February 2007
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Refuge Plain
Bar X Tree
The Ammon Underwood House
East Columbia, TX
Feb 2006
The Ammon Underwood House. A structure erected in noted old river port town of Marion in Republic of Texas era. First portion, of hand-hewn cedar, was built about 1835 by colonist Thomas W. Nibbs. Merchant-civic leader- soldier Ammon Underwood (1810-87) bought and enlarged house in 1838-39. In 1839 he married Rachel Jane, daughter of William and Catherine Carson, of Austin's original colony. President Anson Jones and other famous Texans often visited the Underwoods. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970 #9612
The Aycock Crews House
East Columbia, TX
Feb 2006
East Columbia on the Brazos River was the largest river port in Texas prior to the Civil War and is still navigable year round. Captain Richard Aycock was the last riverboat captain and pilot to work a stern wheel paddleboat on the Brazos River. Captain Aycock had the home built for his wife Susanah. Their first child was born there in 1881.
Aldridge-Smith Home
East Columbia, TX
Feb 2006
Aldridge-Smith Home.
This local landmark was built between 1837 and 1841 for William Aldridge, a farmer and large landholder. After a 10-year ownership by merchant Henry Hansen, the house was sold to J. H. Dance and Co., a construction firm that supplied arms to the Confederacy. Businessman Thomas Masterson Smith (1882-1965) and his wife Mary (1881-1964) leased the house from 1908 until they purchased it in 1917. The home has been in the Smith family for more than 60 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1983 #9518
Tyler-Bryan-Weems House
East Columbia, TX
Feb 2006
Ariadne O. Gautier (1834-1910) came from Florida to this part of Texas in 1841 with her parents. Her father, Dr. Peter Gautier, Jr., joined other Texans in turning back an invading Mexican army in 1842. In 1855, Ariadne married Clinton Lucretius Terry, with whom she had four children. Terry, serving with Terry's Texas Rangers, died in the Civil War at Shiloh in 1862. Six years later, Ariadne wed William Tyler. Again widowed, she purchased property at this site in 1871. Records indicate she built the original part of this house within the next two years. She married a third time, to Henry H. Swymmer, in 1875. Ariadne sold the property in 1897 to Frank Bowden Chilton (1845-1926), who had been a captain in Hood's Texas Brigade. In 1900, he gave the property to Mary Louise Chilton (1877-1973), his daughter by his third wife, Ann (Briscoe). The property formally transferred on the date of Mary's marriage to Austin Y. Bryan (1863-1930), grandson of Stephen F. Austin's sister, Emily Austin Bryan Perry. The Bryans sold the house in 1919 to West Columbia hardware and mercantile store owner Sands Smith Weems, Sr. (1873-1961) and his wife, Nan (Pickett) (1880-1964). The Weems family retained ownership of the house until 2000. The frame house was built in the Greek Revival style. Details include square posts with molded caps, as well as a balustrade on the second level. The house features an inset, two-tiered porch with five bays. The entries are accented by sidelights. The original structure was symmetrical and built on a rectangular plan. During their ownership, the Bryans built a two-story, ell-shaped addition to the back of the house, which serves as a model of 19th-century vernacular architecture. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2002 #12937birthday roadtripeast columbia txtylerbryanweems housetexas historical landmark
M. L. Weems House
East Columbia, TX
Feb 2006
M. L. Weems House. This Greek Revival house was built about 1847 by Dr. Mason Locke Weems II, the first of a succession of Weems family physicians to live here. The house features a center passage plan and raised cottage form. Details on the six-bay inset porch include square posts with molded caps and turned-wood balusters. To avoid Brazos River floods, the house was moved to its present location about 1869 and later enlarged and remodeled. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1962 #9613birthday roadtripeast columbia txm l weems housegreek revivaltexas historic landmark
Tan House
Windmill
Windmill, CR 25
My favorite old windmill. Located on CR 25 in Brazoria County just down the road from the Nash Prairie Preserve.