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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Old Texas A&M Campus Houses; paper by Paul Van Riper The Old Texas A&M Campus Houses By 1 Paul P. Van Riper This is to request authorization of a Texas historical marker to commemorate the faculty and staff houses once on the Texas A&M University campus, which, sold and dispersed, mainly in the 1940s, now comprise the principal historic residences in the city of College Station, Texas. This application was initially proposed by the Brison Park Community Association of 2 College Station as its sesquicentennial project, and has been endorsed by the Citizens for 3 Historical preservation of Brazos County. The immediate sponsor of the marker application is 4 the city government of College Station, supported by Texas A&M University. It is expected 5 that any approved marker would be placed on the Texas A&M University campus. The supporting data to follow are divided into three sections: 1) the development of faculty and staff housing at TAMU, 2) the removal of this housing, and 3) its present location, ownership, etc. While there was housing erected on many segments of the Texas A&M University property, both in College Station and elsewhere, this proposal and documentation apply only to the housing once in the section long recognized as comprising the central TAMU campus. This area is bounded by University Avenue (formerly Sulphur Springs road) on the North, Texas Avenue on the East, Jersey Street on the South, and Wellborn road (old Highway 6 6) on the West. Development of Campus Housing Founded in 1876, the early Texas A&M University encompassed close to 2,500 acres of open country land more than four miles from the small town of Bryan, Texas. Of necessity, the university, then a small college (the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas), had to function much as a military post, with housing furnished and officially allocated to many faculty and staff. That, as a land grant institution, the college’s curriculum included compulsory military training only underscored the analogy. Most of the school’s old building records were destroyed when the principal administrative building, Old Main, burned to the ground in May of 1912. Nevertheless, the growth of campus housing can be outlined in a general way. The first houses were five brick faculty homes erected in 1876 on the East side of 7 Throckmorton Street. These formed the nucleus of what became known for many years thereafter as Quality Row along both sides of this street. However, the last of the brick houses was demolished in 1949. Additional housing was rapidly constructed from the 1890s on. By 1914 there were 8 nearly 50 houses on the central campus. Construction of additional homes continued apace until the middle 1920s. By then suitable housing for faculty and staff was rapidly becoming available in the College Station area around the university. Moreover, it was becoming evident that it would be necessary to use more and more of the central campus acreage for the needed expansion of educational facilities to accommodate the rapid growth of the student body, which 9 nearly doubled between 1917 and 1925 and then doubled again between 1925 and 1935. In early 1913 the board of directors ordered the numbering of the faculty and staff homes. 10 The initial numbering system was changed effective May 1, 1919, and all references to house numbers in this proposal use the 1919 numbering system, which is also the system used in the property records of the TAMU Fiscal Department. By 1938 there were approximately 110 faculty and staff homes on the main campus, but only two (nos. 251 and 422) hada been erected after 1925. Only the latter (no. 422 on 11 Throckmorton St.) remains. As for style and construction, there were no more brick houses after the initial five. All the rest have been frame. Sizes have varied from largish two-storied structures to small cottages of perhaps 1,200 square feet. The styles of those known to be in existence can be grouped into 12 four main types, which can be designated as follows: 1) Queen Anne, most with neo-classical features, constructed between 1890 and 1910; this was the predominant style. 2) Cottages, smaller houses with a small porch and simple lines, erected here and there over perhaps a forty year period, some of the earliest in a simple carpenter Gothic, with the more recent very plain indeed. 3) American Four-Square (using terminology of the Old House Journal), relatively plain and squarish two-story structures with a one story front porch, erected between 1910 and 1920. There were at the most three or four of these. 4) Bungalows of varying sizes, but most smallish with square footages from 1,200 to 1,600, erected between 1910 and 1925. This style comprised the second largest group. 