Ramsey, F. T. and Belle, House
4412 Ave. B, Austin, TXA frame 2-story L-plan dwelling. The F.T. and Belle Ramsey House is one of a handful of imposing Victorian-era residences completed in Hyde Park before 1900. Dating to the earliest period of development in Hyde Park, The Ramsey House is the only large Victorian-era dwelling adjacent to West 45th Street, an area that generally developed after World War I. The house is also the sole link to the extensive Ramsey Nursery grounds that defined the early 20th century character of the area north of 45th Street. The Ramsey House's size and rich architectural detailing testify to the rewards of the horticultural efforts of one of Texas' best-known nurserymen. As the architecturally significant residence of F.T. Ramsey, considered by historian Samuel Wood Geiser to have been one of the most Texas' most prominent horticulturalists, it is being nominated under Criteria B and C.
Frank Taylor Ramsey was born June 15, 1861, to Alexander Murray Ramsey. The family moved in 1858 from Jackson, Mississippi, to Mahomet in Burnet County where the elder Ramsey established the Lone Star Nursery. In 1894 they relocated to Austin, opening the A.M. Ramsey & Son nursery on 300 acres north of 45th Street and west of Avenue B (Pecan Press. September 1980:2).
On February 12, 1894, F.T. Ramsey purchased lots 29-32 in Block 8 of the Hyde Park Addition from the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Land and Town Company for $525.00 (DR 120:318). He and his wife. Belle (Sinclair) Ramsey, are believed to have constructed the house at 4412 Avenue B shortly thereafter.
Upon his father's death in 1895, F.T. became the owner and manager of the nursery. By 1929 he was recognized as "the most widely known nurseryman of the Lone Star State" (Davis and Grobe 1929:2720-21) and as "one of the most active and effective Texas horticulturalists" (Geiser 1945:71-73). He and his nursery are credited with developing dozens of varieties of peaches and plums and numerous apples, nectarines, pecans, dewberries, blackberries, persimmons, mulberries, figs, and apricots, an accomplishment which won him the moniker "Fruit Tree" Ramsey (Pecan Press. September 1980:2) .
On December 28, 1932, Ramsey died and left the house to his children, who subsequently sold it to Riley M. and Lillian Mae Meeker on June 5, 1944 (Probate File No. 7826; DR 735:593). The Meekers made repairs and improvements to the house in 1944 and 1950 (DR 674:517: 1057:305), selling it in 1958 to the present owners, F.B. and Bertie Bell Sturdivant (DR 1958:238).
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.