75
Joseph Henry Boothe taught school in several areas
before settling in Gonzales in 1890. About 1895, Boothe
went into the hardware and plumbing business with
Edward Lewis and built the Boothe & Lewis Building
on the east side of what is now Confederate Square.
In 1896 he purchased the lot where the current house
stands. There was probably a house there at the time
where the family lived. Boothe served as mayor for five
years but resigned about 1910 due to ill health. He died
of heart failure August 28, 1911. Following his death,
his widow and his son, Ross, employed noted architect,
Atlee B. Ayres, to design this home that was completed
in 1913.
Al and Dawn O'Donnell restored the home after
purchasing it in 1996 and opened it up as Boothe House
Bed and Breakfast. The O'Donnells eventually sold the
home and it soon thereafter went into foreclosure, sitting
vacant for around five years. Clint Hille and Richard
Tiller bought the house and after extensive renovations
reopened it once again as the Boothe House B&B.
J.H. BOOTHE
HOUSE
706 St. George Street
BOTTOM LEFT – The downstairs sun room is surrounded by large windows on
three sides flooding the room with bright light. It is a favorite area for guests
to gather and is warmed in the cool winter months by a large Rookwood tiled
fireplace.
BOTTOM CENTER – The large formal living room boasts long leaf pine floors,
a coffered ceiling and original fireplace mantel. It is one of five fireplaces in the
home.
BOTTOM RIGHT– The formal dining room features an original fireplace,
wainscoting and heavy crown moldings. The walls are covered in historic
reproduction wallpaper of the period. The antique dining table sits on an antique
oriental rug and is topped with a vintage Italianate styled crystal chandelier.
Photographs by Albrecht Photography
