Ed Robinson House, 214 Oregon Street, Georgetown

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-216. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Ed Robinson house is historically significant as a turn-of-the-century residence occupied by African- American working-class families in a urban setting. Its construction dates to at least (when it appears on a Sanborn insurance map), and may be earlier. The house plan is presently a four-room, Cumberland style side-gabled plan with a center chimney and a front facade that suggests a late century hall-parlor dwelling. Although the two rear rooms appear to be a late century re-build, historic Sanborn maps indicate two rooms here since the building first appeared in It was originally intended for occupancy by two households but was later modified for single family occupancy. ED ROBINSON BOUSE BABS NO. (paqe 2)

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-216. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1. Date of erection: circa or earlier. 2. Architect/Builder: unknown 3. oriqinal and subsequent owners: circuit court case, recorded in Scott County court case file J. c. and Irean L. Thomason vs. James R. Barlow and May Belle Barlow and John s. Gaines, guardian. (property was ordered sold to settle the estate of Sallie T. Barlow; house was present on the lot at that time) deed, February 20, recorded in Volume 36, p. Master Commissioner to R. L. Carrick. deed, September 1, recorded in Volume 37, p. R. L. and Cora Carrick to Victor F. Bradley. deed, March 21, recorded in Volume 41, p. J. Craig Bradley, V. A. and Sophie W. Bradley and Jessie s. Bradley (Victor F. Bradley heirs) to John E. Pack. deed, September 25, recorded in Volume 44, p. John E.

and Carolyn R. Pack to Jennie Blackburn. deed, February 19, F. M. Thomason, Master Commissioner to Ed Robinson (to settle Jennie Blackburn's estate). deed, July, filing in process, Martha Robinson et al. (Ed Robinson heirs) to Georgetown Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency. 4. Alterations and additions: The floor plan has been modified from double occupancy to facilitate single family occupancy. B. Historical context: Although this house, like its neighbors, served as a residence for African-American working-class families around the turn of the century, it may be one of the earliest houses built on this dense urban block. It was in place by as part of a Main Street lot containing two other buildings, a large dwelling and a doctor's office, both fronting on Main street.

Several outbuildings also stood on this large lot. It served as a tenement house during this time and continued in this function after the larger lot was subdivided and sold as smaller tracts. In the house was purchased amd occupied by a single family who retained ownership until when it was purchased by the city of Georgetown. Thus, it is further distinguished from neighboring houses as being owner-occupied for much of its uselife. ED ROBINSON BOUSE BABS NO. (paqe 3) PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General statement: This residence appears to have been built in two campaigns resulting in the present four-room, Cumberland plan.

The front portion is a four-bay (window-door- door-window) frame hall-parlor, late century residence with Victorian influences that include a sandwich bracketed eave, and central gable pediment with patterned shingles and a two bay, 1/2 hip porch on square porch with spindled railing. The rear two rooms are beneath an off-centered gable roof with brick-patterned asphalt siding and post-World War II windows and doors. 1. Architectural character: This structure merits recording because it is probably the oldest building still standing in this small neighborhood and because of its role in providing housing for working-class African-American families in the late and early century.

Its architectural style and features represent a departure from the predominant shed-roofed shotgun residences that stand near it. 2. condition of fabric: fair to poor B. Description of Exterior: 1. overall dimensions: 28' 6" by 30' 6", excluding front porch. 2. Foundations: dry laid, rough limestone block in main living area; porch supported by wooden piers; unknown foundation in rear. 3. Walls: sawn frame; dimensional lumber. 4. structural system, framing: assumed to be balloon framing. s. Porches, stoops, balconies, bulkheads: The centered front porch measures 14' 10 11 by 6 1 ; it has gabled roof with attic vent and shaped shingles on the gable end. The front porch has square posts and spindled railing, and is entered from the side. 6. Chimneys: single center brick chimney. 7.

Openings: (By elevation) The front (north) facade is divided into four bays (window-door- door-window) with a central gable pediment, sandwich bracketed eave, a two-bay porch, replacement sash windows (shorter than the original), one original four-panel door and one replacement 3- light/2-panel door. ED ROBIHSOH HOUSE BABS HO. (page 4) The rear (south) elevation has an off-centered gable, asphalt brick-patterned siding, 2/2 and single light sash windows, 1/2 light panelled door and a vent in the gable end. The west wall is sided with clapboard and has one 2/2 replacement window. The east wall is very close to the neighboring house and could not be viewed. s. Roof and eave: gabled; asphalt shingle; sandwich bracketed eave. c. Description of Interior: 1.

Floor plans: The house has a basic four-room plan with bathroom and closets added. Both front rooms measure 13' 7" by 15' The southeast room is broken by a closet and a bathroom. The southwest room has a closet or pantry built into the corner. All original wall finishes, decorative trim, etc. have been replaced with panelling and trim. D. Site 1. General setting and orientation: The house is located on the west side of North Mulberry Street and fronts east. 2. Historic landscape design: none 3. outbuildings: none PART III. SOURCES OF IHFORMATIOH A. original architectural drawings: none B. Early views: none c. Interviews: none D. Bibliography 1.

Primary and unpublished sources: Scott county deed books and circuit court records (see Section I.3); Ann Bolton Bevins, INVOLVEMENT OF BLACKS IN SCOTT COUNTY COMMERCE DURING THE POSTBELLUM PERIOD Manuscript on file, Kentucky Heritage Council, Frankfort, Kentucky. 2. Secondary and published sources: none known ED ROBINSON HOUSE BABS NO. (paqe 5) PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION The HABS documentation of this and other buildings is being performed to comply with the requirements of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of Georgetown and the Kentucky Heritage Council. The city of Georgetown received a grant to acquire these buildings in order to demolish them, owing to their poor condition and because they are unsuitable for rehabilitation and reuse.

The MOA required that the structures be documented according to HABS criteria and accepted by HABS prior to demolition. The following people and firms contributed to the documentation effort: Charlie Perkins, city Attorney, Georgetown, Kentucky John Coyle, Georgetown Housing Authority William Hamilton, Mayor's Office, Georgetown, Kentucky Will Linder & Associates, Consultants, Inc., Berea, Kentucky Chris Amos, architectural historian, Amos & Burry, Inc., Shelbyville, Kentucky Ann Bolton Bevins, architectural historian, Georgetown, Kentucky Prepared by: Nancy O'Malley Title: Research Associate in Anthropology Affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington Date: November 15, ED ROBINSON HOUSE HABS No. (page 6) 2 JLt OREGON SCALE 1' GEORGETOWN 5' 10' JUNE 2 1+. l HORTH D :c ' (\J ~ .

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