DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Pompeiian Villa in Jefferson County. Now settle in, because this one's got railroad magnates, barbed wire money, a dream city, and a deal that would make your jaw drop. Let's go.
Arthur E. Stilwell — born 1859, died 1928 — was the kind of man who didn't just build things, he dreamed up whole cities. He founded Port Arthur, and with it he had visions of something grand, something he called a dream city.
Of all that dreaming, of all that building, one landmark is still standing today. The Pompeiian Villa. The house itself went up in 1900, built as a winter resort home for Isaac L.
Ellwood — born 1833, died 1910 — the developer of barbed wire. Think about that for a second. The man who helped put wire on every fence across the Texas plains came down to Port Arthur to winter in style.
And he wasn't alone in the neighborhood. That same year, financier John W. Gates — known far and wide as Bet-A-Million, born 1855, died 1911 — had a mansion built right nearby.
Two of the biggest fortunes of the era, sitting practically side by side on the Gulf Coast. Now, Gates's mansion didn't make it. It was razed in 1960.
But the Pompeiian Villa had a different fate, and that fate hinged on one of the most remarkable transactions you'll hear about on any road in Texas. Ellwood sold the villa in 1901 to a man named James Hopkins of St. Louis.
Hopkins held it two years, then in 1903 sold it to George M. Craig — born 1862, died 1950 — the principal developer of Port Arthur. And the price?
Ten percent of the Texas Company. That's the outfit the marker identifies as the present Texaco, Inc. Ten percent.
For a villa. George Craig moved in and never left. He lived there until his death.
The dream city may have faded, the Gates mansion may be gone, but the Pompeiian Villa is still standing — bought with a piece of what became one of the biggest oil companies on earth, and still the last landmark of Arthur Stilwell's grand, ambitious dream.
What the marker says
The last remaining landmark of the "dream city" planned by the founder of Port Arthur, railroad magnate Arthur E. Stilwell (1859-1928). The house was built in 1900 as the winter resort home of Isaac L. Ellwood (1833-1910), the developer of barbed wire. The same year financier John W. "Bet-A-Million" Gates (1855-1911) had a mansion built nearby. It was razed in 1960. Ellwood sold the villa in 1901 to James Hopkins of St. Louis, who in 1903 sold it to George M. Craig (1862-1950), principal developer of Port Arthur, for 10 per cent of the Texas Company (present Texaco, Inc.). Craig lived here until his death.