13 Early campus photographs confirm these main styles. It should also be noted that there were no great mansions or fancy Victorian structures among them. These, even the university presidents’ houses (see house no. 410) were essentially middle class types of housing, usually well-built but, in no sense, ostentatious. Of the known remaining homes, the ages vary from 1890 for house no. 222, now at 611 Montclair, College Station (and perhaps the oldest house in the city) to 1923 for two homes, no. 204, now at 502 Kerry, College Station, and no. 289, at 1004 Ashburn. In the early years of the university, housing assignments were controlled directly by the president and the board of directors. Effective in 1913, the directors authorized the president to delegate this task to a Committee on Housing consisting of the deans. This committee met several times a year from 1913 until 1939, when the board of directors decided to close out 14 campus housing for faculty and staff. This committee developed an initial set of housing rules 15 and regulations, which were approved by the board of directors on August 18, 1913. In main outline, these rules guided housing use policy for the entire twenty-six years of the Housing Committee’s existence. Removal of Houses With the formal incorporation of the City of College Station, Texas, in October 1938, conditions were propitious for the disposition of campus housing for faculty and staff. On Sept. 2, 1939 the university’s board of directors adopted a resolution stating that “on or before September 1, 1941, all campus residences be vacated and those that are vacated prior to that time 16 be not rerented or occupied.” Excluded were residences of officers required to live on campus, such as the president, the commandant, the surgeon and several others. It was ascertained that many faculty and staff would like to buy the houses they lived in, or perhaps others, and the first of several sales, via bids, was authorized by the board in March of 1941. These initial sales involved some 35 houses, or about a third of those on the campus in 1938. another third were gradually sold off in the next twenty years, while the final third is recorded as having been burned or otherwise destroyed or demolished, given to the Firemen’s Training School for use, moved somewhere else on the university’s farm properties, etc. The last 17 sale of a main campus house appears to have been in 1972. In the early 1940s these houses were apparently a drag on the market. They had to be moved and that was expensive. In the first echelon of sales, the houses went for between $200 18 and $800. Not until the 1960s did houses bring as much as $2,000 to $3,000. Present Location of Old Campus Houses For the past three years the author and his associates have been attempting to locate as 19 many of the houses moved off the campus as possible. The search has been seriously hampered by the fact that the university’s records do not show, except in three or four cases, to 20 whom particular houses were sold. As a result, the search has had to be through a combination of inspection and interview. The results of this search are summarized in the “list of houses” to follow. Altogether, we have found forty-one houses for which the evidence is overwhelming that they were once on the Texas A&M campus. Of these, the campus location of thirty-two is known with considerable to absolute certainty. For nine of the forty-one the prior campus location is uncertain to varying degrees. Thirty-eight of the houses have been found in College Station. This group forms by far the largest segment of the city’s historic houses, for there apparently are no College Station non- campus houses which antedate the early 1920s. Of the remaining three houses, there are two in Bryan, Texas, and the third nearly two miles north of Bryan and out in the country. In addition to the forty-one identified houses, at least another four are known to have been burnt or demolished after being moved off the campus. As approximately seventy campus houses were sold at some time or other, this leaves the whereabouts of twenty-five or so unknown. Nevertheless, during the last year of our fairly extensive and careful search—calendar 1985—we have been able to add only two previously unknown former campus houses to our list. In the list to follow there is provided for each house information relating to these topics: 1) present address, 2) present owner, 3) date erected when known or explanation of probable date, 4) location on campus when known, 5) year sold, 6) the evidence pertaining to identification of the house as a campus house and its location on campus, 7) style together with some comments on current