NPS Fofm 10-900-* OMB No. 1024-0018 (3-82) Exp. 10-31-84

United States Department off the Interior National Park Service For NPS use only

National Register of Historic P laces Inventory—Nomination Form e entered

Continuation sheet Item number All Page 69

30. Name: Johnson House (Couuuuit name Maconic Tampiig) '^

Location: 1030 Belvin StiFeet

Class i f i c a t i o n : Category - bui l d i n g ; Ownership - private; Status - occupied; Accessible - yes, r e s t r i c t e d ; Present use - other (Masonic Temple).

Owner of property: San Marcos Masonic Lodge #342 George Wi l h i t e , Secretary P.O. Box 576 San Marcos, Texas 78666

Description: Condition - good. Altered (very s l i g h t l y ) ; Original s i t e .

The Johnson House i s an H-shaped residence of two stories plus basement b u i l t of buff brick. I t consists of a symmetrical design of pavilions extending from the center toward the f r o n t , sides, and rear. Classically derived elements are applied with a l i g h t hand, lending the house a Renaissance Revival a i r .

Over the long axis and the front-facing pavilions are hip roofs covered i n composistion shingles. The f l a t - r o o f e d , one-story extensions on the side walls have red ba r r e l -t i l e pents at the r o o f l i n e . Inset across the front facade i s a three-bay porch sur­mounted by a spindle-railed balcony supported by four brick piers and six Ionic columns. I t s f l o o r i s terrazo, edged w i t h black-and-white ceramic t i l e i n a Greek key motif. The paving spreads across the entire facade to form an open piazza, delineated by another spindle r a i l , short piers, and b u i l t - i n planters.

The rear facade i s also symmetrical, but simpler. I t repeats the window boxes above s c r o l l brackets found under the second-floor windows on the fr o n t . A one-story room occurs between the truncated wings.

Fenestration i s p r i m a r i l y of e i g h t - l i g h t casements, many of them i n pairs. Sashes i n 4/4 and 8/8 configurations are on the side walls and wings. Chimneys ri s e through the eaves at the building's corners.

Decoration i s restrained, but e f f e c t i v e . The entrance i s framed by four feathery, Corinthian-derived columns and capped by an architrave of shields, d e n t i l s , and egg-and-dart molding. The architrave i s repeated, as i s the porch cornice. Cartouches and swags decorate the brick spaces. Simply carved brackets support the wide overhanging eaves, beneath which i s a band of v e r t i c a l bricks and green t i l e diamonds, which reappear on the chimneys.

NPS Form ia-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 O ^ ) Exp. 10-31-84

United States Department off the Interior ^vir w -National Park Service For MPS use only

National Register off Historic P laces inventory—Nomination Form

received

date entered

Continuation sheet Item number A l l Page

One enters the 15-room house d i r e c t l y into the l i v i n g room, facing a b e a u t i f u l fireplace (one of four) edged with elaborate matte-finish ceramic t i l e s i n a grape and foliage design. Overhead i s an o r i g i n a l s i l v e r p l a t e d l i g h t f i x t u r e . To the l e f t i s the dining room with plaster wall-panel moldings and another t i l e mantel, this one showing peacocks. Beyond i s the kitchen, with i t s o r i g i n a l sink and cabinets. In the rear i s the spindle-railed s t a i r . A l l closets are lined with cedar.

The Masons have maintained the house w e l l , and refurbish the rooms as funds are available. The only noticeable change i s the paint on the upstairs window panes, which they hope to remove soon.

Significance: Period - 1900- ; Areas of significance - architecture. Specific dates - 1919. Atlee B. Ayres, architect.

Construction of Lloyd and Jessie Johnson's home on Belvin Street created quite a s t i r . I t was easily the most elaborate, ambitious residence i n the San Marcos of 1919. The notice given the house i s w e l l deserved. I t i s a bold r e f l e c t i o n of the Renaissance Revival s t y l e so popular e a r l i e r i n the Northeast. With i t s low hipped roofs and i n ­dented spaces, the Johnson House even bears a s l i g h t resemblance to one of the archetypes of the s t y l e , the Breakers of Newport, Rhode Island. Atlee B. Ayres, arguably the best of the early 20th-century Texas architects, designed the home using the f i n e s t materials on the i n t e r i o r and exterior.

Johnson, a native San Marcan, was a very wealthy man, having made his fortune as president of the Mutual Mercantile Company and owner of 3,000 acres i n Hays County. He was director of the State Bank and Trust Company and president of the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Johnson was w e l l known and active i n social and church c i r c l e s . Reports on the cost of building t h e i r home varied widely, from $45,000 to 75,000. At any estimate, i t was an expensive project. I t appears they gave architect Atlee Ayres a free hand. The house easily measures up to any of the grand mansions he b u i l t i n San Antonio and elsewhere.

The Johnson family occupied the building u n t i l 1937, when i t was sold to the Masonic Lodge, which continues to use the building for meetings and social occasions.

Bibliography:

San Marcos Record, October 31, 1919. New Encyclopedia of Texas, p. 2238. Recorded Texas H i s t o r i c Landmarks f i l e s , Texas H i s t o r i c a l Commission Interview with Jack Wood, June 10, 1982.

Geographical data: Acreage - approxiamtely one acre. UTM reference - 14 / 601090 / 3305430

Verbal Boundary Description - H.E. Barber Addition, Block 4, l o t 5 and southern 18 feet of l o t 4.

WASO Form - 177 ( "R" June 1984)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR N A T I O N A L PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET

Johnson House (San Marcos MR A) Hays County TEXAS

Working No

O resubmission • nomination by person or local government • owner objection im appeal

Substantive Review: LH sample

Fed. Reg. Date:. Date Due: ^ Action:

a r ? w « : . • — R E T U R N H a t ' REJECT

kTACCEPT _

7 '^if

Later Federal Agency:

• request • appeal Cn NR decision

Reviewer's comments:

Recom./Criteria. Reviewer Discipline Date

see continuation sheet

Nomination returned for: .technical corrections cited below .substantive reasons discussed below

1. Name

2. Location

3. Classification

Category Ownership Public Acquisition

Status

Accessible Present Use

4. Owner of Property

5. Location of Legal Description

6. Representation in Existing Surveys

Has this property t)een determined eligible? • yes • no

7. Description

Condition

excellent

good

• fair

I I deteriorated

I I ruins

unexposed

Check one

unaltered

altered

Describe tfie present and original (if known) physical appearance

CU summary paragraph • completeness • clarity • alterations/integrity • dates I I boundary selection

Check one

• original site

moved date.

8. Significance

Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below

Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)

n summary paragraph CH completeness CZI clarity LH applicable criteria d ] justification of areas checked • relating significance to the resource • context • relationship of integrity to significance • justification of exception • other

9. Major Bibliographical References

10. Geographical Data

Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References

Verbal boundary description and justification

11. Form Prepared By

12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:

national state local

State Historic Preservation Officer signature

title date

13. Other

CH Maps CH Photographs • other

Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to.

Signed Date Phone:

Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet

Please refer to the map in the

Multiple Property Cover Sheet

for this property

Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000853