HomeMy WebLinkAbout1205 Winding Road Historical Marker Application1
Application
For
City of College Station
Historical Marker
For
1205 Winding Rd.
Submitted By
Don & Carol Lewis
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College Station Historic Marker Application
Revised June 2007
Applicant’s Name: Donald H. & Carol Lewis
Address: 1105 Merry Oaks & 1205 Winding Rd.
City, State, Zip: College Station, TX 77840 (for both)
Phone: 979‐693‐6517; Don cell 255‐9521; Carol cell 229‐8233 Email: cd5lewis@yahoo.com
This Marker Nomination is for a:
A. Structure Marker
Structure is a Home.
If a home, was it formerly located on campus? No
Address of structure: 1205 Winding Rd
College Station, TX 77840
Owner’s Name, Current Mailing Address, Phone Number & Email address:
Donald H. & Carol Lewis; 1105 Merry Oaks & 1205 Winding Rd.; College
Station, TX 77840 (for both); 979‐693‐6517; Don cell 255‐9521; Carol cell 229‐8233;
cd5lewis@yahoo.com
II. Describe the significance of this nomination with as much detail as possible:
1205 Winding Road
College Station, TX 77840
Since its construction in 1949, the residence at 1205 Winding Road has been occupied
by families of four college and university professors. The current legal description of the
property is THE KNOLL, BLOCK 9, LOT 15 which was the designation when the
property was annexed by the City of College Station.
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The original owners Elizabeth and Arthur G. Edmonds enlisted L. Brooks Martin of the
architectural faculty to create the design for their home (Cite, The Architecture and
Design Review of Houston; A Publication of the Rice Design Alliance 41: Spring 1998).
The structure was the second house in the planned Knoll area outside College Station
which, at the time was considered to be ‘in the country’ (Mae Holleman, August 2007).
The address was then 131 Torras Ave. (also listed as Tauras). The Edmonds came to
the College Station area to visit their son, Bruce, who entered AMC in 1938. The
physics department at the college soon “pressed (Mr. Edmonds) into service” as a
member of the faculty. Mr. Edmonds had become an accomplished photographer, and
the lower front bricked area of the house that now serves as storage and a laundry
room was his photographic dark room (conversation with Dr. Melvin Eisner of Houston,
8/07). [Enrollment at AMC in 1939 = 6063; 1951 = 6583] (Office of the Registrar, TAMU)
Dr. Melvin Eisner, the second owner of the house, first saw the house when he attended
an open house to which many physics faculty had been invited. In 1951 when Mr.
Edmonds was ordained as an Episcopal minister and moved to La Grange, TX; Dr.
Eisner purchased the home for his family and remained there until 1967. The City of
College Station annexed The Knoll during their ownership. Dr. Eisner relates that one
could watch the sun rise and set and see cattle from the screened in porch. Heating
was provided by a gravity furnace, and cooling by an attic fan. As the children, Susan,
Hannah, Michael, and Earl grew, the need for more enclosed space developed. The
ground level open area (on two sides) supported by the twenty foot piers and adjacent
to what had been Mr. Edmonds’ dark room was enclosed with the soil, graded, and
windows added which were ground level on the outside and near the ceiling inside;
hence the ‘basement’ was added along with a third bathroom. Following the enclosure,
a group of artistic friends painted the interior with cartoon and fantasy characters of the
day. Dr. Eisner says that he remembers it as often a party house.
The Eisners also converted the space heaters, gravity furnace, and attic fan to central
air and heat along with a window air conditioner in the master bedroom. [Enrollment at
AMC/TAMU (1963) in 1951 = 6583; 1967= 11,841] (Office of the Registrar, TAMU)
The E.V. Bowdens with five children ranging in age from ten to fifteen purchased the
home from the Eisners in 1967. Dr. Bowden was an economics professor. During their
residence, Winding Road was paved and curbed with mixed feelings because the large
oak that had graced the middle of the ‘road’ had to be removed for the pavement. One
son, Richard, a musician and a daughter, Doris Ellen or Jasa, currently live in Austin.
[Enrollment at TAMU in 1967= 11,841; 1970=14,034] (Office of the Registrar, TAMU)
Dr. Donald H. and Carol Lewis purchased the home from the Bowden family in August
of 1970. Don is a professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. He
was a consultant to NASA during the Apollo 11 Lunar and subsequent missions and
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made many research and teaching contributions in the area of aquaculture to graduate,
undergraduate and professional students. Throughout most of his career and some of
his retirement they lived at the Winding Rd residence. Carol’s career included teaching
special education and counseling in a variety of Brazos Valley schools. They have
three sons: Don Jr., John, and Mike who spent most of their school years as members
of that household. A home has been provided to many friends and family members
while in residence.
Great care has been attempted by the Lewises to preserve the architectural integrity of
the house. The screened in porch and carport were enclosed primarily to provide space
for Don’s woodworking activities. A metal equipment shed was built at the back of the
property by the A&M Consolidated welding class. Cabinetry and appliances were
added to the kitchen and the sink moved from facing a wall to a window view at the
same time that a concrete driveway and walk way were poured. An additional heating
and air conditioning unit became necessary for the upstairs bedrooms, bath, and
basement.
Four of the adjoining neighbors combined funds to purchase a street light for the 1200
end of the Rd. in the ‘80’s which the city agreed to maintain. It is now one of the
historical area designated street lights.
