Sanders House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker at the Sanders House has to say — and friend, it is worth every word. Robert Washington Sanders was born in Tennessee in 1850, and whatever else Tennessee gave the world, it gave this man a gift with wood that borders on the supernatural. He arrived in Beaumont in 1878, drawn by the newly-emerging lumber industry, and he set to work in the local mills — not just running timber through a saw, mind you, but learning wood the way a musician learns an instrument: its grain, its give, its voice.

He worked in several of those mills until 1902, when he stepped out on his own as a cabinet maker. And Beaumont took notice. The whole area knew his work.

He designed the stairs for the Tyrrell Public Library. He sat on the planning committee for the Jefferson County Courthouse. He served a term as city alderman.

The man was building a community with the same hands he used to build furniture. Now, he and his wife Ida Mae had acquired this very piece of land back in 1886 — nine years before the house itself came to be. When the time came to build, they hired contractor James Wellman, who put up the two-story Queen Anne style house in 1895 according to the Sanderses' own specifications.

But here is where the story leans in close around the campfire: Wellman did the building, sure. Sanders did the finishing. And that finishing — that is the whole sermon.

He took native woods, cypress and curly pine and cedar, and he carved the ornamental details on the exterior. He carved the front door. Inside, he carved a spiral staircase and much of the furniture that filled the rooms.

His hand-carved pieces were displayed proudly in early homes and churches all across the area. He and Ida Mae, who lived on until 1942, rented part of their home to boarders during the years they lived here — a house full of life, full of guests, full of wood worn smooth by careful hands. Robert Washington Sanders died in 1916, but the house is still standing.

And that is not a small thing. It stands as a reminder of a Beaumont pioneer, and as a monument — the marker's own word, monument — to his craftsmanship. Some men leave words behind.

Sanders left staircases.

What the marker says

Tennessee-born Robert Washington Sanders (1850-1916), a master wood carver, was drawn to Beaumont in 1878 by the newly-emerging lumber industry. He worked in several local lumber mills until 1902, when he went into business for himself as a cabinet maker. Known throughout the area for his work, he designed the stairs for the Tyrrell Public Library in Beaumont, was a member of the planning committee for the Jefferson County Courthouse, and served as a city alderman for one term. His hand-carved furniture was proudly displayed in several early homes and churches. Sanders and his wife Ida Mae (d. 1942) acquired the land at this site in 1886. Contractor James Wellman built the two-story, Queen Anne style house for them in 1895 according to their specifications, but Sanders did the finishing work himself. Using native woods such as cypress, curly pine and cedar, he carved the ornamental details on the exterior as well as the front door, the interior spiral staircase and much of the furniture inside the house. The Sanders rented part of their home to boarders during the time they lived here. The house stands today as a reminder of a Beaumont pioneer and as a monument to his craftsmanship. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982 Incise on base: Sponsored by Barbara & Alan McNeill