condition of the house, and 8) such residents of the house when on campus as have come to our attention. The College Station houses are listed first, then those in Bryan and vicinity. Within each city group, the houses are listed by present address according to an alphabetical arrangement of street names. An asterisk (*) indicates that the prior campus location of a house is uncertain. For a house listing by campus number, see Exhibit J. For information about sources and related matters see the following Special Notes: LIST OF HOUSES Special Notes: 1. “Campus house numbers” in parentheses are the numbers assigned to each individual house by the Committee on Houses, TAMU, effective May 1, 1919, approved by the board of directors and used for identification in the property records of the university. Se “Minutes, 1913-39,” Committee on Houses, p. 62, TAMU Archives. These numbers are the same as those to be found on the campus maps of 1914 and 1938, attached to this application. 2. The dates houses were erected and the dates moved are from “Building Records,” office of Ms. Ann Grady, Senior Staff Accountant, Fiscal Department, TAMU, unless otherwise attributed. 3. Interviews have all been with the author on dates indicated. 4. Information about present owners is from the records of the Brazos County Appraisal Office in Bryan, Texas, as of Dec. 18, 1985. 5. Style designations are keyed to those outlined in the text above and illustrated by photographic examples in attached Exhibit E. 6. Names of persons living in houses and dates of residence (only the year a house was assigned to the person is available) are from the “Minutes” of the Committee on Houses unless otherwise attributed. College Station Ashburn, 1004 Manning Smith (resident) owner Erected 1923 (campus no. 289) Sold 1941 Identification by Mr. and Mrs. Manning Smith, Jan. 29, 1986; purchased by them and moved to present location Style: cottage, much modified in recent years Previous residents on campus: Homer Norton, football coach, 1933 Boyett, 400 Charles E. Harris, Jr., 307 Greenway, Bryan, TX, owner Erected 1902 (campus no. 152) Sold 1954 Identification by Dr. Bardin Nelson, Sr., retired TAMU sociologist, who purchased house and had it moved here—April 28, 1983. Style: medium-sized Queen Anne, considerably modified in recent years Previous residents on campus: R. P. Marstellar, 1924, former dean of School of Veterinary Medicine Boyett, 402 Charles E. Harris, Jr., 307 Greenway, Bryan, TX, owner Erected 1902 (campus no. 154) Sold 1955 Identification by Dr. Bardin Nelson, Sr., retired TAMU sociologist, who purchased house and had it moved here—April 28, 1983. Style: originally a medium-sized Queen Anne, but badly burnt in the 1960s and so renovated it is difficult to tell that it was once a twin to the house at 400 Boyett (just above) Previous residents on campus: Designated, both in 1913 and in 1921, as the “surgeon’s house” in the minutes of the Housing Committee Marsh, an M.D., lived there for some years (from Dr. Nelson and from J. E. Marsh, Jr., son, also an M.D. in Bryan, Jan. 15, 1986) *College Main, 500 Donald Eppley, 18210 Spellbrook Drive, Houston, TX 77084, owner Erected: date and campus location uncertain; style suggests around 1900 Sold: date uncertain, but records in Tax Assessor-Collector’s office for Brazos County indicate probable date of 1948 or 1949 (see “Additions” books for 1943-48 and 1949-53, Boyett, block 23, lots 1, 2) Identification as campus house by George H. Boyett, whose father purchased the house and moved it, Feb. 1, 1986; confirmed by Caroline Mitchell, former registrar, TAMU, now retired, who was long time campus resident, Jan. 16, 1986. Style: small sized Queen Anne with neo-classical features; apparently in close to original condition, few modifications Previous residents on campus: ? Fairview, 500 Laird E. Lawrence (resident) owner Erected 1899 (campus no. 252); burned considerably in 1924; rebuilt in 1925 Sold 1942 Identification by Peggy Campbell Owens, born on campus and long time campus resident, Jan. 16, 1986 Style: cottage, some modifications in 1925 Previous residents on campus: D. W. Williams, acting president 1956-57 (Owens, Jan. 16, 1986) Fairview, 501 George B. Dresser (resident) owner Erected 1911 (campus no. 281) Sold 1941 Identification as campus house by Mrs. F. G. Anderson, Nov. 8, 1983; identified by both her and Peggy Campbell Owen, Jan. 16, 1986, as campus house no. 281. Mrs. Anderson resided in this house on campus. Style: medium-sized Queen Anne Previous residents on campus: Frank G. Anderson, former commandant of cadets, coach, and mayor of College Station (Mrs. F. G. Anderson, Nov. 8, 1983) N. M. McGinnis, 1937 *Fidelity, 300 Timothy R. Manning (resident) owner Erected: 1911 inscribed on one wall (T. R. Manning, Jan. 31, 1986); also others of almost exactly same design were known to be erected in 1911. Sold: Some uncertainty, but Brazos County tax records indicate probably moved in 1941-42 (see “Additions” book for 1939-43, see below) Identification as campus house: main evidence is great structural similarity to other houses known to have been built on campus (e.g., 601 Montclair, 710 Montclair, 107 Williamson in Bryan, etc.); moreover, Brazos County tax records indicate house could not have been on this lot prior to 1941 (West Park, block 2, part of lot 2, 3 and 4) Style: small sized Queen Anne with neo-classical features; in process of restoration by owner Previous residents on campus: ? First, 318 Estate of A. P. Boyett, Sr., owner Erected 1911 Sold 1941 Identification by George H. Boyett, Feb. 1, 1986; Caroline Mitchell, Jan. 16, 1986 Style: small sized Queen Anne, minor modifications Previous residents on campus: R. F. Smith, 1922, professor of Mathematics E. P. Humbert, 1924, head, Department of Genetics Francis, 703 Arthur M. Smith (resident) owner Erected 1915 (campus nol. 265) Sold 1941 Identification as campus house: Manning Smith, Jan. 30, 1986 (see notes for 1004 Ashburn); “was Winstead house facing Welborn” Style: bungalow, considerably modified since move Previous residents on campus: Blackwell, 1916; F. W. Hensel, 1917, Landscape Art Gibb Gilchrist, 1937, Dean of Engineering, President of TAMU from 1944 to 1948, then Chancellor from 1948 to 1953 G. B. Winstead, 1939 Glade, 1712 William D. Fitch (resident) owner Erected 1914-? (records say 1919, but first assigned in 1914) (campus no. 418) Sold 1965 Identification as campus house: this house is well known as a campus house; Mrs. C. B. Edwards, niece of a resident, May 1, 1983; Caroline Mitchell, Jan. 16, 1986. Style: American Four Square, with some recent modifications and additions Previous residents on campus: W. Newell, 1914, Entomology; L. B. Burke, 1915 E. B. La Roche, 1918, chm. Architecture and Arch. Engineering W. A. Orth, 1935, system architect E. O. Siecke, 1935, head of Texas Forest Service (Mrs. Edwards, his niece) R. Henderson Shuffler, later, system director of Information and later head of the Institute of Texas Cultures, San Antonio (Mrs. Edwards) Grove, 100 Aubrey W. Arnold (resident) owner Erected 1917 (campus no. 234) Sold 1941 Identification as campus house: Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986 Style: bungalow Previous residents on campus: A. T. Potts, 1917 Highland, 200 Richard K. Morrison (resident) owner Erected 1897 (campus no. 226) Sold 1942 Identification as campus house: Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986; also identifiable from old campus photos as one of five houses facing the campus drill field Style: medium sized Queen Anne Previous residents on campus: E. J. Fermier, head of Mechanical Engineering, 1927 Highland, 201 M. Scott Samuelson (resident) owner Erected 1916 (campus No. 207) Sold 1942 Identification by Peggy Campbell Owen, Jan. 16, 1986, as D. H. Reid House, west of Guion Hall; that “looks right” according to Caroline Mitchell, same date. Style: bungalow Previous residents on campus: E. P. Humbert, 1916, head, Genetics R. L. Pou, agricultural specialist in Dairying, 1920 S. W. Bilsing, 1922, Entomology D. H. Reid, 1930s, Poultry Husbandry (Owen) *Highland, 300 Patrick W. Castle (resident) owner Erected, probably 1918 (probably campus no. 256 or 258, both erected 1918; location on campus confirmed by Owens, Jan. 16, 1986, and by Mary Bolton Echols, Feb. 2, 1986, daughter of TAMU President Bolton, as on the west side of Clark Street; only these two houses in that location are not fully identified; both similar roof lines in aerial photos) Sold probably in 1941-2; see Brazos County tax records under “Additions” for 1939-43, West Park, block 9, lots 11 and 12 Identification as campus house: see just above Style: bungalow Previous residents on campus: No. 256: C. A. Wood, 1918; J. T. L. McNew, 1930, head, Civil Engineering No. 258: J. R. McDonald, 1918; J. R. Bender, 1925 Highland, 301 V. Shaw Wulfson (resident) owner Erected 1914-? (no building record; first assigned in 1914) (campus no. 209) Sold: no building record; probably sold same time as 300 Highland, its twin, that is, 1942; see also Brazos County tax records, “Additions,” 1939-43, West Park, block 8, lot 18 and part of 19 Identification as campus house: Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986; W. L. Penberthy, former TAMU dean of men, and Mrs. Penberthy, Feb. 1, 1986 Style: bungalow Previous residents on campus: C. A. Felker, 1914; F. B. Paddock, 1916; E. B. LaRoche, 1924 (see 1712 Glade) W. L. Hughes, 1925, head, Rural Education Highland, 304 Baptist Student Dept., P. O. Box 3376, Texarkana, TX 