HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/07/2016 - Regular Agenda Packet - Historic Preservation CommitteeTh
A Driving Tour of Existing Campus Homes
When it was established in 1876, The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas sat on a mostly bare
prairie several miles from the nearest town of Bryan. Transportation into town was difficult over
primitive roads, so it was a matter of convenience, if not necessity, for faculty and staff to live on
campus. Thus the college began to build houses, situated mostly on the north and south sides of the
campus. At one time there were around a hundred of them. They ranged in size and style from large
Queen Annes to small bungalows and cottages. There were even five two-story brick homes. Housing
was assigned by the college administration, with the larger, nicer homes going to ranking faculty.
Assignments were problematic. Many felt they were not being treated fairly and availability was never
sufficient.
Gradually a small community, which would eventually become the town of College Station, grew up
around the campus, and the first residential developments were launched in the 1920's. These were
College Park and Oakwood, south of the campus, and, later, College Hills to the east. Many of the faculty
and staff bought Tots and built homes there.
In the 1939, the board of directors of Texas A&M passed a resolution that the campus houses were to
be vacated. The expense of maintaining them had become a burden and improved transportation, plus
the new neighborhoods, had alleviated the problem of living off campus. Many of the campus houses
were burned or demolished, but over the years many of them were sold and moved off campus to
surrounding areas. The first sales occurred in 1941 and the last in 1972.
Over the years a number of these houses, too, have disappeared, burned or torn down to accommodate
newer development. Those remaining can be seen scattered throughout the community. These homes
are privately owned and many are rented to university students. If you choose to take a driving tour of
them, please respect the privacy of the occupants.
On campus the houses were numbered. They were renumbered in 1919. These numbers are shown in
parentheses following the address of each house, for those interested in further research. Old records
in the campus archives are incomplete, sometimes conflicting, and often sketchy. Much of the following
information was gleaned from interviews in the 1980's with former campus residents.
Map 1 (south of campus)
200 Highland (226)
This medium-sized Queen Anne was erected on campus in 1897 at the southeast corner of Clark and
Lamar Streets. It is identifiable from old photographs as one of the five houses facing the drill field. It
was sold and moved to 200 Highland in 1942. Campus residents included E. J. Fermier, mechanical
engineering (1927); and F. W. Hensel, landscape arts (1935).
201 Highland (207)
The bungalow at 201 Highland originally sat on Houston Street near the intersection of Lubbock, just
west of Guion Hall. It was built in 1916. It was sold and moved in 1942. Residents on campus included E.
P. Humbert, genetics (1916); R. L. Pou, dairy science (1920); S. W. Bilsing, entomology (1922); and D. H.
Reid, poultry science (1930's).
301 Highland (209)
This bungalow was originally located on the northeast corner of Houston and Lubbock. There is no
record of when it was built, but it was first assigned in 1914. It was probably sold and moved at the
same time as a "twin", which was moved to 300 Highland in 1941 but no longer exists. On campus
residents included C. A. Felkner (1914); F. B. Paddock (1916); E. B. LaRoche (1924); and W. L. Hughes,
rural education (1925-1935).
307 Highland (230)
This house was the residence of Richard J. Dunn, bandmaster at Texas A&M in the 1920's and 1930's. It
was a middle-sized Queen Anne with some Victorian features sitting at the southwest corner of Clark
and Lamar Streets. Erected in 1901, it was one of the five houses in a row facing the campus drill field. It
was sold in 1943 and the roof peak was cut off when it was moved.
315 Highland (114)
Erected in 1910, this small Queen Anne has been considerably modified since being moved off campus
in 1941. On campus, it originally sat at the intersection of Houston and Sulphur Springs Road (now
University Drive). At some point, it was moved west on Sulphur Springs to a site closer to the
intersection of what is now Wellborn Road. Residents on campus included A.E. Wood (1918) and R.
Flagg (1926).
601 Montclair
This small Queen Anne with neo-classical features was probably built in 1911. It is similar in design to
several houses known to be built on campus at that time. However, its location on campus is uncertain.
It was probably sold and moved off campus in 1948 or 1949.
