West-Bremond Cottage

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the West-Bremond Cottage. Now settle in, because this little house has lived more lives than most people ever will. We're talking about a shotgun house, built around 1872 as servants' quarters.

Modest origins. Humble purpose. Standing at 604 San Antonio, in the shadow of the home of Charles S.

West, a lawyer and Texas Supreme Court justice. That's the kind of neighbor that keeps you on your best behavior. West was born in 1829 and died in 1885, and right around that same year, a banker by the name of Eugene Bremond, born 1832, stepped in and acquired the little cottage.

Bremond held onto it for a good while, but this story is just getting started. Then comes Emma Grant West. Born 1865.

Her husband Robert died in 1904, and two years later, in 1906, Emma bought the cottage. Now here's the part that separates the ordinary from the memorable: she didn't just buy it, she moved it. Picked the whole thing up and relocated it, set it down as rent property, and got on with the business of living.

Emma Grant West lived until 1952, and in 1925, she sold the cottage to a teacher, Miss Katie Gannaway, born 1890, died 1967. A teacher owning a shotgun house that used to be servants' quarters, that used to belong to a Supreme Court justice's neighbor. Then in 1973, an attorney named Byron Lockhart purchased it and restored it.

A lawyer finishing what a justice and a banker and a widow and a schoolteacher all had a hand in. That little shotgun house, built for the simplest of purposes back in 1872, is still standing. Still here.

Some houses just refuse to be forgotten.

What the marker says

Built as servants" quarters about 1872, this "shotgun" house stood at 604 San Antonio near the home of Charles S. West (1829-1885), lawyer and Texas Supreme Court justice. In 1885 banker Eugene Bremond (1832-1910) acquired it. Emma Grant West (1865-1952), whose husband Robert died in 1904, bought the cottage in 1906 and moved it here for rent property. She sold it in 1925 to a teacher, Miss Katie Gannaway (1890-1967). It was purchased in 1973 and restored by attorney Byron Lockhart. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1976