Old Dr. Wm. P. Powell Home

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of the Old Dr. Wm. P.

Powell Home. Now, before we get into the house itself, let me paint you a picture of the man. Dr.

William P. Powell was a pioneer physician and a Confederate veteran, and in 1863 he married Miss Mary Eugenia Thompson over in Waverly. That union would eventually produce twelve children.

Twelve. And six of those children were born right here, in this very house. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

The house came later. Nine years later, to be precise. In 1872, a carpenter named Sid Inglet built it, and he built it big.

Thirteen rooms. The kind of house that means business. And Dr.

Powell made it do exactly that. He used it as his office. He used it as an improvised hospital.

And when the sick couldn't come to him, well, he hitched up the horse and buggy and went to them. That's the kind of doctor he was. Out on those roads, making his rounds, in an age when that meant something serious.

He kept at it until his death on November 6th, 1915. Now, only a portion of those original thirteen rooms remains standing today, but what remains has seen some things. After Powell's passing, the place passed hands, and in 1946 it was purchased by a justice of the peace named R.

M. Jordy. And here's the detail that just stops you cold when you hear it.

This house, this pioneer doctor's home and improvised hospital, has been the site of one hundred and nineteen wedding ceremonies. One hundred and nineteen times, somebody stood in that house and said I do. A place that knew medicine and hardship and twelve children and long buggy rides through the dark became, over and over again, a place people chose for the best day of their lives.

Not a bad legacy for thirteen rooms and one good carpenter.

What the marker says

Remaining portion of 13-room house built in 1872 by carpenter Sid Inglet. Powell-- a pioneer physician, Confederate veteran-- married Miss Mary Eugenia Thompson, 1863, in Waverly; six of their 12 children born here. He traveled by horse and buggy to visit the sick; used home as office and improvised hospital until his death, Nov. 6, 1915. Purchased in 1946 by justice of the peace, R. M. Jordy. Site of 119 wedding ceremonies. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967