Hill-O'Connor-Howard House

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker tells it, and I'm passing it right along to you. Now, Victoria, Texas has seen its share of fine homes come and go, but there's one two-story brick residence on the books that carries three different family names, and every one of them earned its place on that door. The Hill-O'Connor-Howard House.

Let's take it from the beginning. The house was constructed in 1898 and 1899, built for an attorney by the name of Joe L. Hill.

Brick, two stories, Victorian detailing, the kind of place that announces itself before you even reach the front gate. Joe Hill had it put up right, and Victoria took notice. But 1905 comes around, and the house changes hands.

It was sold to a woman named Mary V. O'Connor, widow of Dennis O'Connor, a prominent Victoria rancher. Now when a name like O'Connor comes attached to a property, you pay attention.

The O'Connor family ran oil interests, ranching operations, banking enterprises, the kind of portfolio that keeps a bookkeeper busy from sunup past sundown. Which brings us to the third name on this house. During the O'Connor family's ownership, the place was occupied by George Howard, who served as bookkeeper for all those far-reaching O'Connor enterprises.

Oil, cattle, banking. George Howard had his work cut out for him. And through all of it, this house was doing something else entirely on the side.

It was a center of early social activity in the city. So while the ledgers were being balanced and the ranches were being run, Victoria's social life was finding a home right here, inside those Victorian-style walls. Three families, one house, and a story that brick has been holding onto since 1898.

What the marker says

This two-story brick residence was constructed in 1898-99 for attorney Joe L. Hill. In 1905 it was sold to Mary V. O'Connor, widow of prominent Victoria rancher Dennis O'Connor. During her family's ownership, the house was occupied by George Howard, bookkeeper for the extensive oil, ranching and banking enterprises of the O'Connor family. A center of early social activity in the city, the house features detailing of the Victorian style. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981