75501, owner Erected 1917 (campus no. 208) Sold 1948 Identification by Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Penberthy, Feb. 1, 1986, as their residence on campus when he was dean of men at TAMU Style: bungalow Previous residents on campus: Housing records show W. L. Penberthy assigned this house in 1938 Highland, 307 Steven J. Worley (resident) owner Erected 1901 (campus no. 230) Sold 1943 Identification: this house is well known as a campus house, confirmed by Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986; also easily identifiable from old campus photos as one of five houses facing the campus drill field Style: middle sized Queen Anne with some Victorian features; roof peak cut off in house move; being renovated by owner Previous residents on campus: House is widely known as the residence for some years of Richard J. Dunn, TAMU bandmaster in the 1920s and 1930s Highland, 315 Marie (Mrs. John) Ashton (resident) owner Erected 1910 (campus no. 114) Sold 1941 Identification: Mrs. Ashton, Jan. 16, 1986; confirmed by Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986 Style: small Queen Anne, considerably modified since move Previous residents on campus: A. E. Wood, 1918; R. Flagg, 1926 Kerry, 502 Anne L. (Mrs. George E.) Potter Erected 1923 Sold 1948 Identification: Mrs. Potter, Jan. 16, 1986 and Peggy Campbell Owens, same date Style: cottage, somewhat modified since move Previous residents on campus: ? Laura Lane, 1700 Richard H. Ballinger (resident) owner Erected 1905 (campus no. 410) Sold 1965 Identification: Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986; Caroline Mitchell, Jan. 16, 1986; Mary Bolton Eckles, Feb. 2, 1986; this house is well known as a campus house Style: Large Queen Anne with neo-classical features; well restored by owner Previous residents on campus: D. w. Spence, 1916, dean, School of Engineering O. F. Chastain, 1917, professor of History Francis C. Bolton, 1918, head, Electrical Engineering; dean of Engineering, Vice President, TAMU; President, TAMU, 1948-50 Luther, 107 th Bardin A. Nelson, Jr., 723 27 St., San Francisco, CA 94131, owner Erected 1915 (campus no. 112) Sold 1941 Identification: Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986 Style: originally a bungalow; considerably modified since move Previous residents on campus: W. H. Thomas, 1915, professor of English Jack Shelton, 1935 *Montclair, 201 Myrna J. Hughes, Trustee, 2400 Longmeier, No. 302, College Station, TX, owner Erected probably between 1900 and 1910, judging from design and interior; campus location quite uncertain Sold probably in 1941-42, based on Brazos County tax records (see “Additions,” 1939- 43, College Park, block 1, lot 15 and part of 14) Identification: Myrna J. Hughes, Jan. 31, 1986; design is also clearly indicative of campus origin Style: small sized Queen Anne Previous residents on campus: ? *Montclair, 400 Oscar C. Murphy (resident) owner Erected probably in 1911, as closely similar in design to several houses known to be on the campus and erected in 1911 (see house at 300 Fidelity) Sold probably in 1941-42, based on Brazos County tax records (see “Additions,” 1939- 43, West Park, block 5, lots 9, 10 and part of 11) Identification: Mrs. Luther Jones, wife of person buying house from campus, identified house as a campus house, Jan. 21, 1986 Style: small sized Queen Anne, once with neo-classical porch pillars Previous residents on campus: ? *Montclair, 601 Eric J. Schulte (resident) owner Erected probably in 1911, as closely similar in design to several houses known to be on the campus and erected in 1911 (see house at 300 Fidelity) (campus location quite uncertain) Sold probably in 1948-49 (see Brazos County tax records, “Additions,” 1949-53, College Park, block A, lots 8 and 9; confirmed by Bardin Nelson, Sr. as a house moved about 1950 Identification: Bardin Nelson, Sr., April 28, 1983, said house was moved by him from the campus Style: small sized Queen Anne with neoclassical features Previous residents on campus: ? Montclair, 603 Howard C. Nelson, 12410 Cobblestone, Houston, TX 77024, owner Erected 1916-? (records say 1920, but first assigned 1916) (campus no. 417) Sold 1947 Identification: Mrs. J. P. Abbott, wife of Prof. Emeritus J. P. Abbott, 31 Jan. 1986; and Bardin Nelson, Sr., April 28, 1983, who originally had the house moved in the late 1940s Style: small Queen Anne, considerably modified into duplex Previous residents on campus: W. F. Proctor, 1916, state director of farm demonstration J. C. Burns, 1917; G. S. Templeton, 1922, head, Animal Husbandry A. B. Connor, 1925, director, Agricultural Extension Service W. A. Holzmann, 1928, Fiscal Department Montclair, 611 Paul P. and Dorothy D. Van Riper (resident) owners Erected 1890 Sold 1942 Identification: