6745 Meadowlawn Drive

6745 Meadowlawn Drive (Resource Number 0175, Photo 13) Ainsworth and Irvine designed the “rambling ranch” at 6745 Meadowlawn Drive in 1939 for Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Amrine. A very early example of the Ranch style, the house is situated on the northwestern corner of Meadowlawn Drive and North MacGregor Way and spans two lots. Originally another lot to the rear and facing Lawndale Avenue also was part of the landscape; this lot has since been built upon, but the stone and metal fence that surrounded the lot remains intact. The house is oriented toward the southwest. The plan is L-shaped, and the wood frame house rests on a pier-and-beam foundation. The house is one story high, and contains four bays across the asymmetrical southwestern facade. The two outermost bays are front-gabled and project from the main block of the house. The southeastern façade contains a projecting enclosed porch (not original) and a two-story, two-car garage attached with a breezeway. Native Texas Cordova Cream limestone in a random ashlar pattern covers the exterior. Several types of wood sash windows are used throughout the house. At the eastern front-facing gable, an eight-over-eight window is framed by fixed sidelights and a transom. At the western front-facing gable and at the central two bays are plain eight-over-eight and six-over-six windows, and a fixed light window near the door. The windows feature Cordova Cream limestone sills. Also at the southwestern façade is the original wood panel door, with a decorative limestone surround. The moderately pitched, multi-part roof is cross-gabled with relatively shallow eaves, and is covered with composition shingles. A low stone wall at the southeastern façade creates a patio setting. Another low stone wall at the southeastern façade serves as a retaining wall. The landscape is elevated, and contains grass, shrubs, hedge, several old-growth trees, and two sets of stone steps that extend from the sidewalk to the front and southeastern entries. The house retains its integrity despite the alterations to the porch, as does the original garage. Both the house and garage are contributing to the historic district. The interior was not viewed during the inventory; however, according to a feature in the Houston Post, the Amrine House, which cost approximately $10,000.00 when it was built, was “planned to give every room a full south exposure,” and had an “open beamed living room on the corner, adjoining a large porch. Other rooms branch off from the living room to form a large patio. There are two bedrooms, sleeping porch, two baths, dining room, kitchen and dining porch. A game room is situated above the two-car garage, which is on the street level. An open stone fireplace is in a beamed alcove of the living room. A small fireplace is in the game room. The house, erected on a reinforced concrete foundation, is faced with native Texas limestone. The interiors are canvas and paper, wood paneling, composition board, plaster and tile. The floors are hardwood.”