LaSalleSignificance

Statement of Significance

The La Salle Apartments, 1420-26 College Avenue, are contributing resources in the Fairmount-Southside Historic District in Fort Worth, Texas. Located approximately two miles south of the downtown core, the district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 with a boundary increase listed in 1995. The original district contained 1,016 contributing buildings, 1 contributing structure, and 425 noncontributing buildings. The boundary increase added seven contributing and five noncontributing buildings. This district is the largest historic district in Fort Worth and was listed at the local level of significance under Criterion A in the area of Community Planning and Development for its association with Fort Worth's tremendous growth from 1890 to 1930. In addition, it was listed at the local level under Criterion C for its concentration of early 20th-century Late Victorian, American Movement, and Period Revival architecture. Although composed primarily of single-family dwellings, the district also has a mix of multiple-family dwellings, commercial buildings, and religious and educational institutions. The La Salle Apartments are composed of two mirror-image 2 1/2-story Tudor Revival style buildings containing a total of 16 units. They are constructed of brick with stucco and half-timbering ornamentation. Built in 1927-28 by Frank S. Hofues, the apartments retain a significant amount of their historic and architectural integrity.

The La Salle Apartments are located near the northern boundary of the district in the Brooks and Bailey Subdivision of Block 25 of the Field-Welch Addition to the City of Fort Worth. W. C. Guthrie purchased Lots 6 and 7 of Block 3 of the subdivision in 1920 from C. E. McGinnis for $12,500. The address of the property was 1424 College Avenue, located at the northwest corner of College Avenue and Myrtle Street. According to City Directories from the era, 1424 College Avenue served as Guthrie's residence to 1927. In December 1927, Guthrie and his wife, Lillian, were party to a Mechanic's Lien with Frank S. Hofues for the construction of two apartment buildings on the property, each valued at $22,500. The Guthries moved to 1500 College Avenue (demolished), which would have been immediately across the street to the south.

W. C. Guthrie (1876-1954) was a prominent Fort Worth real estate developer during the first half of the 20th century. Born in North Carolina, Guthrie came to Fort Worth in 1902, the same year the city began to boom as a result of the arrival of the Swift and Armour packing plants in North Fort Worth. He worked in the office of William Bryce, a contractor and builder who also served as mayor from 1927 to 1933. When the Bryce Building Company was incorporated in 1909, Guthrie was given one-fourth interest and became secretary-treasurer. When Bryce retired in 1920, Guthrie became an independent contractor. He later joined forces with his son, Jack B. Guthrie, and C. B. Grafa to form the Guthrie-Grafa Company. The elder Guthrie served as president until the company was dissolved in the early 1940s.

Guthrie was credited with the development of numerous additions in Fort Worth, particularly on the South Side. These included Colonial Hills, University Place, Park Hill, Park Hill West, Forest Highlands, and Kensington additions. These additions were located near Texas Christian University. His involvement in this area resulted from his purchase of an interest in the old Fairmount Land Company. He also was owner and president of the Trinity Heights Land Company which developed such West Side additions as Monticello, Country Club Heights, and River Crest. Guthrie retained ownership of the La Salle Apartments until 1938.

The La Salle Apartments were constructed during a decade in which Fort Worth experienced a tremendous growth in population. In 1920, the city had a population of 106,482. By 1930, that population had increased to 163,477. Much of this growth had occurred by mid decade as the city's population was estimated at 159,000 in 1926. This increase was partially attributed to the influx of money and people as a result of the West Texas oil boom. Large and small developers alike responded to the housing needs by constructing apartments throughout Fort Worth's South Side. These buildings could be found along major streetcar lines such as South Hemphill or tucked inside the middle of neighborhoods as were the La Salle Apartments, originally two blocks south of a major streetcar line along Magnolia Avenue. Most of these apartment buildings were two or three stories and constructed of brick. They were built to blend into the surrounding residential neighborhoods and their designs reflected those of the adjacent housing stock. Most were comprised of single buildings although some, such as the La Salle Apartments, were built as apartment courts with two buildings mirroring each other. The one notable exception to the 2- and 3-story apartments on the South Side was the Forest Park Apartments constructed in 1927-28 at 2306 Park Place Avenue. It is a 12-story brick building sited on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River. This building type was more common in a downtown setting than in a streetcar neighborhood.

The tenants attracted to the La Salle Apartments in the first few years following their completion included a physician, executives and others associated with the oil industry, an owner of a lumber company, an assistant probation officer, an engineer with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and a manager of a bond and mortgage company. However, the complex suffered from a nearly 40% vacancy rate during the early years of the Great Depression.

