History at the forefront of two projects

History at the forefront of two projects

Written by Kara Vaught Monday, 07 January 2008

Things of the past have surfaced as current affairs in both western Williamson County cities.

Cedar Park plans to hire a consultant to make recommendations about creating a historical district within the city, including where it should be located, what buildings and artifacts to include and how it could contribute to the city’s tourist appeal.

In Leander, a property predating the town sits in the planned path of CR 274. Initially overlooked when state officials were plotting future roads, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation was noticed during the construction of the frontage roads for 183A Toll, which cut through the property and would be intersected by CR 274. The road is in limbo without a clear solution.

Historical district

Last spring, Cedar Park City Council member Melissa Beaudoin approached the other members about creating a hub of city history, and the council gave consent for staff to research the idea. She then learned that the Cedar Park Heritage Society and the historic and cultural preservation commission had contemplated the same concept.

“It was not like it was my original idea,” Beaudoin said. “Everything fell into alignment and now is the right time to get it done.”

The society and the commission conducted a visioning session in August, at which attendees voted on their top six historical priorities. They were: 1) Develop a Heritage Village; 2) Preserve the Leanderthal Lady site; 3) Restore the King log cabin and open it to the public; 4) Establish a downtown museum and activity center with monuments to historical sites; 5) Acquire and preserve the Cluck homestead/develop a historic district at US 183 and Buttercup Creek Boulevard; 6) Reconstruct the Whitestone School.

From these six, the heritage society prioritized the top three and included them in a proposal it presented with the chamber’s support to the historic and cultural preservation commission Jan. 9.

The proposal calls for locating the village at the origins of Cedar Park: US 183 and Brushy Creek Boulevard. This was the site of the first post office and the railroad foreman’s house — the only one still standing from that era. According to the proposal, renovating that house would create a permanent location for the chamber of commerce and a museum for preserving Cedar Park’s history. The plan also calls for rebuilding the Whitestone School, which could be used as an event and meeting center.

“This was the original site of Cedar Park,” said Sharon Wolfe, treasurer of the heritage society. “I think it’s important that people understand what we’ve got.”

The city, with funding from the tourism advisory board, is in the process of picking a consultant to provide direction for the project and hopes to have one hired by the end of February, said Jose Madrigal, Cedar Park assistant city manager.

Another possible site for the historical district is the 13 acres the city owns north of the Railyard shopping center on
RM 1431, south of Town Center Park and east of the railroad tracks.

“We’re looking at that as a location as well, being that the railroad tracks are right there, and you also have city hall planned to go there, so there could be opportunity for a lot of synergy,” Madrigal said. “But no decisions have been made. We’re going to let the consultant tell us what they think would work out best.”

Bonds for a new city hall were recently rejected by voters, but the project is still under consideration for the future.

Madrigal said although there is no set process in place, he expects the consultant to meet with interested parties and perhaps schedule public meetings where people can voice their opinions. He did not know what the consultant would cost the city.

A report from the historic and cultural preservation commission about the visioning session is scheduled for the city council’s first meeting in February.

Bryson house

Austin attorney Sam Winters and former Austin Mayor Roy Butler own the property in the original planned path of CR 274.

In 1872, J.C. and Nancy Bryson built several structures including corn cribs, a barn and a home on the site.

“The limestone for this house was hand-hewn, which is common in this area, but an expensive thing to do in 1870,” said David Hollingsworth, secretary of the Williamson County Historical Commission.

Winters had the home designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1970.

With such a designation, a property owner retains the right to do as he wishes with the landmark, including alter or demolish structures. Texas government code states that a person may not make such changes without giving the Texas Historical Commission at least 60 days notice. The commission has the option of imposing an extra 30-day waiting period. If changes are made before that time expires or without any notice, the landowner risks the removal of the historical designation and marker and a civil penalty of not less than $50 but no more than $1,000 for each day of notice he failed to give.

“In the instance of the Bryson estate, the fine wouldn’t apply because they followed procedure; they notified us,” said Debbi Head, marketing communication director for the THC.

The waiting period for the Bryson property ended Dec. 23, so the property owners may do as they wish with the structures and land. If the buildings are altered or demolished, the THC can revoke the historic designation, but Winters said he and Butler have not determined if or when any demolition will take place.

