2012 Spring Tour

2012 TOUR INFORMATION

Candlelight Tour and Party –

Friday, March 30 – Evening House Tours 6:00pm – 8:00pm  ~  Party 7:00pm to 11:00pm

Day Tours

Saturday, March 31 – 10:00am to 6:00pm

Sunday, April 1 – 1:00pm – 5:00pm

(click any image to see larger version)

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The Vasso Home

302 West Dobbs

Site for HTOT 2012 Candlelight Party

Built in 1924, the house located on the corner of Dobbs and College is a good example of a modified American Foursquare, or the Prairie Box, house with Classical Revival styling. It reflects the architectural tastes and financial security of its original owners, William Virgie and Bennie Henson, uncle and aunt of Mrs. B.J. Riter. The house reportedly was designed by Tyler architect J. H. Bothwell and was constructed by J. B. Wilson.

Mr. Henson was from Arp and a partner with R.W. Fair in the Texas Pecan Nursery. He was also involved in other agricultural businesses such as the Dixie Rose Nursery and the Southland Nursery. Moving to Tyler in his twenties, he bought a pasture in South Tyler which he later subdivided into lots.

The symmetrical façade of the house features a centrally placed projecting-entry pavilion supported by Tuscan columns and detailed with heavily carved brackets. Windows are 9/1 double-hung wood sash types arranged in banks of three on the first floor and two on the second floor. The house contains 10 rooms and was built at a cost of $9,500.

After Mrs. Henson died, the house was sold to a German refugee Oscar Weber and his wife Rosalie, a native of Romania. The Webers and their five children lived in the house for six years. They enlarged and enclosed the screened porch on the southwest side to form a playroom. After the Webers left Tyler, the house remained vacant for over a year.

In 1976, Leonard and Dana Davis purchased the house and completed an extensive restoration including adding central heat and air, enlarging the kitchen and breakfast area and converting a bedroom into a library. In 1987, the Davises added a spacious family room and a master suite upstairs to accommodate their family of seven.

Neal and Stephanie Vasso purchased the home in 2001. Over the last ten years they have updated the finishes throughout the home including granite counters and stone flooring in the kitchen. They also remodeled the powder bath, updated the plumbing and light fixtures, and repainted the interior and exterior. In 2010, the Vassos added a loft in the attic for their four boys and a full-size chess board in the backyard.

The Vassos have graciously consented to provide their home and backyard for the 2012 Candlelight Tour Party. We sincerely appreciate their generous hospitality.

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The Patterson Home

210 Mockingbird Lane

The Tudor Revival cottage-style home was built in 1931 by Dr. Roy L. Page, an eye, ear, nose and throat physician who had his office in the Citizens National Bank Building on the downtown Tyler Square. He and his wife, Carrie, lived in it only a short time, for Dr. Page’s address in the 1933 City Directory was on South College.

For the next 39 years, the house was home to the Superintendents of the Tyler District Methodist Churches and their families. The first of the superintendents appears to have been The Reverend Allen Tooke who was listed as the occupant of the house in The City Directory of 1933.

Typical of the style on Mockingbird Lane, the one-story cottage is built of brick with a steeply pitched roof and three gables across the front. Other than enclosing what was a screened-in porch a few years ago, no architectural changes have been made to the front portion of the house. The leaded stained glass in the double parlor windows and front door are original to the structure. Arched doorways are featured throughout the house, beginning with the arched front door, the French doors within the home, and those connecting the double parlor, porch, dining room and kitchen. In 2003, the master bath was added onto the back of the house.

After Mike and Penny Patterson purchased the house in 2007, the back interior of the home underwent a major renovation. Although the kitchen was completely redesigned, leaded stained-glass doors from an original built-in buffet were saved and reused in a new cabinet. Closets were added to the master bedroom; a third bedroom was converted to a study, and the laundry room was reworked to add an office. The Pattersons made an effort to return period lighting and hardware to the home during the renovation. Kitchen back-splash tiles were handmade by an artist to resemble Batchelder tile used in the 1930’s.

In 2011, the servants’ quarters, which had been converted into an office, were remodeled into a guest house with a bedroom and a completely updated bathroom.

The house, furnished in a traditional style, displays many antiques, family heirlooms, and items from the Pattersons’ travels.

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The Stetson Home

1321 South College Avenue

The home of Jim Stetson and Diane Krause-Stetson was designed and built by architect Shirley Simons, Sr. in 1927 for a cost of $9,600. It was built for Mr. and Mrs. Sol Katz who owned Jean’s Tot to Teen Shop on the north side of the downtown square.

