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Texas Historical Commission Staff (FR), 12/31/82, revised 3/28/83 27" x 42" Official Texas Historical Marker with post Austin County (Order #6867) Location: 301 E. Main St., Bellville E.O.FINN BUILDING* SITUATED ON LAND ORIGINALLY GRANTED BY THE MEXICAN -J Q GOVERNMENT TO AUSTIN COUNTY PIONEER JOHN NICHOLS, THIS VERNACULAR ITALIANATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING WAS Co CONSTRUCTED IN 1896 BY E.OSCAR FINN AND JOHN THOMAS COLLETON.E.O.FINN(1866-1945),A NATIVE OF GERMANY,FIRST CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH HIS PARENTS IN 1869.A r, 2 MASTER MECHANIC AND A SMITHY OF BUGGIES AND WAGONS, 0FINN BUILT THIS STRUCTURE TO SERVE AS A SALES SHOP FOR rE! HIS PRODUCTS ON THE FIRST FLOOR WITH LIVING QUARTERS FOR HIS FAMILY ON THE UPPER STORYeDRINKING WATER V) o WAS OBTAINED FROM A WELL LOCATED INSIDE THE BUILDING C, 0 ON THE FIRST FLOOR,WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE WATER Q SUPPLY WAS PIPED INTO THE UPSTAIRS BATHROOM FROM A z METAL-LINED INDOOR CISTERN THAT COLLECTED RAINWATER FROM THE ROOF#THE STRUCTURE REMAINED IN THE FINN o V) FAMILY FOR OVER SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS. r cTHE E.O.FINN BUILDING,OR CARRIAGE HOUSE AS IT IS ALSO z KNOWN,FEATURES PAIRED ITALIANATE WINDOWS,CAST IRON SCOLUMNS,AND A HAND-OPERATED DUMBWAITER WHICH WAS MADE BY THE ENERGY MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA AND RUNS FROM THE BASEMENT TO THE FIRST AND SECOND STORIES. 5 THE STRUCTURE IS A REMINDER OF BELLVILLE'S EARLY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT** RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1982*** *3/4 inch lettering **1/2 inch lettering ***1/4 inch lettering