The only trees to succumb in the 58 years of the residence were two populars which
bordered the lot on the west side and one arbor vitae (which has been replaced and
already doubled in size). Attempts have been made to enhance the natural shaded
setting which is bordered by crepe myrtles on the street side. One of the large oaks in
the back was used by the Lewis boys and Bravenec children (from Orr) to practice their
Tarzan calls and antics regularly. A sun flower/vegetable bed was created by Don in
2004 to encourage Carol to retire without boredom. The lot is so shaded that few spots
were available for plants requiring full sun.
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L. Brooks Martin, the architect enlisted by the Edmonds to design 1205 Winding Rd.
provided many innovative ideas within its structure for future generations to appreciate
and from which knowledge can be gained.
• The original floors were dyed concrete which is currently considered a modern
technique. Upstairs floors are of pine which finishes nicely.
• Little of the structure is sheetrock or wallboard, and there are thousands of board
feet of redwood within. The 6X9 inch beams which extend the length of the living
room (21 feet), master bedroom (16.5 feet) and original screened in porch (15.5
feet) came down the Panama Canal for the structure (conversations with Dr.
Eisner & Doris Bowden).
• Other ceilings of interest are the dining area’s 22.5” X 24” shadow box effect
rectangles created with 2 X 4’s; the upstairs bedrooms have 24 X 30” shadow
box rectangles made with 2 X10’s on one side and 2 X 8’s on the other. These
special treatments are mounted on beaded ceiling bases in all but the dining
area.
• The expansive fireplace with built in wood storage near the center of the main
living area is a focal point.
• The extensive use of carefully chosen glass provides not only light but a feeling
of openness that many desire. Except for privacy and/or energy conservation,
there is not a need to be shielded from excessive light.
• Recessed fluorescent and incandescent light also accentuate other designs.
• The main entry is constructed of carefully chosen ‘real’ flagstone.
• A breakfast nook or booth was built in at the kitchen entrance.
• The doors to bedrooms were of louvered redwood which no doubt facilitated
ventilation for the original attic fan.
• The quality of the foundation continues to be appreciated by specialists and
owners alike. Stories relate that massive amounts of rebar exist under the
oversized fireplace.
Dr. Martin relocated in San Antonio where he was named a fellow in the American
Institute of Architects.
IV. Supporting Documentation
Please attach the following information.
A. Alterations
List any known changes or modifications made to the property throughout its history.
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*In addition to changing heating and cooling systems to central air and heat, the most noticeable
change made by the Eisners was enclosing the lower two open sides to create a basement.
Inside the ‘basement’ area created by the Eisners. The doors open to the area used as a dark room by
Mr. Edmonds.
*Torras changed to Winding Rd., annexed by the City of College Station, and Winding Road
paved and curbed.
*The Lewises
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Changed the driveway, walkway, and carport to concrete,
Added kitchen cabinetry and had sink moved near window,
Enclosed screened in porch and carport,
Added an upstairs and basement air conditioning unit,
And changed roofing from tar and gravel to metal and Durolast for the flat section.
B. Prominent Historical Figures
List any prominent historical figures associated with the property.
None.
C. Property Ownership
List all known owners of the property. Include original owner and subsequent
owners.
1949—51 Arthur and Elizabeth Edmonds
1951—67 The Dr. Melvin Eisner family
1967—70 The E.V. & Doris Bowden family
1970—2007 The Donald H. and Carol Lewis family
D. Tenant History
List all known tenants of the property throughout its history.
See owners “C”
E. Narrative History
Attach a narrative explanation of the chronological and historical development of the
property.
See beginning of documentation.
F. Drawings
• Provide a sketch of the current site plan. Include the proposed location of the
plaque.
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Plaque proposed to be placed under the ‘1205.’
• Provide a sketch map indicating the nominated property and any related sites.
Gabbard Park and South Knoll Elementary are within walking distance.
Sketch? A section of the College Station map indicates locations
G. Photographs
Historic
• Provide at least one historic photograph of the property.
(Separate document with copies of other documentation.)
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Current
• Provide at least one Current photograph of the property illustrating in its
surrounding context. For example, photograph the streetscape in which the
building is included.
• Provide at least one photograph of each side to the building.
Views of the back of 1205 Winding Rd.
Master bedroom & bath Garage & kitchen
View of the ‘catwalk’ outside upstairs bathrooms
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And the exterior of the ‘basement’
Flagstone entry with view of View of the dining area, recessed lighting, living
Dining area ceiling above area ceiling (original color), & redwood ‘wall’ on right.
The 6X9 inch beams which extend the length of the living room (21 feet), master bedroom (16.5 feet) and original
screened in porch (15.5 feet) came down the Panama Canal for the structure
Main living area, view of ceiling, fireplace, Upstairs bedroom at front of house, pine
Recessed lighting, and large sliding glass floors, and ceiling. 24 X 30” shadow box rectangles
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Doors that separate living area from porch. made with 2 X10’s on one side and 2 X 8’s on the other.
H. Additional Information
Provide any additional information that supports the application. This may
include architectural drawings, letters, oral histories, newspaper/magazine
articles, etc.
(see references.)
I. References
Attach a list of the books, articles and other sources used in preparing this
form.
Cite, The Architecture and Design Review of Houston; A Publication of the
Rice Design Alliance 41: Spring 1998
Cushing Memorial Library and Archives
Texas A&M University
MS 5000
College Station Texas 77843
979-845-1951
Fax: 979-845-1441
http://library.tamu.edu/Cushing
Competent assistance provided by Kristin Hill
Conversations with:
Dr. Melvin Eisner of Houston, former owner and faculty member
Mae Holleman who witnessed 1205 being built, is a long time resident of
College Station, and whose husband was an architect in the 40’s & 50’s.
The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University,
Manager of Information Services, Jean Shearer Williams
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Phone: 979-845-7514
Fax: 979-845-9263