[Historic Marker Application: J. W. and Ruth Baines House] Page: 1 of 26

                                
Texas Historical Commission staff (LCH), 2/21/2003
Official Texas Historical Medallion and 16"x12" plaque with post
Gillespie County (Job #09603)
Location: Fredericksburg, 112 W. College Street
Subject codes: LW, OS    UTM ref.: 14 512754E 3349549N
J.W. AND RUTH BAINES HOUSE
JOSEPH W. AND RUTH (HUFFMAN) BAINES,
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS OF PRESIDENT
LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, BUILT THEIR HOME
HERE IN 1904, FOLLOWING JOSEPH'S SERVICE IN
THE CIVIL WAR AND A CAREER AS A JOURNALIST,
TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE, LEGISLATOR AND
ATTORNEY. THE COUPLE USED PREFABRICATED
CEMENT BLOCKS, MADE LOCALLY BY HUGO AND
HENRY BASSE, AND KNOWN AS BASSE BLOCKS,
ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME. OTHER FEA-
TURES INCLUDE A GABLED DORMER WITH PAIRED
WINDOWS ABOVE THE ENTRYWAY, JIGSAWN
FRETWORK AND TURNED COLUMNS. THE WIDOW-
ED RUTH SOLD THE HOME IN 1907, THE SAME
YEAR DAUGHTER REBEKAH WED SAM JOHNSON.
RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK- 2002