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603 Montclair (417)
Records say this small Queen Anne was built in 1920, but it was first assigned in 1916. It sat on the east
side of Throckmorton, now the site of the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center. It was sold and
moved in 1947 and was greatly remodeled into a duplex. Residents on campus included W. F. Proctor,
state director of farm demonstration (1916); J. C. Burns (1917); G. S. Templeton, head of animal
husbandry (1922); A. B. Connor, director of the agriculture extension service (1925); and W. H.
Holzmann, comptroller (1928).
611 Montclair (222)
This house is probably the oldest existing in College Station. It was erected in 1890 on Lamar Street. A
medium-sized Queen Anne with neo-classical features, it is easily identifiable as one of the five houses
facing the drill field on campus. Widely known as the home of Mark F. Francis, founding dean of the
College of Veterinary Medicine, it was sold and moved off campus in 1942.
908 and 912 Montclair (339 & 343)
These small cottages are twins which were built in 1911 on the east side of Ireland Street near Sulphur
Springs (now University Drive). 908 Montclair was sold in 1967 and 912 Montclair was sold in 1972.
Records show an on -campus resident of 908 was Monsner, power plant (1937). On -campus residents of
912 were Spitler (1912); Sgt. J. C. Hyland, military science (1914); B. E. Anderson, assistant to the
commandant (1916); and Lloyd D. Smith, buildings and utilities (1939).
502 Kerry
This cottage was erected in 1923. Its location on campus is uncertain. It was sold and moved in 1948.
500 Fairview (252)
This beautifully restored cottage was erected on campus on the west side of Clark Street in 1899. It
burned in 1924 and was rebuilt in 1925. It was sold and moved off campus in 1942. A previous resident
was D. W. Williams, animal husbandry (1935), who was acting president of Texas A&M College in 1956-
1957.
501 Fairview (281)
A medium-sized Queen Anne erected in 1911, this house sat on Old Highway 6 (now Wellborn Road) at
the intersection of Ferguson Street. It was sold and moved off campus in 1941. Campus residents
included R. Treichler, state chemist (1935); N. M. McGinnis (1937); C. O. Watkins, janitorial foreman; and
Frank G. Anderson, former commandant of the cadet corps, coach, and mayor of College Station.
710 Park Place (2501
Built in 1918, this bungalow sat on the west side of Clark Street near Ferguson. It was assigned to J. J.
Taubenhaus, plant pathology and physiology (1918). It burned in 1924 and was rebuilt in 1925. The
house was moved off campus in 1942 by Mrs. Esther Taubenhaus who was head of the college
herbarium.
315 Suffolk (232)
This bungalow was built in 1917 on Ferguson Street. It was assigned to C. B. Campbell, modern
languages (1917). He bought the house and moved it off campus in 1941. Daughter Margaret (Peggy)
was born in the house on campus and lived in it her entire life. She may have been the only "campus
kid" to have lived her entire life in a campus house.
1006 Park Place (220)
An American four -square, this house has been beautifully restored and maintained. It was probably
erected in 1916, the first year it was assigned. It is easily identifiable in old photos as one of the five
houses facing the campus drill field, and sat at the southwest corner of Lamar and Houston Streets. It
was well known as the home of the commandant of the corps of cadets. It was sold and moved off
campus in 1948. Previous residents on campus include F. H. Blodgett, plant pathology (1916); F. B. Clark,
agriculture extension service (1916); Maj. Ike Ashburn, commandant and later director of the
Association of Former Students (1922); E. E. McQuillen, director of the Association of Former Students
and development.
1102 Park Place (224)
This house, erected in 1891, was the campus residence of F. E. Giesecke, professor of architecture and
university architect for many years before and after World War I. It was one of the five houses in line
along the campus drill field and is easily identifiable from photographs. A middle-sized Queen Anne,
originally with neo-classical pillars, it was moved off campus in 1942. Prior to occupancy by Giesecke
(1938), the house was the residence of J. 0. Morgan (1933).
