819 West Oak Street- Scripture-Deavenport House

Annie and Robert Scripture constructed the Scripture Building on the Square in 1882 to house their grocery business. In 1886, their home at 819 West Oak Street was completed, using locally fired brick handmade in Denton. The original house was a two-story Italianate style building. They sold their home on May 10, 1890, to Edmund Hann, a dentist, who transferred the title to Robert Hann, his father. Robert Hann, who with his brother John Hann, owned the dry goods store on the south side of the square. Robert was active in the founding of the North Texas Normal College on the square and helped to secure the donated land on West Hickory which became the future home of the University of North Texas. Robert Hann sold their home in 1905 to Berry Deavenport. Deavenport (1858-1918) was one of the earliest millers in Denton, was also a banker, and one of the ten men who founded the North Texas Normal College. Deavenport helped to organize the Denton County National Bank in 1892, where he was a director and the initial cashier. He also owned and insurance agency, was city treasurer and a member of the school board.

Berry and Mary Deavenport created extensive changes to the original home in 1912. The house doubled in size and the exterior appearance altered to Mission Revival Style. They built a cottage behind their home in 1916 at 822 West Hickory Street. Following Berry’s death, Mary moved to 822 West Hickory Street and sold the home to Mrs. Nannie Turner. In 1976, Carroll and Betty Rich purchased the home. Carroll secured the first RTHL marker for a home in Denton in 1980 as he worked with Bullett Lowry to secure the historical preservation ordinance efforts and historic landmarks.69 This Mission style house has asymmetrical roof parapet complemented with a porch parapet which provides it nickname of “the Alamo House.” A large quatrefoil window is centered below the roof parapet like Rose Windows in found in the San Antonio Missions. Brick coping outline the parapets. Wide overhanging eaves accent the large open porch supported with large square piers between the arched supports. While the exterior walls are brick, they are presented as smooth stucco. The common red tile roofing is not present, which is found on the other Mission style house at 619 Pearl.