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HomeMy WebLinkAbout603 Guernsey StScanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner 603 Guernsey Historic Plaque Application o A. See photos in part G.  Covered front porch – date unknown  Covered back patio – date unknown  Exterior synthetic wood siding, painted green, - date unknown  Exterior cement siding, painted gray - 2012  Master bedroom addition – date unknown  Master bathroom addition – date unknown  Kitchen addition – date unknown  Exposed shiplap ceilings – late 1990s  New windows – 2000s  Renovated kitchen – 2012  Laundry room addition – 2012  Back porch addition – 2012  New wiring and plumbing - 2012  Original walls uncovered - 2012 o B. Historical Figures  E.O. Siecke  H.A. Luther  Gertrude Luther  John J. Sperry  Harriett Sperry  Blaine Rideout  John Alvin Kincannon  Norma Kincannon o C. Property Ownership  E.O. Siecke (Vol 80 p 229)  E.O. Siecke (Vol 82 p 352)  Blaine Rideout (Vol 136 p 242)  J.A. Kincannon (Vol 160 p 401)  John D. Cowsar and wife Clara May Cowsar (Vol 374 p 520)  Hugh O Baker and Donna J Baker (Vol 620 p 105)  Ken Carlton Hudson Jr and Karen Carlton (Vol 838 p 392)  Robert Johnson and Kim Johnson (Vol 1205 p 343)  Jimmy Roberts and Sherri Roberts (Vol 838 p 392)  Bonfire Properties (Brazos County Appraisal District)  Chris Cowen and Emily Jane Cowen—current owners and applicants (Brazos County Appraisal District) o D. Tenant History  Luthers – 1930s  Sperrys – 1940s  Rideouts – 1940s  Kincannons – 1950s  Cowsars – 1960s & 1970s  Unknown – 1970s & 1980s  Roberts – 1990s/early 2000s  Unknown – 2000s  Cowen – 2012 to present o E. Narrative History – attached o F. Drawings – attached o G. Photos – attached/see descriptions below  Exterior photo (west side) - courtesy of Jeanne Sperry (1940s)  2012 Interior and exterior photos – provided by Emily Jane Cowen  2018 interior photos– provided by Emily Jane Cowen  2018 exterior photos – provided by Emily Jane Cowen  2018 various photos of the Cowen family – provided by Emily Jane Cowen  Exterior Photos courtesy of Jeanne Sperry (1940s)  #1 pic outside view – rt side  #2 pic closer view  #3 pic outside view – lft side with part of neighbor  #4 pic outside view with more of neighbor  #5 pic outside view after ice/snow storm  Interior Photos courtesy of Jeanne Sperry (1940s)  1. Harriett and John J. Sperry living room  2. Jeanne, Pam, Neil Sperry (since you have his book J) living room  3. Jeanne and Pam Sperry, Christmas 1947.  4. Mom’s Dad, Pam in dining room  5. Mom, family, in dining room-different angle  6. Me munching down, closer view of wall paper. I still have the high chair here—it was used for the 6 of us, our 3 children, and our 6 grandchildren  7. Back yard showing neighbor house dated July 1946  8. Another view of neighborhood  9. Jeanne and Pam, July 1946, looks like back yard o H. Additional Documents  Some of the original Deeds of Trusts  Photo of E.O. Siecke  Various newspaper articles/advertisements  Letters from John J Sperry  #1 doc Shows Sperry active in the community  #2 doc Describes Dad’s perception of his job and Aggies  #3 doc Interesting because of the signatures, although the Pres’s secretary may have signed for him o I. References  Brazos County Courthouse records  Project HOLD  The Battalion  The Eagle  Personal interview with Jeanne Sperry  Personal interview with Sherri Roberts  Personal interview with Mike Luther 603 Guernsey History Timeline • 1923—College Park platted • 1929—Thanksgiving Day Photo in Project HOLD shows no structure at 603 Guernsey Street • 1931—EO Siecke purchases lots • 1932—EO Siecke purchases lots • 1932— 1932 TAMU & College Station ariel photo in Project HOLD shows house on the property • 1936—Luther Family moves to College Station • 1939—Mike Luther is born • 1943—Sperry family moves into the home • 1948—Sperry family moves out; Siecke sold home to Rideout (Vol 136 p 242) • 1950—Rideout sold home to Kincannon • 1955—Mrs. Kincannon advertises for students in her private first grade at 603 Guernsey • 1960—Kincannon sold home to John and Clara Cowsar • 1970—2012 – Various owners and residents own/live in the home • 2012—Cowens purchased home and completed renovation The History of the Home at 603 Guernsey By Emily Jane Cowen November 2018 The story of the home at 603 Guernsey began in the early 1900s as one of the first locations to provide housing for Texas A&M professors off campus. Three lots on block eight in College Park, the first subdivision established by the Southside Development Company, would eventually became home to a string of Texas A&M professors. E. O. Siecke, of College Station, who served as head of the Texas Forest Service for 25 of its 36 years, purchased part of the land on July 16, 1931 and another part on June 20, 1932. The State Department of Forestry, created in 1915, “was fortunate to have men as capable as Mr. E. O. Siecke as head of its forestry Service.” These words stand next to the photo of Mr Siecke in the A&M College yearbook. Today three homes stand on these lots, including 603 Guernsey. Siecke happened to be the director of the Texas A&M Forest Service and was fortunate enough to still have a residence on campus. His home was moved off campus and is presently located at 1712 Glade Street and was awarded historic plaque #38. Although there is no evidence to show construction of the current house, it is believed that Siecke built the house at 603 Guernsey as well as two others shortly after purchasing the lots in order to provide visiting professors with a place to live while teaching at the college. According to the ariel photograph dated 1932 archived in Project HOLD, there is evidence of structures on the property. It is believed that Mr. Siecke first rented this home to Dr. H. A. Luther, mathematics department head, and his wife, a piano teacher. Professor Luther’s son, Mike Luther, who still lives in nearby, attests that his parents “brought him home from the hospital to 603 Guernsey” in 1939 and that his