Germany House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Germany House in Hunt County. Now settle in, because this house has stories layered into every one of those mansard roof shingles. We're talking about a home built in 1886, right there in Greenville, put up for a merchant and civic leader named Joseph P.

Germany and his new wife Polly, born Tolbert. Joseph came into the world in 1856, Polly in 1862, and together they were starting something. The house itself was built in simplified second empire style, and if you know that style, you know it means business.

A straight mansard roof, a tower. Not a home that whispers. A home that announces.

Now, Polly Germany, born 1862, she left this world by 1889. And that is a quiet tragedy the marker doesn't dwell on, so neither will we, except to say the house held that grief too. Joseph married again in 1893, a woman named Eloise Conger, and life kept moving the way it does.

Joseph Germany was not a man who stood still. He helped establish Burleson College in 1895. He served as city councilman.

He served as city treasurer. And come 1900, he was managing the city electric plant. One man, a whole lot of Greenville running through his hands.

Then there's this detail that just sits with you. In the early 1900s, ten members of Joseph and Eloise's family were living in that house at one time. Ten people under that mansard roof, behind that tower.

You can almost hear the place breathing. The Germany family held onto that house for more than ninety years. Joseph Germany, born 1856, died 1932, built something that outlasted nearly everyone who ever knew him to build it.

Some houses are just walls. This one kept count.

What the marker says

Built in 1886 for Greenville merchant and civic leader Joseph P. Germany (1856-1932) and his new wife Polly (Tolbert) (1862-1889), this simplified second empire style house is distinguished by such hallmarks as its straight mansard roof and tower. Germany married Eloise Conger in 1893 following Polly's death. He helped establish Burleson College in 1895, served as city councilman and city treasurer and managed the city electric plant in 1900. In the early 1900s, ten members of Joseph and Eloise's family lived in the house at once. The Germany family occupied the house for more than 90 years. (1999) Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1999