Architectural Significance of the La Salle Apartments

The La Salle Apartments are significant as contributing resources within the Fairmount-Southside Historic District. They were specifically mentioned in the National Register nomination for the district as illustrating the popularity of the Tudor Revival style as applied to apartments in Texas during the 1920s. The apartments bear such hallmarks of the style as steeply pitched gabled roofs and stucco and half-timbering. In addition, they are excellent examples of apartment construction on Fort Worth's South Side. They were built in 1927-28 by Frank S. Hofues. Hofues was not listed in the 1927 City Directory but was listed in the 1928 directory as president of the Worth Building and Investment Company. Little is known about this company other than what can be found in City Directories. It is known that the company constructed both single-family and multiple-family residences. For example, the company constructed a house at 2309 Winton Terrace West in the Park Hill neighborhood. It also constructed the Brentmore Apartments at 1810-1814 Eighth Avenue (1928), the Park Hill Apartments at 2500-04 S. University Drive and 2501 and 2505 S. Rogers Avenue in the University Place addition (1928), and the Barclay Apartments at 2100-06 Forest Park Boulevard (1929). All of these buildings were constructed on Fort Worth's South Side.

The La Salle Apartments were nearly identical to the Brentmore Apartments mentioned above, and the Fairmount Apartments, 1101-07 Fairmount Avenue. The latter, located north of the Fairmount-Southside Historic District, were demolished in c. 2001-02 for the widening of Rosedale Street. The Fairmount Apartments were originally owned by the Management Company of Texas. This company also owned and/or constructed other apartments in Fort Worth, particularly on the South Side. Little is known about this company as it was not listed in city directories. However, a scrapbook of some of the company's apartments is available at the Tarrant County Historical Commission's Archives. This scrapbook contains a black and white photograph and floor plans for each of the following apartments, all but one of which were located on the South Side: 212 W. Broadway (demolished); Fairmount Apartments, 1101-07 Fairmount (demolished); 1331 Hemphill Street (demolished); 1431 Lipscomb Street (demolished); Victorian Apartments, 1800 Hemphill Street; Mary Elizabeth Court Apartments, 2008-12 Hemphill Street; Carnes Court Apartments, 2100-04 Hemphill Street; 2260 Hemphill Street (demolished); Brentmore Apartments, 1808 [1810-14] Eighth Avenue; and 3641-45 Crestline. In addition, the floor plans for the La Salle Apartments are nearly identical to two of the buildings comprising the Park Hill Apartments, which as noted above, were also constructed by Hofues' Worth Building and Investment Company. This tends to suggest that there was a relationship between the Worth Building and Investment Company and the Management Company of Texas.



