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110 Grandeur of Gonzales and you can see the circle driveway continuing through the porte cochére, which would allow the horse and buggy mobility during that time to not have to back up the carriage. The one acre estate boasts more than 20 huge oak trees complementing this stunning property. Being planted when the home was built, most are more than 100 years old, while a few are more than 300 years old. In the early 1970s a family room was added to the back of the home, with care taken to not tamper with the original street appeal. Also, during this time, a gorgeous in-ground pool with hot tub, brick BBQ pit and an outdoor entertaining area, was added. In the 1990s the home's kitchen was remodeled with a French Country style. The original owner/developer of this estate, Osborn Bragg Robertson, the son of L.B.T. and Rhonda West Robertson, was born in Arkabutta, Mississippi, in 1861, ninth of 11 children. When Osborn was 14-years-old, the family moved to Waelder, Texas. Osborn Robertson became a partner with his father-in-law in 1887, first operating a family drugstore in Waelder, but soon he turned to buying and selling land. He became a principal stockholder in The Gonzales State Bank and Trust Company, originally the Miller-Sayer Bank. In 1914, Osborn secured control of the Sunset Brick and Tile Company, built in 1889 near the Gonzales power plant on the Guadalupe River. Osborn later renamed the company The Gonzales Brick Company. This mansion is not built out of brick from Osborn's Gonzales Brick Company. "Rumor has it" he traded his brick with his friendly competitor, D'Hanis Brick and Tile, in South Texas. Most of the buildings on the Gonzales Square are built of brick from Robertson's Gonzales Brick Company, Osborn wanted something different. Another thought-provoking rumor has it that the basement of The Gonzales Mansion was used as a speakeasy for after-hours social parties and used to illegally serve alcohol during the prohibition period. When the present owners purchased the home, a bar was uncovered amongst the underground storage basement. The top portion of the bar was beautifully refurbished, the speakeasy bar is once again in action with a pool table, and the worn walls speak stories of the bootlegging days. Presently, you will see prohibition pictures on the walls displaying successful alcohol raids in front of the old jail house and other photographs found in the Gonzales newspaper archives. ABOVE – The large formal living room boasts an antique Carrera marble fireplace, oak floors and intricate molding all original to the home. FACING PAGE TOP– The large family room was a later addition but tastefully done as to not disturb the historic curb appeal from the street and to provide for the comfort of a modern family. The large room is paneled in pecky cyprus. It includes a large wood burning fireplace and tile floors. Large French doors look out at the patio complete with swimming pool and spa nestled under massive live oak trees. FACING PAGE BOTTOM – The front parlor or music room is opened to the foyer on the left as you enter the home. The fireplace is Carrera marble and the oak flooring is original to the home. Antique furnishings are of the period. Photographs by Albrecht Photography

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