York Street Historic District

The York Street Historic District [†] in Newport, Kentucky, is a significant area located just west of the Monmouth Street business corridor, with York Street forming the eastern boundary of the West End neighborhood. This district, primarily developed in the second and third quarters of the 19th century, showcases a blend of residential, commercial, and religious architecture, with distinct characteristics across its 700, 800, and 900 blocks.

Location and Development

• Location: Centrally located in Newport, the district spans the 700, 800, and 900 blocks of York Street, adjacent to the central business district.
• Historical Development: The 700 and 800 blocks evolved into mixed-use areas by the late 19th century, integrating residential, commercial, and religious buildings. Over time, these blocks underwent significant redevelopment, with residences converted to commercial or institutional uses, houses replaced by commercial or religious structures, and some areas cleared for parking lots. The 900 block, however, retained its residential character with minimal changes.

Streetscape and Architectural Characteristics

• 900 Block: Reflects the typical 19th-century river town layout with a grid of narrow streets, no alleys, and small lots (30x100 feet). Houses are built close to lot lines with minimal setbacks and windows oriented toward private yards to maximize space and privacy.
• 700 and 800 Blocks: Feature larger, stately homes on more spacious lots (often 60x100 feet) with generous setbacks (up to 20 feet), a rarity in densely populated Newport.
• Architectural Consistency: The district maintains visual continuity through consistent style, scale, and materials:
  • Materials: Most buildings are constructed of brick in a common bond pattern on cut or rock-faced stone foundations. Many retain raised-seam metal or decorative slate roofs.
  • Ornamentation: Features include pressed-metal or wooden cornices with brackets, decorative hoodmolds (rectangular, semi-circular, segmentally arched with keystones, or pedimented), and classically inspired porticoes added in the early 20th century (e.g., at 812 and 814 York).
  • Design Elements: Repetition of brackets, dentils, arches, pediments, and architraves creates a harmonious rhythm. Iron fences, stone walls, and pillars enhance the intimate streetscape.

House Types

The district showcases a variety of house types common in Newport:

• Side-Passage Houses: Predominant, with Greek Revival examples (e.g., 825 York) featuring squared Doric columns and recessed entrances, and Italianate examples (e.g., 911 York) with ornate frontispieces and tall, narrow windows with hoodmolds.
• Covington-Newport Plan Townhouses: Popular from the late 1860s to early 1890s, these are narrow, two-bay, two- or two-and-a-half-story houses with side entrances (e.g., 913 and 938 York). They often incorporate Italianate features like elaborate cornices and incised stonework.
• Shotgun Houses: Rare on main thoroughfares but present at 921 and 930 York, designed for the working class.
• Other Types: Include late Victorian picturesque dwellings, rectangular shotgun houses, and boxlike bungalows.

Commercial and Religious Buildings

• Commercial Buildings: Located at corners (e.g., Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Streets), these are two- or three-story structures with first-floor storefronts and upper-story residences. An example is 737 York, with an iron-and-glass storefront and a false mansard front.
• Religious Buildings: A trio of late 19th-century churches at Eighth and York includes:
  • First Baptist Church and Salem United Methodist Church: Feature Gothic Revival elements like towers, arched windows, and stained glass.
  • York Street Congregational Church: Displays a gabled facade with a blind arch and basketweave brick pattern.
  • Other Styles: The First Baptist Church Bible School has Classical Revival details, and the First Church of the Nazarene features Art Moderne curves.

Historical Evolution (Sanborn Maps)

• 1886: York Street was lined with substantial single and double dwellings, with few empty lots. Commercial buildings anchored corners, and some houses had carriage houses.
• 1894: Notable changes included the Feth Building at Eighth Street, a residence replacing a small factory at 913 York, and a drugstore at Tenth Street.
• 1910: A new commercial building replaced a shop at 737 York, the Hawkins House became a lodge hall, and a drugstore replaced a residence at Tenth Street.
• Later Changes (1910–1950s): Significant redevelopment included demolitions for the First Baptist Church Bible School, Radel Funeral Home, First Church of the Nazarene, and the National Band and Tag Company.

Significance

The York Street Historic District is significant under Criterion C (Architecture) as a distinguishable entity with architectural value, though individual buildings may lack distinction. It represents:

• A well-preserved collection of mid-19th-century middle- and upper-class domestic architecture, primarily in Greek Revival and Italianate styles, with examples of Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, and Neo-Classical Revival.
• Greek Revival (1840s–1860s): Characterized by restrained, symmetrical designs with recessed entrances, pilasters, sidelights, transoms, and simple cornices (e.g., 931, 916, 812, 814 York). The Hawkins House (821 York) is a rare center-passage example with brick pilasters and a Palladian window.
• Italianate (1860s–1880s): Features verticality, ornate frontispieces, bracketed cornices, and varied window hoods (e.g., 908, 913, 938 York). The style ranges from transitional Greek Revival to Eastlake-influenced designs.
• Queen Anne (1880s–1900s): Complex, eclectic, and highly ornamented with varied materials, decorative masonry, and turrets (e.g., 815, 839 York).
• Period of Significance (1848–1939): Encompasses the construction of the earliest and most recent contributing buildings, reflecting Newport's residential development from the 1850s to the 1920s.
• Integrity: The district retains superior integrity of design, workmanship, materials, feeling, and association compared to other Newport neighborhoods. It is the best-preserved mid-19th-century neighborhood on the west side, with minimal intrusions or inappropriate remodeling.
• Potential Criterion A (Community Development/Town Planning): The district may also be eligible for its role in reflecting Newport's urban development, though adjacent areas were excluded due to visual discontinuity.

Current Status

The district is in the early stages of revitalization, with its fine building stock being restored. Historic designation is expected to support these efforts, preserving the district's cohesive streetscape and architectural heritage.