Short-Line Residential Historic District

Eleven small, nearly identical wood-frame bungalows line West Line Street and Short Street about five blocks northwest of Tyler's courthouse square. Built between about 1930 and 1935, they were financed by local businessman and developer J. H. Herndon on land inherited from his father, and they housed African American workers such as railroad employees, laundry and restaurant staff, maids, porters and day laborers. Each house has a compact L-shaped plan, a front gable, exposed rafter ends, wood siding and one-over-one windows, with a few variations in porch design. Concrete walks, front lawns and historic sidewalks add to the uniform look. Most surrounding housing has been demolished or altered, so the group stands out as one of the last intact examples of row-type worker housing in the city. The district is recognized for its architecture and for what it shows about community growth in Tyler during a period of prosperity driven by agriculture, manufacturing and oil. Nine houses contribute to the district's historic character.