Sunday, May 19, 2024
In his 50 professional years, Tumbleweed has interviewed some true Texas characters and assembled the largest private collection of oral history in the United States. He writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column and teaches broadcasting at the university level.
Logan and Dave Howard were early carpenters in Henderson who designed and built a beautiful six-room brick house on the city’s main thoroughfare in 1858.
“Logan never married,” said Joan Smith, Rusk County historian. “He lived in the house until he died in 1905. Dave and his wife raised nine children in the house.”
The Howard brothers manufactured bricks behind the house and the kiln was sort of a tourist attraction. People from all over the county went to see it in operation.
“A well near the outdoor kitchen was lined with Howard bricks,” Smith said. “There are still several buildings standing in Henderson that were built with Howard bricks. The courthouse that was built in 1870 was built with Howard bricks.”
The Howard house had several fireplaces. It was the first one in Henderson to have plastered walls. Smith said that the plaster was made of some unusual ingredients: egg whites, honey, and flour.
“It was unique in many ways,” Smith noted. “It was the first house in Henderson built of bricks and was one of the first houses in Henderson with indoor plumbing.”
There was an aerial footbridge that went from the Howard house across the busy street below to the house across the street.
“One of the frequent visitors here was Sam Houston. Martha Howard was a cousin. A trunk in the house belonged to Sam Houston,” Smith said.
The Howard family lived in the house for 50 years. Then the Dickinson family bought it and lived in it for 50 years. They built an addition that was used as a boarding house for workers in the East Texas oil field. After the Dickinsons moved out in the 1950s the house stood vacant for years. A businessman, Homer Bryce, bought it and sold it to the county historical group for $1, with the stipulation it be restored. Fundraising started, grant money came in, and the house opened to the public for tours in 1967.
“We try to have it open on the second and fourth Saturday of each month,” Smith said. “Or if you call, we can arrange a tour. We’re also on Facebook.”
Joan chairs the Rusk County Historical Commission. She noted that the house has period furniture, some of it original. It also has an organ that one of the Howard daughters played.
“The house is really famous, and it photographs really well,” Smith said. “It has some rare architectural features for the day like a second story balcony that has no supports under it.”
Two people died in the house — one by accident, one by suicide. Some people say the house is haunted and that some of the former residents still live there.
“In the fall, around Halloween we offer haunted hayrides,” Smith added.