Lucille Gould, who lived in house as a child, July 3, 1984; Bardin Nelson, Sr., house resident fall of 1950, April 28, 1983; Frank G. Anderson, Jr., M. D., who lived in nearby campus house, Nov. 22, 1985; also easily identifiable from old campus photos as one of five houses facing the campus drill field Style: medium sized Queen Anne with neo-classical features Previous residents on campus: Known widely as the Francis house; Mark F., dean, Veterinary Medicine Montclair, 710 Donald O. Wiersig, 1107 Sul Ross, Bryan, TX, owner Erected 1915 (campus no. 211) Sold 1976 Identification: Bardin Nelson, Sr., bought this house and had it moved, April 28, 1983 Style: small sized Queen Anne, originally with some neo-classical features Previous residents on campus: E. C. Gee, 1915, head, Agricultural Engineering N. M. McGinnis, 1917; J. W. Ridgeway, 1920 P. K. Whelpton, 1922, head, Farm Management *Montclair, 908 and 912 (these are twin houses in similar situations) Boyd G. Hall, P. O. Box 9103, College Station, TX, owner of both Erected: 1911-?. After investigation, Arthur C. (Jack) Dean, reported on Dec. 5, 1984, that these two houses had been moved around 1970 from the campus area of two- story barracks type student housing near University Drive; by 1970 there were only two houses in that area which fit the design and other characteristics of these two houses. Both were dated 1911 on the TAMU records; their design is consistent with such a date 9theswe would be campus nos. 339 and 343) Sold: no. 339 sold in 1967 and no. 343 in 1972 Identification: Information obtained above by Dean from Mrs. Luther June, wife of buyer and mover of these two houses, reported to me on Dec. 5, 1984 Style: small cottage Previous residents on campus: No. 339: Monsner, 1937 No. 343: Spiller, 1912; Sgt. J. C. Hyland, 1914, Asst. to Commandant B. D. Anderson, 1916; L. D. Smith, 1939 Park Place, 710 John M. Belew (resident) owner Erected 1918 (campus no. 250) Sold 1942 Identification: After investigation Graham Horsley, TAMU professor of Environmental Design, reported March 3, 1985, that the house had been moved off campus by Mrs. Esther Taubenhaus, now dead, once head of the TAMU herbarium; this and campus location confirmed by Peggy Campbell Owens, 16 Jan. 1986 and by Bardin Nelson, Sr., Jan. 30, 1986.; Style: bungalow; records, confirmed by Owens, indicate that house was seriously burnt in 1924 and rebuilt in 1925 Previous residents on campus: J. J. Taubenhaus, 1918, professor and researcher, agriculture (see just above for note about wife) Park Place, 1006 Dwight S. Miller (resident) owner Erected 1916-? (records say 1917, but first assigned 1916) (campus no. 220) Sold 1948 Identification: This house is well known as the former commandant of cadets house for some years; confirmed after investigation by Graham Horsley, March 3, 1985; confirmed by Pat Boughton, long time resident on campus and in College Station, April 6, 1983; also easily identifiable from old campus photos as one of five houses facing campus drill field Style: American four-square, largely in original condition Previous residents on campus: F. H. Blodgett, 1916, plant pathology F. B. Clark, 1916, specialist, seed selection, extension services Maj. I. Ashburn, 1922, later TAMU public information officer and director, Former Students Association Also known as McQuillen House (from Horsley and others); E. E. McQuillen, director, Development Fund Park Place, 1102 Gerald L. Maffei (resident) owner Erected 1891 (campus no. 224) Sold 1942 Identification: is widely known as for some years the campus residence of F. E. Giesecke, professor of architecture and university architect for many years both before and after World War I; confirmed Owens, Jan. 16, 1986; Caroline Mitchell, same date, etc.; also easily identifiable from old photos as one of five houses facing campus drill field Style: middle sized Queen Anne, originally with neo-classical pillars; under restoration by present owner Previous residents on campus: F. E. Giesecke, 1933 Pershing, 101 Mrs. S. W. Bilsing (resident) owner Erected 1899 (campus no. 420) Sold 1941 Identification: According to Mrs. Bilsing, March 30, 1979, the house was moved from in front of Duncan Hall on two railroad tracks to present location. The Bilsing’s had lived in the house on campus, bought it, and then moved it. Mrs. Bilsing has lived in the house since 1925. Style: large Queen Anne with neo-classical features; well maintained in original form Previous residents on campus: C. E. Friley, 1918, dean, Liberal Arts D. Scoates, 1920, head, Agricultural Engineering S. W. Bilsing, 1925, head, Entomology Suffolk, 315 Peggy Campbell Owens (resident) owner Erected 1917 (campus no. 232) Sold 1941 Identification: Mrs. Owens, Jan. 16, 1986, said that she was