Page 28 - Waxahachie, TX Residential Design Guidelines

IntroductIon

W e s t e n d h i s t o R i c d i s t R i c t

Residential development west of the Courthouse Square began
very early. In time, commercial development took over these lots.
Some of these early residential properties can be seen at 513 W.
Jefferson (c. 1870’s) - a National Folk house, 527 W. Jefferson (c.
1880) - side-gable house, 512 W. Main (c. 1883) - remodeled with
characteristics of the Gothic Revival style, and 207 S. Hawkins (c.
1859, 1882).
902 W. Main St.

In 1889, the Waxahachie Investment Company was developed
by area businessmen. They platted the West End Addition with
borders between Highland Avenue on the west, east almost to
the business district, south to West Jefferson Street, and north to
West Marvin. They extended the streetcar system (mule drawn
and in use by 1890), planted shade trees, and developed a much
larger park in the southwest corner of the Addition—now named
Getzendaner Park, south on Grand.
818 W. Main St.
The park-like setting and the varying sizes of lots were filled in
with irregularly shaped cottages amidst fine vernacular examples
such at the T-plan house (1008 W. Main) and the asymmetrical
Queen Anne (1203 W. Main). L-plan, Neoclassical Revival, and
Georgian Revival were other popular styles that developed in this
neighborhood. The city annexed the rest of the West End suburb
by 1902.

The Waxahachie Investment Company also built an ellipse at the
1008 W. Main St. west end of Main, directing traffic to one side and streetcar tracks
to the other. The Neoclassic inspired Nicholas P. Sims Library
and Lyceum (1903-04) at 515 W. Main was built after the library
board issued requests for plans. Sited at the back of a deep lot
with a park-like setting, it complemented the neighborhood. The
First Presbyterian Church (1916-17) located at 501 W. Main and
the clean lines of the Waxahachie Masonic Temple (1925) at 511
W. Main added to the importance of this area and to the growth of
Waxahachie.

The National Register of Historic Places designated the West
200 S. Hawkins End Historic District in 1986. Over 145 properties were listed
as “contributing” to the National Register District, along with the
individual properties already on the Register.

With the 50-year age requirement for properties to be considered
for the National Register, properties within this district built as
recent as 1971 may be eligible for inclusion. A 2019 Hardy-Heck-
Moore survey notes that the district can be expanded to include
eligible properties just outside the current boundaries.

20 Waxahac hie Residential design guidelines