Hartford Jenkins Home

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Hartford Jenkins Home, over in Bastrop County. Now, this house has a story in two acts. The first act belongs to a man named J.

P. Fowler, Jr., who built it in 1906. A solid house, built to last.

And last it did. Because in 1912, a man named Hartford Jenkins came along, and he bought it together with his wife, Beulah Alice, born a Hemphill before she became a Jenkins. They made it their home, and here is the part that makes you sit up a little straighter around the campfire: the heirs of Hartford and Beulah Alice Jenkins still own that house.

Still. That is a family holding on to something, and holding on tight. Now, Hartford Jenkins was not a man who sat still when there was work to be done.

He was the first county superintendent of schools in Bastrop County. The first. And if you think that was enough for one man's career, you would be mistaken.

He also served as a county judge, as a county commissioner, and as clerk of the district court. That is a resume that covers just about every room in the county courthouse. Some men leave a mark on a place.

Hartford Jenkins left several. And that house his family has kept all these years, the one J. P.

Fowler, Jr. built back in 1906, it is still standing there as proof.

What the marker says

Built 1906 by J. P. Fowler, Jr. Bought 1912 by Hartford and Beulah Alice (Hemphill) Jenkins, whose heirs still own house. Jenkins, the first county superintendent of schools, also was a county judge, commissioner, and clerk of district court. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971