born in the house; her father bought it and moved it; and that she has lived in the house from her birth to the present—probably the only person to do so in a former campus house Style: l bungalow, with some modifications after move Previous residents on campus: C. B. Campbell, 1917, head, Modern Languages *Tauber, 415 Howard C. Nelson, 12410 Cobblestone, Houston, TX 77024, owner Erected perhaps 1910-15-?; n o clear evidence as not sure where located on campus; this dating is from design evidence Sold probably 1953-54 (see Brazos County tax records, “Additions” 1954-57, Boyett Subdivision, block 4, lots 9 and 10) Identification: Purchased by Bardin nelson, Sr. and moved to Tauber, April 28, 1983; remodeled by Wheeler Barger, professor of Economics and builder on the side; Barger’s widow, Mabel, confirmed was a campus house but did not know location, Jan. 27, 1986; Nelson said was not far from Guion Hall on campus, but could be any one of several houses and not at all clear which Style: cottage, considerably remodeled and modified since move Previous residents on campus: ? Texas Avenue, South, 3231 Mrs. W. M. Dowell, 2723 Fontana, Houston, TX 77043, owner Erected 1909 (campus no. 405) Sold 1952 Identification: Present owner, Mrs. Dowell, said on Feb. 3, 1986, that house was just east of Guion Hall, facing west, and next to the Trigon building; only one house, no. 405 fits this description; it is also known by several as once a commandant of cadets’ house; Mr. Dowell was head tennis coach in the 1940s Style: large Queen Anne with neo-classical features Previous residents on campus: O. F. Chastain, 1916, History; J. C. Nagle, 1917, dean, Engineering Col. C. C. Todd, 1922; Col. F. H. turner, 1925 Col. C. JU. Nelson, 1927; Col. A. R. Emery, 1932 Timber, 205 Homer B. Adams (resident) owner Erected 1917 (campus no. 146) Sold 1941 Identification: identified by M. L. “Red” Cashion as his family’s residence on campus, Feb. 3, 1986; described as next to surgeon’s house—only one house, no. 146, fits that description Style: American four-square, somewhat modified after move Previous residents on campus: ? other than Cashions Timber, 208 Raymond and Patricia R. Reed, P. O. Box 9863, College Station, TX, owner Erected 1918 (campus no. 254) Sold 1941 Identification: Mrs. Norman Anderson, widow of Presbyterian minister who bought the house, identified it as 254, Jan. 23, 1986; confirmed by Peggy Campbell Owens, Jan. 16, 1986, and by Caroline Mitchell, same date Style: cottage Previous residents on campus: Capt. M. C. Funston, 1918 O. B. Wooten, 1918, head, TAMU military training schools in World War I Bryan and Vicinity FM Road No. 2223 (1.6 miles on this road after leaving Tabor Road; then turn left on Thurmon, first driveway to right and considerable distance in; that is, in country about 2 miles north of B.) Dale B. Stringfellow (resident) owner Erected 1899 (campus no. 412) Sold probably in 1950s; date uncertain; house moved to this location from somewhere on Jersey by Sam Pack in 1959; that is, moved at least twice according to present owners with information from pack, Sept. 8, 1983 Identification: See information under “sold” just above; also identified by Dr. R. D. Lewis, former head of the Agricultural Extension Service, as confirmed by Caroline Mitchell, Jan. 16, 1986 Style: large Queen Anne with neo-classical features Previous residents on campus: R. D. Lewis, 1946, director AES Pease, 508 James A. Daves (resident) owner Erected 1911 (campus no. 413) Sold 1948 Identification: well known as residence of Charles Puryear, dean of the College, TAMU, and Acting President, 1914, as Puryear was one of few authorized by the university board of directors to build his own house; he did so; it returned to university ownership in 1940; confirmed by Caroline Mitchell on May 1, 1983 and others Style: American four-square Previous residents on campus: ? other than Puryear Williamson, 107 Basil W. Long, Jr. (resident) owner Erected 1911 9campus no. 248) Sold 1942 Identification: by Morris Williamson, 4206 Chestnut St., Temple, TX 76502; he is son of H. H. Williamson, former director of the Agricultural Extension Service, who lived in this house on campus; described as on SW corner of block now occupied by the Memorial Student Center; only one house, no. 248 was there; records show it once occupied by Williamsons Style: middle sized Queen Anne with neo-classical features; largely intact in original form Previous residents on campus: H. H. Jobson, 1915; F. W. Bell, 1915 (Jobson given leave) W. H. Broyler, 1917; R. L. Pou, 1920, dairy specialist on extension staff H. H. Williamson, 1924 (see just above) Appendix Exhibit A – Letter from Dr. Frank Vandiver, President of TAMU. Exhibit B – Map of College Station showing the campus quadrangle