Evers House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Evers House in Denton, Texas. Now settle in, because this one's got everything. A prominent hilltop, a century of hardware, twelve rooms, and a fire that nearly took it all.

Robert Henry Evers was born in 1859, and Mary Euphemia Taylor was born in 1861. The two of them married in Texarkana in 1882, set up life in Paris, Texas, and then in 1885 they made their move to Denton. Robert didn't come alone.

He brought his brother, Adolph Frederick Evers, known as A.F., and together the two of them established Evers Hardware right there on the courthouse square. Now here's the part that deserves a slow nod: that store ran in continuous operation from 1885 all the way to 1998. The marker says it played a significant role in the development of Denton, and you don't argue with a run like that.

After arriving in Denton, Robert and Mary lived in a series of homes, one after another, until 1903. And that's when they decided to do it right. Construction on the Evers family home began in July of 1903 and finished in December of that same year.

Five months, and what they built was something to behold. The house was designed by the Austin architecture firm C.H. Page, Jr. and Bro., and the man who built it was Frank Craft, a local builder who had already put up many significant homes in Denton.

The style is neoclassical, and it shows. Corinthian columns, balustrades on the porches, bay windows, boxed cornices. On the east and west gables, roman oval arch windows.

And in the basement, smooth wrought-iron circular ventilators cast in a double circle and star pattern that the marker describes as reminiscent of the Lone Star of Texas. When the house was finished, it contained twelve rooms spanning three floors. And for the children, there was a gymnasium complete with a skating rink, basketball equipment, gymnastic equipment.

There was also a carriage house out back. This was not a modest undertaking on a modest street. It sat on a prominent hilltop in a neighborhood the locals called Silk Stocking Row.

Mary Euphemia Evers lived until 1941. Robert Henry Evers lived until 1936. The house outlasted them both, but not without a fight.

In 1977, a fire destroyed the roof and the third floor. You can feel the weight of that. A house that had stood since 1903, through two World Wars, through the full arc of Robert and Mary's lives, and then fire takes the top of it.

But here's where the story turns. Through community support and efforts, the house was repaired, and then restored across the 1970s and 1980s. It's still standing on that hilltop in Denton.

The columns still rise. The Lone Star still turns in iron on the basement vents. Some things in Texas, you just don't let go.

What the marker says

Located on a prominent hilltop and street, in a neighborhood known as Silk Stocking Row, this house was built for Robert Henry Evers (1859-1936) and Mary Euphemia (Taylor) Evers (1861-1941). They married in Texarkana in 1882 and lived in Paris, Texas. In 1885, the couple moved to Denton where Robert established Evers Hardware with his brother, Adolph Frederick (A.F.) Evers, on the courthouse square. The store was in continuous operation from 1885-1998 and played a significant role in the development of Denton. After arriving in Denton, the Evers lived in a series of homes until 1903. Construction on the Evers family home began in July 1903 and finished in December. The house was designed by Austin architecture firm C.H. Page, Jr. & Bro. and built by Frank Craft, a local builder who constructed many significant homes in Denton. Built in the neoclassical style, the Evers house features Corinthian Columns, balustrades on the porches, bay windows and boxed cornices. Other notable elements include roman oval arch windows on the east and west gables, and smooth wrought-iron circular basement ventilators in a double circle and star pattern, reminiscent of the lone star of Texas. When it was built, the house contained twelve rooms spanning three floors, a gymnasium for the children complete with a skating rink, basketball and gymnastic equipment and a carriage house. In 1977, a fire destroyed the roof and third floor; however, through community support and efforts, the house was repaired and then restored in the 1970s and 1980s.