Tyler Morning Telegraph - Tuesday, August 5, 2003
This newspaper article was written by LAURA JETT KRANTZ, Staff Writer
One of Tyler's most recognizable neighborhoods that illustrates the Rose City's historic connection with the East Texas oil boom is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Azalea Residential Historic District recently received the honorary designation that recognizes historic properties across the country worthy of preservation.
"This is a large district and it will be Tyler's largest district," said Janie Chilcote Edmonds, Historic Tyler Inc. Executive Director. "That's because our greatest growth came after the oil boom and we have a big concentration of 1930 and older buildings."
Mrs. Edmonds said homes built during the 1930s stand out because while the rest of the country suffered through The Great Depression, Tyler was booming.
The district is Tyler's fifth historic district listed in the National Register. The district contains 950 single-family residences and 20 duplexes, triplexes and apartment buildings. Officials said the district contains the best-preserved concentration of early to mid-20th century dwellings in Tyler and documents eclectic land development patterns.
The district illustrates the variety of housing available to upper- and middle-income Tyler residents during the 1900 to 1953 period when Tyler experienced intensive growth and became a dominant business, transportation and commercial hub.
"This district is our largest concentration of historic homes," Mrs. Edmonds said. "The creation of this district is another avenue in Tyler for the preservation of our history. It tells our story."
Interest in nominating the Azalea Residential Historic District developed after the 1999 listing of the Charnwood District. Efforts to list the Charnwood neighborhood began in 1995 when Austin-based architectural historian Diane E. Williams conducted a historic resources survey. She later identified the Azalea District as another strong candidate for National Register listing.
In fall 2002, Ms. Williams began research on the Azalea District nomination through records located both in Tyler and Austin. Using local resources and volunteers, the nomination was completed in August 2002. Ms. Williams based the district nomination on eligible criteria including "broad patterns of history" and "architecture."
The nomination mapped the district, detailed its history, described individual structures and designated structures that were "contributing."
"That means they have enough historical integrity to preserve," Mrs. Edmonds said. "You have to have at least 51 percent of the structures in a district is contributing."
In January 2003, the Texas Historical Commission's State Board of Review approved the district. The nomination was then sent to the Keeper of the National Register at the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., where it was again reviewed and listed in June 2003.
The district includes Tyler's Women's Building, Hogg Middle School and Bergfeld Park. The boundaries include South Robertson Avenue, Sunnybrook Drive, Fair Lane, Old Bullard Road, College Avenue, West Fourth Street, Highland Avenue, Lake Street, Sneed Avenue, Frazier Street, Donnybrook Avenue, East Dobbs Street, South Broadway Avenue and West Dobbs Street.
The district's borders are based on old subdivision lines and street signs will eventually help designate the unusually shaped district. Mrs. Edmonds said Historic Tyler is also encouraging residents in the district whose properties are considered "contributing" to purchase plaques that identify the significance of their homes. The plaques range in price from to 0, depending on the size.
While the designation is only honorary and does not affect what homeowners are allowed to do to their properties, officials feel it will encourage preservation and tourism during the Spring Azalea and Flower Trail.
"This will only enhance the identity of this district, which has great historic homes as well as beautiful azaleas," Mrs. Edmonds said. "People have certainly been aware of these great homes during the Trails, but now they'll see there are even more off the Trail for them to see."
More information about purchasing a historic plaque is available at or by calling (903) 595-1960. A copy of the district nomination is also available on the third floor of Tyler Public Library.