of interest here. Exhibit C – 1938 map of TAMU central campus, showing most of the central quadrangle together with locations of most of the numbered houses therein. Exhibit D – 1914 map of the TAMU central campus, showing the numbered houses in existence then. Exhibit E – Current photographs illustrating the various styles of campus houses. Exhibit F – Old photographs of the houses while on campus. Exhibit G – The housing rules of 1913. Exhibit H – Typical property records pertaining to campus houses, from the Fiscal Department, TAMU. Exhibit J – List of existing houses by campus number. FOOTNOTES 1 The research reflected here could not have been possible without a great deal of assistance. The members of the Brison Park Historical Committee, which I have chaired, were especially helpful in establishing the initial listing of presumed former campus houses prepared during 1983 and 1984. The members have been Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Breazeale, Sam M. Cleland, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Dean, Dr. and Mrs. Harrison Hierth, W. Graham Horsley, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Keneipp, Bill D. Lancaster, Mrs. Peggy Campbell Owens, Dorothy Van Riper, Mr. and Mrs. David Woodcock and Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Worley. For other support I am especially indebted to Dr. Charles Schultz, TAMU Archivist and Paul Scott of his staff; Joe J. Estill, Jr., and James Davidson of TAMU’s Physical Plant Department; Paul W. Stephens, Manager of Physical Planning, TAMU; Ms. Ann Grady of TAMU’s Fiscal Department. Dr. Rand Evans, president of Citizens for Historical Preservation, Brazos County, provided encouragement and many copies of photographs. My political science colleague, Dr. Gary M. Halter, also Mayor of College Station, has been most helpful beyond his formal sponsorship. Other informants, interviewees, etc., to whom I am indebted are shown in the notes found with the “List of Houses” which is part of this document. 2 The Brison Park Association’s sesquicentennial project to identify houses that have been moved off the campus was officially approved by the Brazos County Sesquicentennial Commission on Nov. 28, 1984, signed by Mary Evelyn White, Chairman. 3 The project was voted approval and encouragement by the Citizens for Historical Preservation of Brazos County on Feb. 22, 1984. 4 See letter from Dr. Frank Vandiver, President of Texas A&M University, dated Jan. 31, 1986, and attached as Exhibit A in the appendix to follow. 5 The site presently favored is on Throckmorton Street on the main campus, near the only remaining house erected prior to World War II. 6 See the College Station map attached as Exhibit B. Most of this area is shown on the 1938 TAMU map attached as Exhibit C. 7 For old photographs of the brick houses see photographs 2 and 3 in Exhibit F. For their location on campus, see houses numbered 403, 407, 411, 415 and 419. For their destruction, see the “Building Records,” TAMU Fiscal Department. 8 See the campus map of Jan. 4, 1914, attached as Exhibit D. The house numbers on this map are those of 1919. 9 For the university enrollments, see Henry C. Dethloff, A Centennial History of Texas A&M University, 1876-1976, 2 vols. (College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1975), II, table p. 583. 10 For the directive establishing the original numbering system, see Minutes, Board of Directors, TAMU, vol. 3, p. 59, Jan. 6, 1913 and p. 88, March 31, 1913. For the revised system, with cross-references to the original system, see Minutes, Committee on Housing, p. 62, TAMU Archives. For use of house numbers in a few examples of property records, see Exhibit H. 11 See the 1938 map, Exhibit C. There is some uncertainty about the total number of houses on the campus in 1938, as the property records are in a very few cases incomplete or manifestly incorrect or inconsistent; moreover, there are ten houses shown on the 1938 map for which there appear to be no extant property inventory records. 12 See Exhibit E for current photographs illustrating the various styles of campus houses. 13 See Exhibit F for several old photographs of the houses while on campus. 14 See Minutes, 1913-1939, Committee on Housing, TAMU, University Archives. 15 For a copy of the housing rules of 1913, see Exhibit G. For their approval, see Minutes, Board of Directors, vol. III, pp. 93-97, August 18, 1913. 16 Dethloff, op. cit., II, 449. 17 For sales data, see Property Records, Fiscal Department, TAMU. 18 Ibid. 19 For associates, see those listed in note 1 above, as well as those listed under the “identification” headings in the following “list of houses.” 20 For a few typical property records for campus rent houses, see the examples in Exhibit H.