood. A corresponding tripartite window is located at the second floor level and has the remnants of a former a balcony. A side gable stone porte cochere is centered at the north elevation of the core. Remaining bays at the first level contain single and triple casement windows with transoms. Similar single and double windows are located at the second floor. The rear elevation is similar to the façade. The first floor plan is centered around a small entrance foyer. A large open living room extends to the south of the foyer and has an elaborate decorative plaster ceiling, stone mantelpiece, and paneled wood wainscoting. A sunroom extends to the south of the living room and has modern sliding glass doors at its east and west walls. The room has an arched ceiling and that historically opened to fanlights above French doors to the east and west. A stair hall extends perpendicular to the north end of the foyer and has an elaborate open staircase along its north wall. A small sitting room to the south of the stair hall is separated from it by a bathroom and a closet. Two rooms abut the east side of the stairhall: the room to the north has a small cross hall leading to the stair hall along the north wall and is flanked by a closet and an elevator. A kitchen and pantry are located to the east. The second floor plan includes a large open stair hall at its north end. A short hall extends west from the southwest corner of the stairhall to a hallway that extends southward along the west wall. A series of bedrooms and bathrooms are grouped around these halls. Interior finishes throughout the house typically include smooth plaster ceilings and walls and hardwood floors. The house has suffered in recent years from vandalism (the removal of parts of the stair railing, broken windows and doors), a tree fell on the front roof and resulted in considerable water damage; and lightning resulted in a fire that damaged much of the second floor and resulted in considerable water damage to the kitchen area. The site includes a contributing two-story stone garage with a hipped slate roof and a series of interconnected stone walls, retaining walls, and landscape terraces. Despite the deterioration and vandalism, the house remains structurally sound and retains most of its significant historic fabric and features.

5 Continuation Sheet #2 6. Statement of Significance, Continued: Charles Anglin Hamilton, known to his family as Tobe, was born in Anniston on January 28, He began his career at the age of eight as a water boy at the old Hunter's ore bank in the western part of the city and rose in his industrial pursuits to the head of one of the largest soil pipe companies in the world. 1 In 1897, Hamilton married Marjorie Embry and the couple had four children: Charles A., Julia, Frank, and J. Ralph. Charles and Frank were both later involved with pipe foundries and other businesses in Anniston. Ralph became a banker and business leader in Anniston prior to moving to Florida. After sixteen years of laboring in the foundries of Anniston, first as a ropemaker, then as a molder, C.A. Hamilton became the superintendent of the Anniston Foundry in In 1912, he and W.F. Johnston purchased the foundry from bankruptcy and continued its operation. They were in a position to expand by 1915 when they purchased first the Standard Foundry and later the Ornamental foundry. In 1920, they acquired the Lynchburg Pressure pipe foundry and became the first local manufacturers of soil pipe. Along with Johnston and former Governor Thomas E. Kilby, Hamilton organized the Alabama Pipe Company which eventually grew to encompass plants in Gadsden, Talladega, and Kansas City and warehouses in Chicago and New York. In addition to serving as Anniston Pipe Company's president, Hamilton was the president of the Superior Pipe Company; was for a time an owner of the Birmingham Smelting and Refining Company; was a principal stockholder in the Alabama Ice Company, the Anniston Land Company, Crescent Stages, the First National Bank, and the Anniston National Bank; and served as a director for both the Allstate Life Insurance Company in Montgomery and the Birmingham Fire Insurance Company. In addition to his business interests, Hamilton owned the Anniston Motor Company building, the Bosworth Building, the Alabama Gas Company building, 1111 Noble Street, Rudy's Bowling Center, and the Fred William Oil Company building. Hamilton served on City Council and, as chair of the police committee, restored peace and dignity to the community during a period when there was considerable lawlessness in Anniston and when police were continuously threatened, several of them being killed Under his guidance the lawless element was subdued and with this job completed, his political ambitions were over. 2 Mr. Hamilton also served for a time as president of the Chamber of Commerce, during which time he created a five year plan for amortizing the heavy C. of C. debt incurred back in 1917 when the land for Fort McClellan was purchased and given to the War Department by the community. 3 On February 2, 1924, the Hamiltons purchased a 165 foot by foot lot of land to the north of Crowan Cottage from Mary W. Noble for $4, The deed conveying the property to the Hamiltons stipulated that the house built upon this lot shall be in a line as near as practical with the dwelling house on the land of Mary W. Noble. It may be a few feet in front of or a few feet behind but it must face the same direction and practically conform to the line with the house on the premises herein conveyed. 5 The restriction was clarified in a subsequent deed dated February 20th to reflect that the front of any house built on the lot immediately north of the lot conveyed to Robert E. Noble [Crowan Cottage] may be on a line not more that twenty (20) feet west Continued on Continuation Sheet #3

