Smithville Residential Historic District Summary

The Smithville Residential Historic District [†] is meticulously documented in its National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, providing extensive detail on its characteristics, historical development, and the specific properties that contribute to its significance.

Boundaries and Extent:

The district's boundaries are defined by Cleveland, First, Mills, N. 9th, Burleson, Colorado, and the Colorado River, encompassing approximately 50 city blocks. This area is predominantly residential, with some institutional and commercial properties that contribute to its historical context. The district is located north of the city's central business district, reflecting the early patterns of residential development in Smithville.

Architectural Styles and Property Types:

The district showcases a broad range of architectural styles and vernacular forms popular between 1887 and 1945, a period of significant growth for Smithville. While one and two-story single-family dwellings are the most prevalent, featuring styles like bungalows and pyramidal-roof houses with Victorian influences, the district also includes:

• Queen Anne: Characterized by irregular massing, turrets, bay windows, and elaborate ornamentation.
• Classical Revival: Marked by symmetrical facades, classical columns, and often a more formal appearance.
• American Four-square: Typically a two-story, square-shaped house with a low-pitched hip roof and a large central dormer.
• Tudor Revival: Distinguishable by its half-timbering, steeply pitched gables, and prominent chimneys.
• Vernacular Forms: Including Double-pen or Two-room, Center-passage, L-plan, and T-plan houses, which represent more traditional and locally adapted building practices.

Notable Contributing Properties:

• Smithville Post Office (1937): Located at 400 Main Street, this Classical Revival building is notable not only for its architecture but also for its interior. It features a significant 1939 New Deal era mural titled "The Law-Texas Rangers" by Minette Teichmueller, adding artistic and historical value.
• Old Central School (1908): Situated at 400 Gresham Street, this two-story tan brick building served as a central educational institution for the community.
• Churches: Several churches within the district represent important community landmarks and diverse architectural expressions:
  • First Baptist Church (1924): A Classical Revival structure.
  • First United Methodist Church (1929): Designed in the Romanesque Revival style.
  • First Christian Church (1903): Features an eclectic mix of architectural elements.
  • First Presbyterian Church (1924): Another significant religious building from the period.
• Residential Homes:
  • Hill House (ca. 1887): Found at 401 Main Street, this is one of the earliest documented residences in the district.
  • Tucker House (ca. 1888): Located at 305 Ramona Street, another example of early residential construction.
  • Burleson House (1899): Situated at 207 East Eighth Street, showcasing late 19th-century residential design.

Contributing vs. Noncontributing Properties:

The registration form provides clear criteria for classifying properties:

• Contributing properties: Generally date from 1887 to 1945 and retain their historical integrity, with few to no major alterations to their principal facades. This includes original or compatible materials, fenestration (window and door openings), and roof forms.
• Noncontributing properties: Typically built after 1945 or have undergone significant exterior alterations that compromise their historic character. Examples of such alterations include the addition of artificial siding (like vinyl or aluminum), replacement of original porch columns with metal ones, or drastic changes to windows, doors, or roof lines.

Historical Context and Development:

The arrival of the railroad in Smithville in 1887 was a pivotal moment, stimulating rapid population growth and an explosion in construction activity, particularly in residential areas. This led to the expansion of the town and the establishment of new residential subdivisions, notably north of the original Smithville Townsite. Later developments extended towards North Ninth Street and along the Colorado River, filling out the district's current configuration. The district's overall visual integrity is maintained by consistent building setbacks, the use of compatible building materials, and a harmonious scale of structures, even with the presence of some noncontributing properties. The commercial buildings along Main Street and nearby cross streets also play a role in the district's overall historical fabric, serving as essential components of the community's early economic life.