January 28, 2011

GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dwayne Jones
Executive Director
409-765-3422

GHF Purchases 1890 McKinney/McDonald House

Plans to Stabilize and Market Endangered Historic Property

Galveston Historical Foundation has purchased the threatened 1890 McKinney/McDonald House at 926 Winnie. Stabilization and rehabilitation will begin within a few weeks. Built in 1890 for local businessman Liberty S. McKinney, the residence was later sold to attorney and judge Dominic D. McDonald in 1907. The McDonald Family owned the house until 1974.

A view from 1894 looking west on Winnie Avenue shows the original poly-chromed slate roof and widows walk on the McKinney/McDonald House that will be replicated by Galveston Historical Foundation.

A current view of the 1890 house showing deteriorated porch and roof. Galveston Historical Foundation will make repairs to the house over the upcoming months.

A fire on January 7, 1993, damaged the house and the house has continued to deteriorate, causing concern from neighbors and code enforcement officials.

“Galveston Historical Foundation is pleased to step forward to preserve this important piece of residential architecture,” said GHF Executive Director Dwayne Jones. “The McKinney/McDonald is one of the most frequently photographed residences in Galveston and remembered by its extraordinary porch details. We hope this will be become the home of a new family soon and continue to further our preservation efforts in Galveston.”

GHF added the McKinney/McDonald House to its Heritage at Risk List in 2008, to highlight its uncertain future and to garner support and resources for saving it.

The McKinney/McDonald House is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places but lies outside the East End Historic District and is not protected from demolition by local ordinance. In May 2009, the previous owner began to salvage brick from several piers supporting the house in anticipation of demolishing the historic structure.

Galveston Historical Foundation intervened and worked with the owners and the city to save the house from demolition. GHF hired a structural engineer to provide an assessment and a plan for temporary stabilization.

After marketing the house for several years, the previous owner proposed a sale to the Galveston Historical Foundation. The purchase of the McKinney/McDonald House continues the work of the foundation’s revolving fund, which purchases and stabilizes endangered properties in support of neighborhood revitalization and preservation of the island’s historic buildings.

Dorothy L. McDonald Karilanovic, granddaughter of Judge Dominic Doyle McDonald, was excited upon hearing news of the sale. “Since the devastating fire in 1993, islanders have endeavored to maintain the vigil on the McKinney/McDonald House with a focus on saving it from further ruin and demolition,” she said. “At last, through the efforts of the Galveston Historical Foundation, the house has now become property of the foundation so that it may begin to be restored to its original beauty.”

Building on the success and information learned with the Green Revival Project at 3101 Avenue Q, GHF will incorporate “green” building materials and technology into the stabilization of this historic house. Radiant-barrier plywood decking will lessen solar heat gain through the roof and the opportunity is there to re-use the masonry foundation of a cistern which served the property until being damaged in the hurricane of 1943.

Students from the Masters in Historic Preservation Program at the University of Texas in San Antonio documented the house in May 2009 and developed plans for returning it to its former look. These include removing the existing roof and replicating the original widows walk and roof, with shingles in a decorative pattern. Brick piers and decorative woodwork on the front porch will also be repaired.

Protective covenants will be placed on the property once it is stabilized and sold by the foundation, to insure its historic character is maintained in the future.

The property is for sale from the non-profit Galveston Historical Foundation, which is currently in the midst of its primary annual fundraising appeal, the Mitchell, Wortham and Friends Challenge. Until March 31, all donations will be doubled, up to $150,000. For information on making a donation to GHF’s ongoing programs of preservation and restoration, call Judy Wilkie at (409) 765-3407. For further details about the McKinney/McDonald House, call Brian Davis, Director of Preservation Services for GHF, at brian.davis@galvestonhistory.org or (409) 765-3419.