Edward Reeves Fleming House
607 North Craig Street

 

Edward Reeves Fleming and his wife, Lillian, contracted with B. F. Williams to construct a "two-story frame, tile-roofed dwelling;" on Craig Street. When the house was completed, its unadorned simple lines were criticized by local residents as being "too modern." At a time when most houses in this area were designed in the Victorian style, the Fleming house was considered plain. The plans and specifications were prepared by Hull & Praeger, Architects. The cost of the new home was $5,800.

 

Although there were a few concessions to the architecture that was popular at that time in South Texas, the house built by the Flemings was not typical of its time. It was constructed with a bay window in the center of the second story above the front door. Simple pilasters flanking the door and a simple arched pediment were the only embellishments marking the entry. The screened-in south porch was supported by four Tuscan columns. All of the windows were shaded by striped awnings. The only decorative features of the house were its chimneys. The two end-wall chimneys were of stucco over brick, each topped with three rectangular chimney pots. The interior chimney, which served the kitchen cook-stove, was also of stucco and had one chimney pot. This decoration was so unusual that the house was nicknamed "the chimney-pot house" by neighbors.

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You can learn more about this home and the families that have lived here in Volume II of Historic Homes of Victoria, available here online through our SHOP or at the Victoria Preservation, Inc. office.