[Historic Marker Application: Hensley-Gusman House] Page: 1 of 12
[4] p. : ill. ; 28 cm. + 4 photographsView a full description of this text.
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Texas Historical Commission Staff (CJB), 3/15/94, revised 4/4/94
27" x 42" Official Texas Historical Marker with post
Matagorda County (Job #34893)
Location: 2120 6th St., Bay City
HENSLEY-GUSMAN HOUSE*
ALEXANDER D.HENSLEY(1859-1947)PURCHASED LAND AT THIS
SITE IN JANUARY 1898,WITH HIS WIFE MAGGIE(1875-1960),
HE ASKED HIS BROTHER,ARCHITECT HENRY HENSLEY,TO DESIGN
THIS HOUSE TO CATCH BREEZES FROM ANY DIRECTION,
BUILT IN 1905 BY THE ALAMO LUMBER COMPANY,THE
HOUSE IS A FINE LOCAL EXAMPLE OF A VICTORIAN-ERA
RESIDENCE,WITH STYLISTIC INFLUENCES OF THE QUEEN ANNE
PERIODIT FEATURES A DISTINCTIVE OCTAGONAL PLAN,WITH
PORCHES PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SPACES TO COMPLETE THE
OCTAGONOBECAUSE OF ITS UNUSUAL FLOOR PLAN,THE HOUSE'S
CENTRAL LIVING ROOM CONTAINS EIGHT DOORS BUT NO
WINDOWS;FOUR OF THE DOORS OPEN ONTO THE CORNER
PORCHESPROMINENT FEATURES INCLUDE A CROSS-GABLE
ROOF WITH WOOD SHINGLED GABLE ENDS,AND DECORATIVE
WOOD BRACKETS AT CUTAWAY CORNERS ABOVE CORNER
WINDOWSTHE ORIGINAL WOODEN PORCH FLOORS WERE
REPLACED WITH CONCRETE IN THE 1930s,BUT THE DECORA-
TIVE WOOD COLUMNS AND DOORS REMAIN,
RETAIL SALESMAN JAMES ROBERT GUSMAN(1862-1944),HIS
WIFE BETTIE AMANDA HARRINGTON(1864-1948)AND THEIR
CHILDREN MOVED TO BAY CITY FROM WEIMAR IN 1911,
THEY BOUGHT THE HOUSE FROM THE HENSLEYS IN 1919,
AND IT REMAINED IN THEIR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS***
RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1993***
*3/4 inch lettering
**1/2 inch lettering
***1/4 inch lettering
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Texas Historical Commission. [Historic Marker Application: Hensley-Gusman House], text, 1994; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth477871/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Commission.