DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the I.M. and Mose Newman House out in Nolan County. Now, some folks build a house. And some folks build a house that's still worth talking about a century later.
Ira Mose Newman was in that second category. Born in 1887 into a prominent Nolan County ranching family, Newman didn't stop at ranching. He pushed out into real estate, into banking, into civic life, into about everything a community needs somebody to care about.
He served as a regent at Texas Tech University. He was an award-winning trapshooter, which tells you something about the man's patience and his eye. His wife Margaret, Margaret Hamner Newman, was right there beside him in civic affairs.
These were not people who sat on the porch watching Nolan County happen. So when it came time to build a home worthy of all that, they hired local. The firm of Nichol and Campbell took the commission in 1925, and what they delivered was something this part of Texas doesn't forget easily.
A Tudor Revival design, one and a half stories with a basement underneath it all. Cross-gabled roofline reaching up in two directions at once. A pronounced chimney standing up there like it means business.
Grouped windows letting the light come in in clusters. And an arched entryway that invites you in with a little more formality than your average West Texas front door tends to manage. Every one of those details was a choice, and every choice held.
The Newman House is still standin' in Nolan County, a reminder that Ira Mose Newman, Margaret at his side, wanted something built to last. Looks like they got it.
What the marker says
Ira Mose Newman, born in 1887 to a prominent Nolan County ranching family, was a leading area businessman, with interests including real estate and banking. He was an active civic leader, an award-winning trapshooter and a Texas Tech University regent. His wife, Margaret (Hamner), was also active in civic affairs. Designed in 1925 by the local firm of Nichol and Campbell, the Newman House is one-and-one-half stories with a basement. The Tudor Revival styling features a cross-gabled roofline, a pronounced chimney, grouped windows and arched entryway. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2003