Upon opening the file about the Anderson House's historical marker, I glanced at several black and white 8 x 10 photographs of a run down structure. It appeared that at one time and long ago, the structure served as a sweet home. The photos showed various angles from outside, and included one of the inside showing a fireplace above which large water stains damaged the ceiling. Ouch.
Photo by Becky Chaney of Mrs. E. E. Clack, chairman of the Wichita County Historical Commission,
and Miss Ronnie Riner, co-owner of the house, standing before the Anderson house in 1979.
The first document showed correspondence from Andy Lee to Mrs. E. E. Clack, February 1980, indicating that the application for a nomination to the state historical and National Register had been rejected. Sigh.
In addition, the letter said that their spokesman did not represent their side appropriately. The reason for the rejection by Truett Latimer (in a letter dated February 10, 1981), Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission, was that "[ . . . ] neither the architectural nor historical significance were outstanding [ . . . ]," and that "[ . . . ] Mr Anderson's contributions seemed to be shared by other prominent local citizens [ . . . ]," and he went on to say that the house had no "[ . . . ] particular style, type, or method of construction."
Such are the bumps that proponents of historic sites meet while attempting to gain a marker.
The Anderson House, 912 Burnet Street, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76301, January 29th, 2015.
Image by E B Hawley.
Lissa Anderson's letter, August 19, 1980.
Another letter sent to Clack in August of 1980 acknowledges receipt by Latimer. It also shows that funds were deposited even though the request for the marker had not been accepted, and would be returned should the marker be rejected. Ultimately, by November of 1981, the Anderson House received the honor of a historical marker.
Truett Latimer's approval, finally.
The house was built in 1907 by Mr and Mrs G D Anderson on the corner of Tenth and Burnett (912 Burnett). In 1979, it had become run down and ready for a restoration and by November 1981 it would showcase the home for its marker ceremony.
Co-owners Andy Lee and Ronnie Riner, Texas Trinity Investments, renovated the home inspired by what they described as the San Francisco style, in that it employs several colors to accent the architecture. In her article of 21 November 1981, Wichita Falls Record News, Lois Luecke states that the colors include "chocolate brown, terra cotta [red], Alamo cream color and alabaster white. Old exterior stucco has been replaced with a smooth-finish stucco in the cream color." The house has thirteen-feet high ceilings, four fireplaces -- nice and warm -- and five stained glass windows which were also restored. The house is now an office building with a twenty-five car parking lot behind it.
Ceremony for the marker dedication, November 23rd, 1981, published in the Wichita Falls Record News.
Do you see the U.S. flag hanging to the right of the porch, near the two front columns? The marker is behind the flag, next to the front door of the building. Photo by Jim King.
Image by E B Hawley.
The text on the marker reads:
THE ANDERSON HOUSE
THIS VICTORIAN RESIDENCE WITH
DISTINCTIVE SECOND FLOOR WINDOWS
WAS DESIGNED BY JOSEPH C. PATE. BUILT FOR
LOCAL BUSINESSMAN GUY DILLARD
ANDERSON AND HIS WIFE, IT WAS
COMPLETED IN 1907. A NOTED CIVIC
LEADER, MRS. ANDERSON ALSO SERVED
AS A COMMISSIONER FOR THE TEXAS
CENTENNIAL, 1936. OILMAN W. E. CONNORS
BOUGHT THE HOUSE IN 1918 AND LIVED
HERE UNTIL HIS DEATH 20 YEARS
LATER. BUILT OVERLOOKING THE CITY, IT
REFLECTS EARLIER PROMINENCE
OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1980
The marker is located at 912 Burnet Street, 76301, installed on the wall at the entrance of the house.
What a wonderful article. My mother grew up in this house at 912 Burnett st. and I have tons of great photos from when she was a child and when I had friends over, too. Her parents, my grandparents, are Dr. Joseph Franklin Roberts and his wife, Kathryn (Katie) Roberts (Nee' Barrett) and their daughter Mary Kathryn Carroll (nee' Roberts) I know they were living their in 1940 (census) and I believe a few years before that, too. My grandfather had his Chiropractor office on the back side of the wrap around porch. In the late 1970s , my father and mother thought about moving the house to some land right outside Wichita Falls by cutting the house basically in half, but there were logistical issues and other problems, and my father was sick from Agent Orange, so that was scrapped.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting history when they lived there: people gathered at that house to discuss plans for an air force base, yes ... Sheppard AFB. My mom remembers hearing them gather in the front large parlor and discussing it.
I did hear someone saying it might be in the Queen Anne Revival style, but I am probably incorrect. Thanks for the awesome article. I will be reading the other articles, too.
Kathryn C