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walls and wainscoting of the parlor are of prized curly
pine paneling, three-quarter inch thick and grooved
at a mill in Alabama or Florida. Altogether the house
has seven different woods. They are pine, ash, red oak,
white oak, maple, ebony and walnut. The materials
were received at the port of Indianola, Texas, and
carried by ox cart to Gonzales. Most of the intricate
woodwork was by itinerant German artisans.
The house was wired for electricity in the 1890s and
was reportedly the first house in Gonzales to have
electricity and running water. The dining room
chandelier has been identified as a late 1800s fifteen
candelabra Maria Teresa, originally from Mexico City.
Current owners are Lynn and Patsy Cochran.
LEFT – This magnificent curved stairway was carved by German artisans from
walnut harvested along the Guadalupe river near Gonzales. The walls are
paneled in curly long leaf pine which is crowned by the original tin ceiling. The
bronze athlete (?) on the newelpost as well as the intricate parquet hardwood
floors are original and survived the storm of 1910 which did major damage to
the home.
ABOVE – The Italianate style home was originally built in a clover type pattern
with three wings and once included a cupola. The north wing and cupola were
destroyed by the 1910 storm.
Photographs by Tre Dunham, Fine Focus Photography
