Jenkins-Harvey Super Service Station and Garage
Also known as: Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store; Griffin Auto Storage
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 at the corner of South College Avenue and West Elm Street, one block from the Smith County courthouse square in Tyler, this two-story garage served the city's growing number of motorists. Local architect James P. Baugh designed it for businessman and judge Samuel A. Lindsey. Buff brick piers divide the street facades into open bays, and metal-frame windows and restrained Art Deco foliate detailing at the parapet give it a modest decorative character. The ground floor held gasoline pumps and repair services, while the second floor could park 85 automobiles. A partial basement once housed a tire recapping service. It is the only known Art Deco auto service and parking garage in Tyler. Its significance rests on its architecture and its link to Tyler's business growth through the 1920s and the oil boom that followed the 1930 East Texas discovery. Few alterations have occurred, and the building still serves as a repair garage and parking facility.
Significance in brief: It is the only known Art Deco auto service and parking garage in Tyler and shows a modest interpretation of the style. It is also tied to Tyler's business community and its growth during the 1920s and the East Texas oil boom. It was judged locally significant under Criteria A and C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02000646, listed June 14, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 124 S. College, Tyler |
|---|---|
| County | Smith County |
| Listed | June 14, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000646 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Baugh, James P. (architect) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as an auto repair garage and storage facility, with second-floor parking for tenants of People's National Bank; described as in good condition with high integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Tyler Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.34987, -95.30142 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02000646.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55757525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.