	Statement of Significance The La Salle Apartments, 1420-26 College Avenue, are contributing resources in the Fairmount-Southside Historic District in Fort Worth, Texas. Located approximately two miles south of the downtown core, the district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 with a boundary increase listed in 1995. The original district contained 1,016 contributing buildings, 1 contributing structure, and 425 noncontributing buildings. The boundary increase added seven contributing and five noncontributing buildings. This district is the largest historic district in Fort Worth and was listed at the local level of significance under Criterion A in the area of Community Planning and Development for its association with Fort Worth's tremendous growth from 1890 to 1930. In addition, it was listed at the local level under Criterion C for its concentration of early 20th-century Late Victorian, American Movement, and Period Revival architecture. Although composed primarily of single-family dwellings, the district also has a mix of multiple-family dwellings, commercial buildings, and religious and educational institutions. The La Salle Apartments are composed of two mirror-image 2 1/2-story Tudor Revival style buildings containing a total of 16 units. They are constructed of brick with stucco and half-timbering ornamentation. Built in 1927-28 by Frank S. Hofues, the apartments retain a significant amount of their historic and architectural integrity. The La Salle Apartments are located near the northern boundary of the district in the Brooks and Bailey Subdivision of Block 25 of the Field-Welch Addition to the City of Fort Worth. W. C. Guthrie purchased Lots 6 and 7 of Block 3 of the subdivision in 1920 from C. E. McGinnis for $12,500. The address of the property was 1424 College Avenue, located at the northwest corner of College Avenue and Myrtle Street. According to City Directories from the era, 1424 College Avenue served as Guthrie's residence to 1927. In December 1927, Guthrie and his wife, Lillian, were party to a Mechanic's Lien with Frank S. Hofues for the construction of two apartment buildings on the property, each valued at $22,500. The Guthries moved to 1500 College Avenue (demolished), which would have been immediately across the street to the south. W. C. Guthrie (1876-1954) was a prominent Fort Worth real estate developer during the first half of the 20th century. Born in North Carolina, Guthrie came to Fort Worth in 1902, the same year the city began to boom as a result of the arrival of the Swift and Armour packing plants in North Fort Worth. He worked in the office of William Bryce, a contractor and builder who also served as mayor from 1927 to 1933. When the Bryce Building Company was incorporated in 1909, Guthrie was given one-fourth interest and became secretary-treasurer. When Bryce retired in 1920, Guthrie became an independent contractor. He later joined forces with his son, Jack B. Guthrie, and C. B. Grafa to form the Guthrie-Grafa Company. The elder Guthrie served as president until the company was dissolved in the early 1940s. Guthrie was credited with the development of numerous additions in Fort Worth, particularly on the South Side. These included Colonial Hills, University Place, Park Hill, Park Hill West, Forest Highlands, and Kensington additions. These additions were located near Texas Christian University. His involvement in this area resulted from his purchase of an interest in the old Fairmount Land Company. He also was owner and president of the Trinity Heights Land Company which developed such West Side additions as Monticello, Country Club Heights, and River Crest. Guthrie retained ownership of the La Salle Apartments until 1938. The La Salle Apartments were constructed during a decade in which Fort Worth experienced a tremendous growth in population. In 1920, the city had a population of 106,482. By 1930, that population had increased to 163,477. Much of this growth had occurred by mid decade as the city's population was estimated at 159,000 in 1926. This increase was partially attributed to the influx of money and people as a result of the West Texas oil boom. Large and small developers alike responded to the housing needs by constructing apartments throughout Fort Worth's South Side. These buildings could be found along major streetcar lines such as South Hemphill or tucked inside the middle of neighborhoods as were the La Salle Apartments, originally two blocks south of a major streetcar line along Magnolia Avenue. Most of these apartment buildings were two or three stories and constructed of brick. They were built to blend into the surrounding residential neighborhoods and their designs reflected those of the adjacent housing stock. Most were comprised of single buildings although some, such as the La Salle Apartments, were built as apartment courts with two buildings mirroring each other. The one notable exception to the 2- and 3-story apartments on the South Side was the Forest Park Apartments constructed in 1927-28 at 2306 Park Place Avenue. It is a 12-story brick building sited on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River. This building type was more common in a downtown setting than in a streetcar neighborhood. The tenants attracted to the La Salle Apartments in the first few years following their completion included a physician, executives and others associated with the oil industry, an owner of a lumber company, an assistant probation officer, an engineer with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and a manager of a bond and mortgage company. However, the complex suffered from a nearly 40% vacancy rate during the early years of the Great Depression. Architectural Significance of the La Salle Apartments The La Salle Apartments are significant as contributing resources within the Fairmount-Southside Historic District. They were specifically mentioned in the National Register nomination for the district as illustrating the popularity of the Tudor Revival style as applied to apartments in Texas during the 1920s. The apartments bear such hallmarks of the style as steeply pitched gabled roofs and stucco and half-timbering. In addition, they are excellent examples of apartment construction on Fort Worth's South Side. They were built in 1927-28 by Frank S. Hofues. Hofues was not listed in the 1927 City Directory but was listed in the 1928 directory as president of the Worth Building and Investment Company. Little is known about this company other than what can be found in City Directories. It is known that the company constructed both single-family and multiple-family residences. For example, the company constructed a house at 2309 Winton Terrace West in the Park Hill neighborhood. It also constructed the Brentmore Apartments at 1810-1814 Eighth Avenue (1928), the Park Hill Apartments at 2500-04 S. University Drive and 2501 and 2505 S. Rogers Avenue in the University Place addition (1928), and the Barclay Apartments at 2100-06 Forest Park Boulevard (1929). All of these buildings were constructed on Fort Worth's South Side. The La Salle Apartments were nearly identical to the Brentmore Apartments mentioned above, and the Fairmount Apartments, 1101-07 Fairmount Avenue. The latter, located north of the Fairmount-Southside Historic District, were demolished in c. 2001-02 for the widening of Rosedale Street. The Fairmount Apartments were originally owned by the Management Company of Texas. This company also owned and/or constructed other apartments in Fort Worth, particularly on the South Side. Little is known about this company as it was not listed in city directories. However, a scrapbook of some of the company's apartments is available at the Tarrant County Historical Commission's Archives. This scrapbook contains a black and white photograph and floor plans for each of the following apartments, all but one of which were located on the South Side: 212 W. Broadway (demolished); Fairmount Apartments, 1101-07 Fairmount (demolished); 1331 Hemphill Street (demolished); 1431 Lipscomb Street (demolished); Victorian Apartments, 1800 Hemphill Street; Mary Elizabeth Court Apartments, 2008-12 Hemphill Street; Carnes Court Apartments, 2100-04 Hemphill Street; 2260 Hemphill Street (demolished); Brentmore Apartments, 1808 [1810-14] Eighth Avenue; and 3641-45 Crestline. In addition, the floor plans for the La Salle Apartments are nearly identical to two of the buildings comprising the Park Hill Apartments, which as noted above, were also constructed by Hofues' Worth Building and Investment Company. This tends to suggest that there was a relationship between the Worth Building and Investment Company and the Management Company of Texas.