6 Continuation Sheet #3 6. Statement of Significance, Continued: of the line of the front of the house now on the lot conveyed to Robert E. Noble which house is now occupied by Mary W, Noble, provided said house so built is on a line not less that one hundred (100) feet north of the line of the said house now occupied by Mary W. Noble. 6 Hamilton commissioned the Birmingham architectural firm of Warren, Knight and Davies to design the house, whose plans for the house are dated July 12, According to Hamilton's daughter-in-law as quoted in a 1972 article in the Anniston Star: Tobe Hamilton personally selected the native stones at the end of Rocky Hollow Road that were used in construction We found the original contract, let Aug. 5, 1924, which called for 130 working days to complete the building. 8 The final cost of construction, which was completed in 1925, was $76, The 1926 Anniston city directory lists Charles and Margaret Hamilton living at 1415 Woodstock Avenue. Charles is listed as the president of the Anniston Home Building and Loan Association, vice president of the Anniston Ice and Coal company, vice president of the Anniston Land Company, being associated with the Polar Ice and Coal company, and vice president of the Alabama Pipe and Foundry company. Charles Hamilton died on June 12, 1942 and Margaret continued to reside in the house. After Margaret Hamilton's death in 1960, the house passed to her son J. Ralph Hamilton. Hamilton donated the property to the City Board of Education of the City of Anniston, with interest in the property transferring in 1/7th increments of beginning annually of April 11, The school board utilized the property as offices prior to vacating it in recent years. The Hamilton House is one of four houses referred to locally as the Houses of Noble Park. The fate of the Houses of Noble Park has been the subject of a local preservation debate that has lasted more than five decades. During much of this time, demolition of the houses was frequently proposed and in recent years each of the houses has suffered greatly from neglect, decay, and vandalism. The grouping was listed in the 2006 Places in Peril statewide list of endangered historic resources compiled by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for. The current proposal for the rehabilitation of the Hamilton House represents an excellent opportunity for the house houses remain as vital landmark to Anniston's rich and varied history for decades to come. Notes: 1 Death Takes C.A. Hamilton This Morning, Anniston Star, June 12, 1942, p Ibid. 3 Ibid. Deed Book 264, p Deed Book 264, p Deed Book 264, p John M. Schnorrenberg, Remembered Past, Discovered Future, The Alabama Architecture of Warren, Knight, and Davis, Continued on Continuation Sheet #4

7 Continuation Sheet #4 6. Statement of Significance, Continued: (Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Museum of Art, 1999, pp Natalie Traylor, Historic homes safe now from destruction, Anniston Star, June 4, 1972, p Schorrenberg, pp No city directory is available for the year Deed Books 1082, p. 261, 4/11/1961; 1107, p. 719, recorded 4/18/1962; 1134, p. 69, recorded 4/2/1963; 1180, p. 964, recorded 12/29/1964; 1180, p. 966, recorded 12/29/1964.

8 SITE LOCATION WITHIN NR DISTRICT East Anniston Historic District

9 SITEPLAN

10 1ST FLOOR PLAN

11 2ND FLOOR PLAN

12 01 West Facade (Right), North (left) Elevation, Camera Facing Southeast Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, and porte cochere. 02 Streetscape, Camera Facing Southeast Note: The building contributes to the historic East Anniston Historic District and is part of a grouping of houses known locally as the Houses of Noble Park. 03 West Facade, Camera Facing East Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, and porte cochere. 04 West Facade (Left), South (left) Elevation, Camera Facing Northeast Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, and porte cochere.

13 05 South Elevation, Camera Facing North Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, and porte cochere. 06 South (Left) & East (Right) Elevations, Camera Facing Northwest Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, and porte cochere. 07 West Facade (Right) & North (Left) Elevation, Camera Facing Southeast Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, garage, and porte cochere. 08 North Elevation, Camera Facing Southeast Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden casement and double hung windows, and porte cochere.

14 09 Garage, Camera Facing North Note: Stone veneer exterior walls, slate roof, wooden double hung windows, and wood garage doors. 10 Interior, First Floor, Parlor, Camera Facing South Note: Elaborate decorative plaster ceiling, fireplace at right, and wood flooring. 11 Interior, First Floor, Parlor, Camera Facing Southwest Note: Elaborate decorative plaster ceiling, fireplace at right, and wood flooring. 12 Interior, First Floor, Sunroom, Camera Facing South Note: Arched ceiling, French doors, and wood flooring.

15 13 Interior, First Floor, Hallway, Camera Facing Northeast Note: Arched openings and wood flooring. 14 Interior, First Floor, Staircase, Camera Facing Northeast Note: Elaborate stair. 15 Interior, Second Floor, Bedroom, Camera Facing Southeast Note: Coved ceiling, fire damage.