Smith-Savage House

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and here's how Duane's gonna pass it along to you. Now, the story of the Smith-Savage House starts with a man named Samuel Hancock Smith, born in 1842, and by 1883 he'd landed himself the job of Hood County tax assessor. Not long after he took that post, he had this residence built.

A man assesses the county's worth all day, I suppose he gets particular ideas about what his own home ought to look like. And look it does. That Eastlake porch stretches out like it's got something to prove, and that Italianate style bay window catches light in a way that says somebody made deliberate choices here.

Then 1892 rolls around, the house gets expanded, and most of that decorative trim you see? That's likely where it came from: that expansion. Samuel lived in this house until his death in 1906.

After that, the house carried on without him, the way good houses do. Then in 1920, the Savage family moved in, and they stayed; stayed clear through until 1956. William Savage, born in 1864, and his wife Emma, born in 1878, were Granbury merchants.

William passed in 1933; Emma held on until 1956, the very year the family's chapter in this house came to a close. Thirty-six years, one family, one home. Since 1980, the house has belonged to Alison, Claudia, and David Southern, who, to their credit, thought this story was worth securing for the rest of us.

Two families, one extraordinary house. Hood County doesn't forget either one.

What the marker says

Samuel Hancock Smith (1842-1906) had this residence built soon after he became Hood County tax assessor in 1883. Most of the decorative trim probably was added during an 1892 expansion of the home. From 1920 until 1956, this was the residence of the Savage family. William (1864-1933) and Emma (1878-1956) were Granbury merchants. Prominent features of the Smith-Savage house include its Eastlake porch and Italianate style bay window. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1986 Incise on base: Marker secured by Alison, Claudia & David Southern, owners since 1980.