mother’s wedding ring is still “lost somewhere in the backyard”. Mr. Siecke was born in Cuming County, Nebraska as was his next tenant. Professor John J. Sperry, a well- known botanist, taught biology, zoology and botany classes at Texas A&M University beginning 1941 and rented 603 Guernsey from about 1942 to 1948. His wife, Harriett, was active in the community and was regent of La Villita Chapter of the local National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution which is still active 70 years later. Dr. Sperry’s father, Omer E. Sperry was a retired professor of Range and Forestry at Texas A&M. Dr. Sperry and Harriett, had two daughters, Jeanne and Pamela. Their cousin, Neil Sperry, who is currently a well-known gardening expert in Dallas, also grew up in the neighborhood and can be see visiting his cousins in one of the attached photographs. On September 11, 1948, Mr. Siecke sold the home to James Blaine Rideout. “Blaine Rideout is named New Trainer at Aggieland” reads the headline in The Eagle newspaper (Bryan, Texas) on Wednesday, July 28, 1948 pg. 8. The following is an excerpt from the newspaper article: “Blaine Rideout, one of the twins who received fame at North Texas Teachers as a middle-distance runner, has been hired as athletic trainer of Texas A&M College, Athletic Director William R. Carmichael announced at noon Wednesday. Blaine, 31, graduated from Tuscola, Ill. High School where his 4:25 mile remained a state record for 14 years.” Mr. Rideout was not to remain in Aggieland long as a For Sale advertisement in the Eagle appeared on Wed Aug 10, 1949…. “5 room house in College Park. Large living room, wood burning fireplace, beautiful floors, convenient to Consolidated school and college. Immediate possession. For sale by owner. Blaine Rideout, 104 Guernsey, 4-8429.” (The original address would later become 603 Guernsey). The next owner was a local boy, John Alvin Kincannon, who grew up a farmer and attended A&M College. After teaching in Harris County, Texas he returned to A&M to teach in the Mathematics Department for 8 years. He held a BS degree in marketing and finance, the MS in mathematics and the PhD in agricultural economics, all from A&M. In 1954 he joined the Department of Agriculture Economics and Sociology as an assistant professor. According to a newspaper ad from 1955, Mrs. Kincannon operated a private first grade in the home. Dr Kincannon and his wife later bought a lot and built a home in the Oakwood Subdivision where they resided until 1967, when he moved to Tarleton State University to assume the responsibility of the head of the math department. Between 1960 and 2012 there were various other owners and tenants who found their way to 603 Guernsey, including the present owners, Christopher and Emily Jane Cowen. In July of 2012 the Cowens purchased the home and completed an extensive renovation of the home, which included new wiring, plumbing, exterior siding and paint, reconfiguration of the kitchen, as well as additional square footage. After removing layers of cheesecloth wallpaper, sheetrock, and paneling, the original shiplap walls were uncovered. The home’s wood siding remains on the house, underneath a layer of synthetic wood siding and cement siding, except on the west wall, where the original siding was removed so that modern insulation could be installed. Some of those exterior boards were used to build the present kitchen island. Underneath the current kitchen floor, the concrete slab for a previous back porch remains. According to one of the previous homeowners, the original fireplace was double-sided, opening to the kitchen and living room. The living-room portion has been refurbished and is used regularly. The original home only consisted of a living room, two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and dining room. At some point, possibly in the early 1950s, an additional room was added onto the house on the northwest side, which Mrs. Kincannon most likely used as her in-home first grade classroom. A modern kitchen, additional bathroom, and front porch were all also added to the home over the years. Today, the description from the For Sale advertisement in 1949 still accurately describes the house, with the addition of a master bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room. The house has once again a newly renovated kitchen where the second one was located along with two pantries and a hallway where the first kitchen once stood. A back porch has also been added to the house, serving as a gathering place for neighbors, as the backyard connects all the other homes on block 8. The owners and residents of 603 Guernsey throughout its history came from all sorts of different backgrounds and locations across the United States. This shows how the character of the “Heart of Southside” neighborhood and its connection to Texas A&M University has brought a diverse group of people together, all sharing an appreciation for the homes, Brison Park, and the tree-lined, walkable, winding streets. 603 Guernsey symbolizes how the history, humans, and homes of this neighborhood make the “Heart of Southside” such a unique and special place. Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner View of the updated, original bathroom View of Chris and Jude across the street, in front of the home View of the Christmas tree in the same spot in the living room as the Sperry’s tree in the 1940s View of the built in dining room cabinet View of Jude, age 3, in the same place in the dining room as Jeanne in the 1940s View of the fireplace in the living room View of the house from the southeast side View of house from the southwest side The Cowen Family: Emily Jane, Luke, Jude, and Chris taken in one of the original bedrooms; shiplap has been painted white– December 2018 Current Exterior Photos of 603 Guernsey Deed of Trust for Lot 4 purchased by Siecke from Southside Development Company E.O. Siecke Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner Scanned with CamScanner