Cynthia Martin
58.41 MB (61,245,929 Bytes) PDF [3518 pages]
A2014-078
1890-1945 (unknown)
In the fall of 2011, Robert Trescott, Downtown Manager for the City of Kingsville, proposed that Texas A & M University Kingsville (TAMUK) partner with the City in the completion of the Inventory and Survey of the local Kingsville Historic District. The proposal was for University students to do the field work including completion of the survey forms, photographing of the resources, the mapping of resources within the district coded as to status: contributing or non-contributing. The in-kind services provided by TAMUK students and faculty contributed to the matching funds required by the grant. This approach would serve to both update the inventory and build capacity within TAMUK programs, staff and students – a realtown/gown project. Application for a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant was submitted November 2011 by Robert Trescott, Kingsville CLG Representative, and Maggie Salinas, Chair, Kingsville Historic Development Board on behalf of the city of Kingsville. The grant was awarded in January 2012. The purpose of this grant was to collect and update historical survey information about the history and culture of the original plat laying out the City of Kingsville and portions of its first two additions, today known as the local Kingsville Historic District that was surveyed in 1982 and last updated in 1992. The current inventory was inadequate, being dated in both content and format. Update of the inventory is considered to be critical by both city and state staff. The City Commission agreed and on June 26, 2012, Vince Capell, City Manager of Kingsville, signed an agreement with the university for their services to complete in the field work and mapping. In July 2012, the City hired Cynthia Martin, Architectural Historian, as a consultant to work on the project. In October of that year, Cynthia Martin was hired as Downtown Manager for the city. Student work on the project began in the summer of 2012, with preparations for the fieldwork. The fieldwork started in September with the beginning of fall semester at TAMUK. The agreement between the City and TAMUK was amended in February 2013 to add a GIS map of the historic district to the scope of work. The project area is roughly bounded by Santa Gertrudis Avenue on the north; 12th Street on the east; Huisache Avenue on the south; and Armstrong Avenue on the west. The resources in this area included private residences, multi-family dwellings, businesses, public buildings, churches, schools, and parks. The historical documentation, and in particular the GIS map produced in this project, will provide the City a useful planning tool. The documentation would have the additional effect of raising awareness of the historic local environment among members of the community. It was anticipated that information gathered would be shared with the community. The final report includes a discussion of research and survey methods and a summary of survey results. Notations on each survey resource, as well as notes from the archival research, expand the physical information about the resource and its use. Included also is a narrative history of Kingsville to present the cultural and developmental context of the city.
The report consists of a Survey and Research Methodology section covering geographical location, architectural context, the Pre-Railroad Era (1853-1904), the Settlement of Kingsville (1904-1913), the Growth of Kingsville (1913-1946) and the Post-World War II to Modern Times (1914-Present) sections. Kingsville boasts many different architectural styles, but few building are classic examples of any one type of style. The next section of the report details architectural styles and historical context of buildings in Kingsville. Included are photographs of each site. The final section includes Recommendations, a Historic Resources Inventory and the Historic Resources Survey Form utilized as the research tool. The final report includes a discussion of research and survey methods and a summary of survey results. Notations on each survey resource, as well as notes from the archival research, expand the physical information about the resource and its use. Included also is a narrative history of Kingsville to present the cultural and developmental context of the city. The format is PDF, 3518 pages of report.
The report is arranged in three sections: I. Introduction and Survey and Research Methodology II. Significance of the Kingsville Historic District III. Appendices: Maps, Historic Resources Inventory, Historic Resources Survey Forms
South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Open for Research
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Kingsville Historic Resources Survey Report, A2014-078.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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A2014-078 – Gift of Cynthia Martin, Historic Preservation Officer
Processed and creation of Finding Aid by Lori Atkins 05/07/2015