The kink in moving forward with the road is the site’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Several features, including the buildings and wagon trails, make the entire area a candidate for that distinction. Had this been recognized before the 183A Toll frontage roads were constructed, the Federal Highway Administration — which partially funded the road — would have been obligated to study ways to minimize the impact of the road on the historic value of the site.

Now that CR 274 is planned to be constructed across the property with an intersection at 183A Toll, the FHWA must work with the Texas Department of Transportation and the THC to come to an agreement about how the historical value can be preserved and the new road built.

No solution has been found, and the road is essentially in a holding pattern.

“We are truly just in the quagmire of politics within bureaucracy and inter-agency communication,” said Pix Howell, urban design officer for Leander. “It is just a mess, and hopefully it gets resolved soon because we need to go build the road.”

From a history perspective, Hollingsworth said an acceptable solution would save enough of the land around the buildings so that the property still appears to be agricultural.

“You need to save enough so a lay member of the public could see the soil over here is packed and terrain is rough so you are obviously running cattle there,” he said. “And over here the soil is loose and tillable for farming.”

Cedar Park heritage village proposal

At the Jan. 9 meeting of the Cedar Park Historical and Cultural Preservation Commission, the Cedar Park Heritage Society and the chamber of commerce presented this proposal for a historical village on the site of the origins of Cedar Park. Betty Henry owns the land, on which the railroad foreman’s house still stands. See page 11 for more information about the history of these structures.

Post office/grocery store — Nothing remains of this town landmark that stood near the foreman’s house.

Whitestone School — The society proposes to rebuild the school here, the site of the Running Brushy schoolhouse, and rent it out for special events and meetings.

Foreman’s house — According to the proposal, this building could house the chamber of commerce offices and serve as a museum until the collection outgrew the space.

Handcar shed — A heritage society member donated this building to the group and moved it to the Henry property.

Emmett Cluck home — Although the home burned down, the rock foundation remains.

Cedar Park history: From Running Brushy to Brueggerhoff

by Betty Henry, Cedar Park Heritage Society board member

In 1882, the Austin and Northwestern Railroad was completed from Austin to Burnet. At the time, George and Hattie Cluck, the founders of Cedar Park, sold a tract of land to the railroad for the construction of a side track and park.

The Clucks had a son named Emmett who was a brakeman on the railroad. Workers maintaining the rail traveled it using a manually powered handcar that was kept in a shed adjacent to the tracks. The building was painted a bright yellow, which has now worn away. At some point, red trim was added.

Emmett also owned the general store and post office near the railroad foreman’s house. His mother became postmaster in 1874, and he took over in 1892 and served until 1929.

The railroad often brought picnickers from Austin, who spent the day relaxing in the park-like setting. The area was known as Austin’s first country club.

The younger Cluck built his home near the other structures surrounding the rail to take advantage of the picturesque scenery. Though the home burned down, the foundation, rock benches and flowerbed — once planted with zinnias — remain.

In 1887, Emmett renamed the town Cedar Park. Before that time, it was known as Brueggerhoff. Before 1881, it was called Running Brushy.

The Running Brushy schoolhouse was the first in the city. Nothing remains of the building, but the rock from another school, Whitestone on US 183 and RM 1431, was saved when it was demolished.

Then

Joseph Carson Bryson moved with his parents from North Carolina to Williamson County in 1865 and married Nancy Wells in 1869. A year later, their first child was born, and Joseph began construction on a two-room home made from native stone from the South San Gabriel River and Jenks Branch. The land eventually included corn cribs, a barn and other farm and ranch facilities.

Source: Karen Thompson, Williamson County historian

Now

Today, the property is owned by Austin attorney Sam Winters and former Austin Mayor Roy Butler. In 1970, the Bryson house was designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. In 1999, Texas Department of Transportation officials overlooked the historic nature of the building when planning future roads. It was discovered during construction of the frontage roads for 183A Toll. Now that CR 274 is planned to be constructed across the property with an intersection at 183A Toll, the Federal Highway Administration must work with TxDOT and the Texas Historical Commission to come to an agreement about how the historical value can be preserved and the new road built.

Source: Debbi Head, senior communications specialist for the THC

 

The Texas Department of Transportation has offered three route choices for the extension of CR 274. No decision has made about which option will be built.

 

Source: TxDOT