Wells Home

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker tells it, straight from Gonzales County. Now let me set the scene for you. Out here in Gonzales County stands a Federal period ranch home, fifteen rooms in all, and the bones of this place have a story that starts long before the first nail was driven.

The year was 1885. Somebody had a vision, and they were not about to cut corners bringing it to life. The lumber chosen was long leaf pine, and it didn't come from anywhere close by.

It came from Florida, loaded onto Gulf steamers and carried across the water. Then, once it reached Indianola, it wasn't put on any wagon or rail car. It was hauled by oxcart, all the way to where this house would stand.

Think about that the next time you complain about a long drive. Now the lumber was one thing, but a house needs furnishing, and whoever put this place together had taste. The interior was dressed in walnut pieces, hand-crafted right there in the Guadalupe River valley, made during the days of the Republic of Texas.

Those pieces were already carrying history when the house was built. Then in 1889, the James B. Wells family made this their home, and it has carried that name ever since.

Fifteen rooms of long leaf pine and Republic-era walnut, built to last and, by the look of things, doing exactly that.

What the marker says

Federal period ranch home of 15 rooms. Built in 1885 of long leaf pine lumber brought by Gulf steamers from Florida. Hauled from Indianola by oxcarts. Furnished in Guadalupe River valley walnut pieces hand-crafted in Republic of Texas. Home since 1889 of the James B. Wells family. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1964