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H ISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION
JUNE 25, 2018
D EMOLITION AND R ELOCATION PERMITS
HDP-2018-
2502 T OWER D RIVE
PROPOSAL
Demolish a ca. 1951 house.
ARCHITECTURE
One-story, irregular-plan, stone-veneered frame house with an integral one-car garage; hipped roof; fixed-sash picture windows with no pane configuration; small, inset entry porch at the right side of the main block of the house.
RESEARCH
The house was built in 1951 by A.R. and Dorris Schrank, who lived here for the rest of their lives. A.R. Schrank was a professor or physiology at the University of Texas who also served as acting dean and dean of the College of Natural Sciences at UT. He was a native of Aleman, a German community in Hamilton County, Texas, and earned his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Texas in 1942. He then went on to teach at Southwest Texas State, UT Dental Branch, and at the University of Texas, where he served as the associate chair of the Zoology Department from 1959 to 1963, and then as chair from 1963 to 1970. In 1976, he was appointed the dean of the College of Natural Sciences at UT, a position he maintained until his retirement.
S TAFF C OMMENTS
The house is beyond the scope of the Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey (1984).
Staff has evaluated this house for designation as a historic landmark and has determined that the house does not meet the criteria for landmark designation as set forth in City Code: a. Architecture. The house represents upper middle-class housing from the early 1950s in its size, scale, materials, and location, but the integrity of materials appears to have been compromised with the installation of several large, plate-glass windows in the front of the house at an unknown time. b. Historical association. The house was the home of a UT professor for around 50 years. Dr. Schrank was a noted expert in the field of plant physiology. c. Archaeology. The house was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. d. Community value. The house does not possess a unique location, physical characteristic, or significant feature that contributes to the character, image, or cultural identity of the city, the neighborhood, or a particular demographic group. e. Landscape feature. The property is not a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city.
S TAFF R ECOMMENDATION
Encourage rehabilitation and adaptive re-use, but release the permit upon completion of a City of Austin Documentation Package, consisting of photographs of all elevations, a dimensioned sketch plan, and a narrative history, for archiving at the Austin History Center. The house does not meet the criteria for individual designation as a historic
landmark due to apparent changes in fenestration that have significantly compromised the integrity of the house.
2502 Tower Drive
ca. 1951
OCCUPANCY HISTORY
2502 Tower Drive
City Directory Research, Austin History Center By City Historic Preservation Office June, 2018
1992 Auline R. and Doris Schrank, owners Professor Emeritus, University of Texas
1985-86 Auline R. and Dorris T. Schrank, owners Professor, University of Texas
1977 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners A.R.: Professor, University of Texas Dorris: Employed by the public schools
1973 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners Professor, University of Texas
1968 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners Professor, University of Texas Also listed is Kent Schrank, a student.
1962 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners A.R.: Professor, University of Texas Dorris: Teacher, Austin Senior High School
1959 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners Professor, University of Texas
1955 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners Director, Growth and Bioelectric Research, University of Texas
1952 A.R. and Dorris Schrank, owners Teacher
1949 The address is not listed in the directory. NOTE: A.R. and Dorris Schrank are listed at 402 W. 34th^ Street.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: A.R. and Dorris Schrank (ca. 1951 – ca. 2016) Auline R. Schrank appears in the 1930 U.S. Census as the 14-year old son of Herman and Emma Schrank of Aleman, Hamilton County, Texas. Auline was born in Texas and had no occupation listed. He had a younger brother, Milton, 13. His father, Herman Schrank, was a 36-year old Texas-born farmer whose parents had been born in Germany. His mother, Emma Schrank, 33, had been born in Texas to Texas-born parents, and had no occupation listed.
Obituary of Dr. A.R. Schrank Austin American-Statesman, February 18, 2001
SCHRANK, Dorris Parke
We celebrate the life and gift of Dorris Parke Schrank, Mommy Dorris (D), our wonderful mother,
mentor, and friend. As we think about Mommy D, the words that come to mind include loving,
caring, giving, working, inspiring, and laughing. She almost made it to the age of 100, she was 99
when she peacefully went to sleep for the last time, under a beautiful full moon, on October 15, 2016.
She was a retired Austin High School math teacher, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and
lifelong Longhorn.
She was born February 6, 1917 in Kyle, Texas. Her parents were Edna B. Hooker Parke and Oscar G
Parke II. Her sister Mary B. Parke Hall is living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and she was preceded in death
by her brother Oscar G. Parke III and her husband Dr. A.R. Schrank.
She is survived by her son Kenton Parke Schrank MD and his wife Andrea (of Pottsboro, Texas);
daughter Karon Schrank Simpson MD, and her husband J. Scott Simpson MD (of Austin, Texas);
grandchildren Lt.Col. Amber E. Schrank Ritenour MD, and her husband Lt.Col. Josh Ritenour MD,
Travis Parke Schrank MD, and his wife Yana Mikhaylov MD, Madison Paige Schrank, Gayle
Building permit to A.R. Schrank for the construction of this house (1951)
Water service permit to A.R. Schrank for this house (1951)
Sewer connection application by A.R. Schrank for this house (1951)
Building permit to A.R. Schrank to construct a storage room (1966)
