Dambach-Besier Home

Duane's take

The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of the Dambach-Besier Home. Now, most rock houses in this part of Gillespie County have a tale worth hearin', and this one does not disappoint. Somebody, most likely a fellow named F.

Dambach, built this rock house after buying the lot back in 1867 for seventy dollars. Now, seventy dollars might sound modest, but Dambach was not holding onto it for sentiment. Two years later, he sold that same lot for four hundred and fifty dollars.

Not a bad return on a piece of Texas ground. This was not one of those weekend Sunday Houses folks kept in town for church and shopping. No, this was a full-time residence.

People actually lived here, day in and day out. Then the story takes a turn. A widow named Anna Besier acquired the property in 1881.

Anna was the widow of George Besier, and she had four children to raise. She moved the family into town so those children would be close to school. Practical woman.

But Anna Besier was not just survivin'. She kept cows in a pasture right across the street and sold milk, butter, and cheese. She was runnin' a business out of this address while raising her family under this roof.

And that porch you might notice on the house, that was added during Anna's ownership. A little shade, a little breathing room, earned the old-fashioned way. The Besier family held onto that property for a good long while.

From Anna's arrival in 1881 all the way until 1966. Some families just know when they've found something worth keeping.

What the marker says

This rock house was probably built by F. Dambach, who bought the lot in 1867 for $70 and sold it two years later for $450. This was a full-time residence rather than a weekend "Sunday House." The porch was added during the ownership of Anna Besier, who acquired the property in 1881. The widow of George Besier, Anna moved into town so her four children would be close to school. She kept cows in a pasture across the street and sold milk, butter, and cheese. The Besier family owned the property until 1966.