Historic Tyler on Tour, 2008
The Rosekrans Home
409 West Dobbs Street
Built in 1933 in the Brick Street Historic District for Samuel (Sam) and Mary R. Harrison, this cottage style home is typical of the other homes on Dobbs Street in the 1930s. The neighborhood featured merchant class modest brick homes with sidewalks and brick paved streets. Many times garages and garage apartments were built at the rear of the structures. This home is a perfect example of the homes built in the early 1930s.
Mr. Harrison owned and operated the Harrison Service Station on West Erwin and Mary worked at Marsh School. Samuel later became a salesman for Swann’s Furniture Store.
By 1981, Sam had retired and moved from the home after living there for 48 years. For a time, the home became rental property with various occupants and passed to several owners. In 2003, Teresa and Scott Rosekrans fell in love with the house and purchased the home from Wendy and Brad Himes.
Throughout the home, the original floors and windows are still beautifully intact. The fireplace and cabinet work are the same as they were in 1933.
By adding a staircase in the dining room last year, they were able to access the attic and extend their living space with an office upstairs. This added 300 square feet to the now one and one-half story home with two bedrooms, and one bath.
Other than the upstairs addition, Teresa and Scott have made few changes to the original structure. Now painted, the exterior was buff colored brick veneer, typical of the neighborhood in the l930s.
Treasured family photos of descendants, many from the 1800s, are artfully displayed in the upstairs office. The violin shown in one of the photos is the same violin displayed downstairs. Scott is the fifth generation to have the violin.
Teresa’s love of primitive furniture is evident throughout the home. Many of the pieces belonged to members of the family including the furniture in the master bedroom. Around her grandmother’s table in the dining room are chairs that Teresa refinished as a high school project.
Recently, they were able to convert the garage into a guest cottage with a bedroom, a full bath, and an efficiency kitchen.
Thank you, Teresa and Scott, for allowing us to enjoy the warm hospitality of your home on the Historic Tyler on Tour 2008.