Some outstanding Mediterranean features of the home include the plaster walls, curving arches, wrought-iron trim and brass sconces. The library has gum-wood paneling, and the floors are hardwood and slate. The palladium style steel-casement windows were among the first in the area. The stained-glass windows and the Italian tile fireplace mantels reflect the Arts and Crafts movement.

In 1940 the house was sold to J. Paul and Addie Bracken Price for $12,600. They enclosed an open porch, currently used as an office, and they added another bedroom and bath on the second level. The Prices lived there for 32 years and then sold the property to their son-in-law and daughter, James and Sally Sue Price Fisher.

Joe and Sandy Shepard, who lived in the house for over 25 years, made further improvements, converting the butler’s pantry into a wet bar, modernizing the kitchen, and updating the landscaping.

Alan and Paige Thomas owned the home from 2003-2009 when the landscape design and care was recognized during the 50th Annual Azalea Trail (2009) as “Best Landscaped Yard: Dobbs Trail.”

In August of 2009, Jim Stetson and Diane Krause-Stetson purchased the house when they moved to Tyler from Chicago.

The Stetsons engaged Clyde Beaty of CB Builder to assist them with a major renovation. As improvements were made, the Stetsons remained true to the original design and materials. The kitchen, the bathrooms, the bedrooms and the family rooms were remodeled, and the electrical, plumbing and heating utilities were updated. In addition, the Stetsons replaced the concrete driveway with “Tyler-style” brick; added custom-made copper hip and ridge chimney caps; and they installed gas lanterns to the entrance of the home. Enhancing and maintaining the gardens and yard are an ongoing joy. The Stetsons are committed to retaining the integrity of the distinctive and quirky architectural details and to preserving the character of the house.

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The Edmonds Home

505 West Third Street

Located just west of Chilton Avenue in the Azalea Historic District sits a sprawling modern ranch-style home. Distinctive today in a neighborhood of traditional residences, in 1950-51 when it was built, its sleek unique architecture attracted much attention. The young couple who chose this modern design was Mano and Elsa Schoenbrun, recent immigrants from Slovakia and Hungary. In 1931, a year after they married in Europe, they came to Tyler as owners of The New York Store on the downtown square. The store became a retail fashion icon in East Texas.

In 1947, with their business firmly established, Mano and Elsa took the first step in building their dream home by purchasing a large lot from the estate of Walter H. Knight. The design is attributed to architect Shirley Simon, and the 1950 building permit shows Harry Oliver, Jr. as the contractor. The Schoenbruns raised their four children, Ronnie, Larry, Shirley and Greta in this home.

Important in 50’s Modernism, the flow of the home begins with flagstone used for the walk and porch and continues through the entry and dining room. Except for the living room and den, the U-shaped home is one room deep. Slight changes of angle in the outside facade as well as inside reflect a deft touch by the architect . . . surely a challenge for the contractor.

Cork paves the den and the windowed hallway that runs along the bedroom wing. Other original interior features include pocket doors, recessed lighting and a fossil stone fireplace. This same stone was used on the face of The New York Store and is still visible on the second-story portion of the building at the corner of Spring and Erwin streets.

Mano died in 1959, but Elsie operated the business with help from her family and continued to live in the home until her death in 1993. Steve Cash and Noriko Chiba purchased the home from the Schoenbrun Estate in 1998. Don and Bonny Edmonds bought the home in May, 2010, and have restored the interior to what would be appropriate for 1950 Mid-century Modern style.

The Edmonds have lived in the Azalea Historic District for the 20 years that they have been in Tyler. Their homes have included a Spanish Colonial Revival, a Cotswold Cottage, and now this Modern Ranch, each of which has received a Tyler Historic marker.

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The Skorkowsky Home

1619 South College Avenue

Following World War II during the years 1946-1953, the area known as South Tyler (south of Front Street) developed due to the increasing demand for housing as the population of Tyler expanded.

Mary Manziel (Mrs. Joseph Manziel) was living at 309 South Broadway, and the street was getting much too busy. She and her husband had come from Lebanon to Tyler for the East Texas oil boom, but Mary was widowed at a young age. In order to move to a quieter location, she had local builder Elmer Sharp build the Austin stone Colonial Revival house on the corner of College and Fifth Streets. Mary was a tiny but strong woman, very influential in the Lebanese community. She was actively involved in building the house and moved into it in 1949. According to Mary Jane McNamara (age 88), friend of Mary’s granddaughter Gloria, it was a handsome house, beautifully furnished, surrounded by lovely shrubs and trees. Prior to her marriage, Gloria Manziel Saleh lived in the house with her grandmother for a year.

After living there for a short time, Mary Manziel decided the house was too large for one person, so she built a smaller one at the corner of Roseland and Fourth.

