The Courthouse stands in stately grace
But every building shows scrubbed face
Revitalized, and work ongoing
But the effort's truly showing!
Quoting my old friend, the Texas Historical Commission Atlas
(
visit link) [Bell County]
Ref #: 90001868
Belton Commercial Historic District (See Also:Bell County Courthouse)
Resource Type: DISTRICT
46 Contributing Bldgs
Style: LATE VICTORIAN; MODERN MOVEMENT
Narrative -- It's truly worth going to the Atlas and clicking through to the long history and narrative (too long to post here).
In gist for the DISTRICT:
The boundary of the Belton Historic Commercial District runs as follows (directional references are approximate): beginning at the intersection of East Street and Second Avenue; then south 1/2 block along East Street to the midline of the block; continuing east one block along the midline to Penelope Street; then south two blocks along Penelope Street to the midline of the block between Central Avenue and Avenue A; then west along the midline to East Street; continuing south along East Street one block to the alley between Nolan Creek and Avenue A; then west one block along the alley to Main street; then north 1 1/2 blocks along Main Street to Central Avenue; then west 2/3 block along Central Avenue to the lot line west of 108 West Central; then north to the rear lot line of the buildings facing Central, then east 1/3 block to the rear lot line of the buildings facing Main Street; then north two blocks to Second Avenue; then east on Second Avenue to East Street.
The district is loosely bounded on the south and west by Nolan Creek, which has traditionally defined the limits of the downtown area, and to the north and east by residential neighborhoods. The district boundaries include the most intact and concentrated area of commercial buildings related to the development of Belton in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of the properties immediately outside the district date from after 1940. The few historic structures outside the boundary were either poorly preserved or have had undergone considerable recent alterations.
CONTRIBUTING AND NONCONTRIBUTING PROPERTIES
• 103-105 E. Avenue A, 1895; Contributing
• 107-109 E. Avenue A, 1880s; Contributing
• 111-113 E. Avenue A, 1871; Contributing
• 201 E. 1st Avenue, 1899; Contributing
• 100 S. East Avenue, 1870s; Noncontributing
• 102 S. East Avenue, 1870s-1880s; Noncontributing
• 100-102 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Contributing
• 104-106 E. Central Avenue, 1870s-80s; Contributing
• 108-110 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Noncontributing
• 112-114 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Noncontributing
• 116 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Contributing
• 118 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Noncontributing
• 128 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Noncontributing
• 130 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Noncontributing
• 200 E. Central Avenue, ca. 1882; Contributing
• 201 E. Central Avenue, 1940s; Noncontributing
• 204 E. Central Avenue, 1950s; Noncontributing
• 205 E. Central Avenue, 1890s; Noncontributing
• 206 E. Central Avenue, 1880s; Contributing
• 207 E. Central Avenue, 1870s-80s; Contributing
• 208 E. Central Avenue, 1880s; Contributing 209 E. Central Avenue, 1870s-80s; Contributing
• 210 E. Central Avenue, 1880s; Contributing
• 211 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Contributing
• 212-14 E. Central Avenue, 1881-85; Contributing
• 213 E. Central Avenue, 1870s; Contributing
• 215 E. Central Avenue, 1870s-80s; Noncontributing
• 216-18 E. Central Avenue, ca. 1890; Contributing
• 219 E. Central Avenue, 1870s-80s (facade early 1930s); Contributing
• 221 E. Central Avenue, ca. 1880; Contributing
• 222 E. Central Avenue, ca. 1895; Contributing
• 106 W. Central Avenue, 1880s; Contributing
• 108 W. Central Avenue, 1880s-90s; Contributing
• Main Street and Central Avenue, 1885; Contributing
• 100 N. Main Street, 1870s; Contributing
• 102 N. Main Street, 1870s; Contributing
• 106 N. Main Street, 1870s; Contributing
• 108 N. Main Street, 1870s; Contributing
• 110 N. Main Street, 1880s; Noncontributing
• 112 N. Main Street, 1880s; Contributing
• 114 N. Main Street, 1880s; Contributing
• 116 N. Main Street, 1880s; Contributing
• 118 N. Main Street, 1880s-90s; Contributing
• 128 N. Main Street, unknown (altered, 1930s); Noncontributing
• 130 N. Main Street, 1880s-90s; Noncontributing
• 200 N. Main Street, 1915-18; Contributing
• 201 N. Main Street, 1905; Contributing
• 206 N. Main Street, 1930s; Contributing
