History buffs seek building protection

By CHRIS PORTER • Daily Tribune Staff

MARBLE FALLS - The house on Avenue J and Seventh Street had stood for more than 100 years, but it didn’t stand a chance against a bulldozer.

The historic structure, thought to be the seventh-oldest in Marble Falls, was demolished with little notice about three weeks ago. The loss has some members of the community looking for ways to keep other buildings safe.

“It was an antique store at one time,” said Caryl Calsyn, a member of the Marble Falls Historic Commission. “It was built in 1892. Now it’s gone.”

Calsyn, who herself lives in a turn-of-the-century house, is championing a proposed city law that would protect historical homes from the wrecking ball.

The law, which was drafted by the commission, would create a historic district around parts of the city, setting up additional criteria that builders would have to meet before remodeling or demolishing a historic building.

Calsyn said the current law allows for anyone to obtain a demolition permit and start tearing down a building within 24 hours, regardless of the building’s age or historical value.

That fate was averted for a 110-year-old Avenue N home after its purchase by Meadowlakes resident Beth Wooten and husband Phillip.

Beth Wooten, who planned to make room for a new day care facility, met with Kingsland photographer Cynthia Chebultz.

Chebultz purchased a lot next to the old house, and arranged to have the structure moved about 100 feet, where it will be used as a photography studio.

“It is one solid house,” Chebultz told The Daily Tribune in an earlier interview. “If you were to build something like it today, it would cost a fortune.”

Construction crews began moving the house Thursday morning, after spending the previous day carefully positioning the house on several metal beams.

Chebultz estimated the total cost of the new property, the move and remodeling of the building at around $200,000.

City leaders say they’ll likely leave the question of the historic building ordinance up to residents.

The ordinance could be grafted onto the city’s new comprehensive plan, according to Interim City Manager Judy Miller. A resident-led committee will update the city’s 10-year-old comprehensive plan next year, drafting a “road map” of future growth that city leaders will refer to when planning future improvement projects.

Preserving historic buildings could be part of that plan.

“I think that’s the appropriate venue, if the comprehensive plan committee wants to include that in their recommendation to the (City) Council,” Miller said.

Calsyn said she hopes to gain a seat on the comprehensive plan committee, which will be appointed by the council next year.

The council will seek volunteers to serve on the committee before the appointments are made, Miller said.

If the historic building ordinance is approved, Miller said the city will work with local experts to catalogue and inventory all of the historic structures in Marble Falls.

“That would all have to be ferreted out,” she said. “Being fairly new to the community, I’m seeing some of the historic markers, and I’m not sure what they’re all about.”

Dozens of cities across the state have created historic districts within their borders, clearing the way for recognition and government grants from the Texas Historical Commission.

Calsyn said local residents should work with the city now, before more historic buildings slip away.

“Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” she said. “This town used to have a lot more historic buildings, but they were destroyed by fire. We don’t want them destroyed by man.”

chris@thepicayune.com

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History buffs seek building protection