In August 1951, J.G. and Curtis Walker bought the house and raised their three sons there. Curtis lived in the house until 2008 when she moved to Houston to be near one of her sons. It is remarkable that the house was occupied by the Walkers for 57 years!

In September 2008, Bob and Sherry Skorkowsky bought the house from Mrs. Walker. The Skorkowskys appreciate the design and construction of the house. It has a circulating hot water system, excellent insulation, screen doors, and all bedrooms designed for cross ventilation with windows on three sides.

Many of the features of the home are original: the marble mantel and surround of the fireplace; the hardwood floors; knotty pine ceilings on the porches and on the walls and ceilings of the entire garage; the fixtures and tile in bathrooms; and the chandeliers.

The kitchen has been updated, but the Chambers ovens are dated to 1961.

This home is the second one that the Skorkowskys have owned in the Azalea Historic District, and they are proud to continue to preserve a piece of the history of Tyler.

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The Brownlow Home

2015 South College Avenue

In 1934 a young doctor, Sidney Bradford, and his wife Goldie, traveled to Chicago to the World’s Fair with the theme “A Century of Progress.” While there they found the plans to their dream home. It was designed by Alfred Shaw “in the Tasmanian Tradition” and would have been similar to homes one would have seen in Australia at the time. It featured all the latest technology and was sponsored by Marshall Fields Department Store to showcase their furniture.

Upon returning to Tyler, the couple began to construct their home with the help of local architects Gregory and Cates. The original landscape design was done by Maurice Shamburger.

Amazingly, this historic home had the same occupants for over 60 years. Mrs. Bradford, an avid gardener, lived here until shortly before her death in 1999.

In 2000 another young couple found their dream home. Kelley and Casey Brownlow were visiting from Houston when they first saw the house and fell in love with it. Although at the time, they had no plans to move to Tyler, they took a leap of faith and made a winning offer on the house. The Brownlows have updated the decor but have been careful to preserve the integrity of the original design. Casey, owner of Brownlow and Sons Gardenworks, enjoyed restoring the gardens.

The house features all of the original wood floors, brass hardware and many original plumbing fixtures. The ceiling design between the entry hall and the living area is a repeat of the design on the front porch. In every room are special touches and details, such as the Art Deco design in the stairwell. Mary Lou Bradford (daughter of Sidney and Goldie) told the Brownlows that when they were building, her mother REALLY wanted a black and white marble floor in the entry. Unfortunately, the installation was not possible. Now Casey Brownlow has fulfilled the vision.

In the main living areas, the beautiful crown moldings as well as the walls are made of plaster. The marble surrounding the fireplace is from Vermont. There are several “pocket doors” that slide into the walls to allow an open flow of traffic or privacy as preferred. One of the outstanding features in the dining room is the hand-blocked wallpaper from the original construction. Featured in the kitchen are the original cabinets, the original range hood, and a curved breakfast table with built-in bench seating. This house was the first in Tyler to have air-conditioning.

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The Marvin Brown Home

Designer Showcase

416 South Chilton Avenue

When the two-story modified foursquare house was built at 416 South Chilton, the street was called Mary Street. The year was 1928. That was when Frank Marsh Bell sold the lot to A. Marvin Brown and his wife Lillian. He was the district director for Southwest Life Insurance Company and had lived in Tyler since at least 1912.

Prior to the sale to Mr. Brown, the original 40 acre tract had been owned by the first Frank M. Bell who came to Tyler in the late 1840’s from Alabama. In 1890, Frank Bell’s remarried widow, Mrs. T. W. Jones, recorded the addition and began selling some of the lots, but the area remained mostly undeveloped for some years. The first house built on the east side of Mary Street was in 1912 when W. D. “Billy” Swann built a fine house at the corner of Mary and Bryan Streets. The area between Bryan and Front Streets, where the house at 416 now sits, was called “Deer Park” due to the large number of deer the Bell family kept on the property, along with a flock of peacocks that were too noisy to be kept in the yard. The Bell home sat closer to Broadway and Front Streets.

In the early 1920’s, Mary Street was paved with red bricks, and elm trees were planted in the parkways from Front to Houston Streets. The elms quickly grew into a canopy that shaded the whole two blocks.

This beautiful tree-lined and paved street is what led Mr. Brown to purchase the lot at 416 and build a home for his wife and two children. The modified Foursquare has 2200 square feet and was built with four bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths. Instead of stables, Mr. Brown built a garage for an automobile, thus joining the modern age. Unfortunately, the garage has not survived.

After some years of neglect, the house was purchased in 2010 by neighbor and preservationist Judith Guthrie. This is the fourth house Judith has bought and restored in the Azalea Historic District. She is a long-time member of Historic Tyler, Inc.

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To see the 2010 Highlights, click here