• 211 N. Main Street, 1928; Contributing
• 216 N. Main Street, 1920s; Contributing
• 220 N. Main Street, 1920s; Contributing
• 105 N. East Avenue, 1880s; Noncontributing
• 107-09 N. East Avenue, 1880s; Contributing
• 112 N. East Avenue, 1900; Noncontributing
• 113 N. East Avenue, 1870s-80s; Contributing
• 115 N. East Avenue, 1870s80s; Contributing
• 119 N. East Avenue, 1899; Noncontributing
• 121 N. East Avenue, 1881; Contributing
• 127 N. East Avenue, 1891; Contributing
• 200 N. East Avenue, early 1920s; Contributing
• 203 N. East Avenue, 1928; Contributing
• 204 N. East Avenue, 1930s; Noncontributing
• 120 N. Penelope Avenue, 1950; Noncontributing
• 122 N. Penelope Avenue, 1950; Noncontributing
• 200 N. Penelope Avenue, 1925; Noncontributing
• 204 N. Penelope Avenue, 1940; Contributing
Commercial properties defined as Contributing elements of the district must retain integrity of location, setting, materials and association. Integrity of design, workmanship and feeling may be may be minimally compromised as long as principal characterdefining architectural elements survive. Specifically, the upper level of the facade should be substantially unaltered with window openings and cornice intact. The storefronts may have undergone alterations over the years, as was common to update the appearance of a building, without precluding Contributing status. Since commercial buildings typically undergo significant changes over the years, the appearance of several architectural influences on a single facade is common. Additions or alterations were evaluated on an individual basis for their overall effect on the building's integrity of feeling and design, taking into consideration the structure's period of significance. However, buildings were disqualified if they showed evidence of removal or alteration of major architectural features.
A somewhat more rigorous standard was applied to public buildings in the district since they are less likely to undergo wholesale changes. Generally, buildings were considered as contributing if, on balance, they had substantially retained their original appearance. Particular attention was paid to whether the buildings had retained their overall form and exterior materials, and had their original windows, doors, and decorative features intact.
INDIVIDUAL NOMINATIONS FOR THE HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES OF BELTON, BELL COUNTY, TEXAS
Site Number Site Name Adress Date
#1 Belton Farmers' Gin Coop 219 S. East Avenue, Building 4 1927-1940.
#2 Belton Academy (Charles Wedemeyer House) 404 East Ninth 1891
#3 Captain Andrew Jackson Harris House 1001 West Tenth ca. 1870 (1885 addition)
#4 V.R. Means House 609 East 14th Street 1913
#5 NONE 218 Alexander Street 1893
#6 NONE House at 730 North Beal 1870
#7 James House 805 North Beal ca. 1890s
#8 James A. Ferguson House 1123 North Beal 1905
#9 William Beamer House 1202 South Beal Street 1897
#10 Dr. R.S. Farr House 801 East Central Avenue ca. 1878
#11 Joel Elliot House 716 North College Street ca. 1881
#12 Walter J. Lee House 804 North College Street 1904
#13 NONE House at 402 North East Street ca. 1875
#14 Dr. Taylor Hudson House 324 North Main Street 1890
#15 Morey House 328 North Main Street ca. 1895
#16 Silas and Ellen Baggett House 1018 North Main Street ca. 1890
#17 Ele Baggett House 1019 North Main 1895
#18 John P. Hammersmith House 520 South Main ca. 1890
#19 George and Martha McWhirter House 400 North Pearl ca. 1870
#20 H.A. and Helena Ware House 401 North Pearl ca. 1895
#21, #22, #23 Gray Rental Houses 702-708 North Pearl Street 1913
#24 Cornelison House 1102 North Pearl Street ca. 1880
#25 L. B. Kinchion House 702 South Pearl 1929
#26 Robert Naismith House 440 North Penelope 1876
#27 James E. and Miriam Ferguson House 604 North Penelope 1900
#28 First Christian Church Parsonage 608 North Penelope 1900
#29 F.K. and Mary Austin House 702 North Penelope ca. 1885
#30 J.Z. Miller House 804 North Penelope ca. 1895
#31 R.F. and Lena Burford House 920 North Penelope 1909
#32 W.J. Venable House 426 North Wall ca. 1879
#33 Arthur Potts House 445 North Wall Street 1929
#34 T. Hamp and Beulah Birdwell House 503 North Wall 1913
# 35 Dr. Jacob Moore Frazier House 618 North Wall ca. 1910
#36 Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Bridge at the Leon River Taylor's Valley Road NONE ca. 1900-1915
#37 Belton Yarn Mill (Griggs International, Inc.) 805 East Fourth Street 1900
#38 Belton Standpipe Hillcrest Addition NONE 1914
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A lot of Belton History abounds, especially regarding the Courthouse. Visit nearby waymarks for those links ...