101 Pershing (4201
This large Queen Anne with neo-classical features has been well maintained in its original form. It
burned in the 1990's but has been restored. It was erected in 1899 on Throckmorton Street. Residents
on campus included C. E. Friley, dean of liberal arts (1918); D. Scoates, head of agricultural engineering
(1920); and S. W. Bilsing, head of entomology. The Bilsings bought the house in 1941 and had it moved
on two railroad tracks to its current location.
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205 Timber (1461
This American four -square was home for the Cashion family. Mr. Cashion was director of the YMCA on
campus. The house was located on the west side of Henderson Street next to the surgeon's house. Built
in 1917, it was modified slightly after being moved in 1941. It was bought by Homer B. Adams who lived
there until his death in 2016. Since then it has been extensively remodeled again, although one can still
see the original shape of the house.
208 Timber (2541
This cottage was the third house from Lubbock on the west side of Clark, next to the house currently at
500 Fairview. It was built in 1918. It was bought in 1941 by Rev. Norman Anderson, a minister of the
local Presbyterian church, and moved to Timber Street where he and his wife lived for many years.
Campus residents included Capt. M. C. Funston, military science (1918); O. B. Wooten, head of military
training during World War I (1918); and Dan Russell, rural sociology (1935).
1712 Glade (418).
Records say this American four -square was built in 1919, but it was first assigned in 1914. It sat west of
Throckmorton in the area of the current Spence Park. It was bought in 1965 by William D. Fitch and
moved to its current location where it was remodeled and added to. Campus residents included W.
Newell, entomology (1914); L. B. Burke (1915); E. B. La Roche, architecture and architecture engineering
(1918); W. A. Orth, system architect (1935); E. O. Siecke, head of the Texas Forest Service (1935); and R.
Henderson Shuffler, Texas A&M System director of information.
1700 Laura Lane (410)
A large Queen Anne with neo-classical features, this house was built in 1905 and sat at the southwest
corner of Throckmorton and Lubbock. It was bought by Richard H. Ballinger, professor of English, in
1965 and moved to Laura Lane. The move required cutting the house in two. It was beautifully restored
by the Ballingers. Previous residents on campus included D. W. Spence, dean of engineering (1916); O.
F. Chastain, professor of history (1917); and Francis C. Bolton, head of electrical engineering, dean of
engineering, vice president of Texas A&M, and president of A&M from 1948 to 1950 (1918).
Map 2 (north of campus)
500 College Main
Information about this house is scarce. The date it was built and its exact location on campus are
uncertain. It is a small Queen Anne with neo-classical features. It was purchased and moved to its
current location in 1986.
Map 3 (east of campus)
1004 Ashburn (289)
One of the "newer" homes to be erected on campus, this cottage was built in 1923 at the northeast
corner of Lubbock and Old Highway 6 (now Wellborn Road). It was considerably modified when moved
off campus in 1941 by Mr. and Mrs. Manning Smith. Campus residents included Homer Norton, football
coach when Texas A&M won its only (to date) national championship (1933); and E. J. Howell, registrar
(1935).
Map 4 (Bryan)
508 Pease (413)
An American four -square built in 1911, this home is beautifully restored and maintained. On campus, it
was located on the east side of Throckmorton, just north of the current Sam Houston Sanders Corps of
Cadets Center. It was the home of Charles Puryear who was dean of the college and acting president in
1914. He was one of the few authorized by the college board of directors to build his own house. It was
given to the university on 1940 and sold in 1948.
Map 5 (north of Bryan)
3071 Thurmon Road (4121
This large Queen Anne with neo-classical features was built in 1899. On campus it sat on the west side
of Throckmorton Street . It has been moved twice since then. The date of sale is uncertain, but it was
moved some time in the 1950's to a site on Jersey Street (now George Bush Drive). In 1959 it was
moved to its current location. Campus residents included R. D. Lewis, director of the agriculture
extension service (1946); a previous director of the agriculture extension service (1921); Connor, and
Youngblood.
Please view this house from Thurmon Road. Do not enter the private drive.
Photographs courtesy of Jerry Cooper; Sherry Smith Frisk; Anne, Jean, and Richard Ballinger
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