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www.robertsoncounty.info |
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H I S T O R I C
C A L V E R T T O U R |
A Tour Of Places, Buildings, & Homes With Architectural & Historical Significance In The City Of Calvert
Additional Information About Historic Calvert Is Available At:
History Of Robertson County by James Walter
Baker,
Historical Recollections Of Robertson County
by Richard Denny Parker
Most of the commercial structures identified below are in Calvert's Historic District and are listed in the National Register Of Historic Places. Some of these properties may be available for purchase and historic preservation. A federal tax credit worth 20 percent of the eligible rehabilitation costs is available for buildings listed in the National Register Of Historic Places. If you've ever dreamed of owning an income-producing property (like an office, retail store, hotel, or apartments) in a turn-of-the-century building on a street that's filled with Victorian architecture and quaint shops, check out the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives listed on the Texas Historical Commission website. |
U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N
| # On Map | Sketches & Photographs |
Names & Descriptions Of Places, Buildings, &
Houses |
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Calvert is named for Robert Calvert, a
planter and state legislator, who had settled near Sterling when he arrived in
Texas from Tennessee in 1850. Calvert was a direct descendant of Lord Baltimore,
colonizer of Maryland. With the arrival of the railway lines, many families
moved to Calvert from the smaller surrounding communities, which were then left
deserted. The first train arrived
in Calvert in June 1869. As the terminus of the rail line, the city prospered.
Frame commercial buildings lined Main Street. By the early 1870s these were
being replaced by more permanent masonry structures. Initial residential
settlement was to the west of the commercial district. Movement to the east side
began in the late 1870s-early 1880s.
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Once a thriving railhead for the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, the small town of Calvert is today known mainly for its many antique stores and abundance of Victorian architecture. Founded in 1868 by a group of businessmen who foresaw the coming of the railroad, Calvert quickly grew in both population and importance. In the late 1800s, by the turn of the century the town could boast of two opera houses, a bicycle track, a baseball field, a large fairground with a race track, and quite a few saloons. It was during these prosperous years (1870-1900) that most of the buildings along Main Street were constructed. The cotton industry was the basis of most of Calvert's growth and at one time (1912) the town could claim to be the site of the world's largest cotton gin. The twentieth century, however, brought troubled times to Calvert. Severe floods in 1913 and 1921 did serious damage to surrounding plantations and combined with the First World War and a general population shift to larger cities, the prosperity of Calvert began to decline. | ||||||||||
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Calvert Historic District [bounded by Main [Hwy. 6], Garrett, Pin Oak, Maple, & Barton Streets, Calvert] - listed 4.3.1978, marker in front of the Barton Home, 409 Maple Street [30 59 02 N / -96 40 06 W], Map Calvert has come to be synonymous with Victorian Texas, as within its boundaries are to be found a large collection of commercial and residential structures which were constructed 1870-1900. The city developed rapidly during this period and prospered handsomely because of the railroad and a thriving cotton economy. The structures which comprise the Calvert Historic District are expressive of this growth and prominence. The district boundary line is irregular, but essentially the Calvert Historic District is comprised of the commercial blocks and a large segment of the residential area to the east of the commercial district. Thirty-seven complete blocks and portions of nine others are encompassed by the historic district. The district is bordered on the south by Main Street, including structures on both sides of the street and the 800 and 900 blocks of Railroad Street; on the east by Garrett Street; on the north by Pin Oak Street, then turning east to include the cemetery and city park and two structures on Maple Street; and on the west by Mitchell and Barton Streets. The Calvert Historic District is one of 12 buildings or groups of buildings in Robertson County that is preserved in the U.S. Library of Congress American Memory Collection. Architectural drawings and floor plans of the historic buildings from this collection are featured on this page.
National Register,
THC Survey |
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404 - 408 Main Street This three building row of one- story commercial structures were erected ca. 1890. All are masonry structures with cast iron store fronts. French doors and large plate glass windows covered by transoms fill the ground floors. Brick panels and pressed tin cornices are used as the decorative elements. |
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404 Main Street Built around 1880, one-story with central opening and flanking windows all segmental arches, burned out roof, wood canopy, iron supports, brick dentiled cornice, 4/4 windows, decorative brick panels, brick painted.
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406 - 408 Main Street Built around 1890, one-story, three building, cast iron storefronts, brick pilasters, pressed tin cornice - each different, wood canopies and iron columns, double front doors. Painted metal cornice, transom over all facade openings.
THC Survey |
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500 - 504 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Calvert Foundry
& Manufacturing Company,
500 - 502 Main Street, 30 58 45 N / -96 40 29 W,
Map Built in ca. 1870 to house the Calvert Foundry, one of Calvert's first industries, these structures now house Robert Davis Antiques (500) and C. S. Allen Hardware (502). The north building reveals considerable alteration as it displays a twentieth century store front. The south building is masonry with a cast iron front from St. Louis. Two sets of double doors which are framed by large plate glass windows and capped by transoms fill the ground floor. 502-one-story cast iron front, two sets of large double doors, wood spandrels, pressed tin front. Founded c. 1870 as one of Calvert's first industries. Iron tools made here. 500 considerably altered. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Old Calvert Foundry & Manufacturing Company. Founded in 1870 as one of Calvert's first industries, the building is of country-made brick; iron facade came from St. Louis. Iron ore from local deposits and from Cherokee County [100 miles Northeast] was hauled here by horse-drawn wagons to be made into form tools and other sturdy articles. Prominent Texans have owned this foundry. J. Adoue, member of a French family noted in state business, was an incorporator." [#10907/1969]
THC Survey,
THC Marker |
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506 - 512 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Jaques Adoue Building, 506 Main Street,
30 58 45 N / -96 40 28
W,
Map This two-story commercial structure with its cast iron and pressed metal front is one of the most commanding Main Street buildings. Four-bays wide, entrance is gained through four sets of French doors. The metal cornice is capped by a metal panel stamped with J. Adoue, the name of banker/merchant who constructed the building in 1884. Adoue owned several businesses and it is said this store set an ambitious style for the town. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Relic of colorful career of Jacques Adoue [1851 - 1906], youngest of three French brothers who came to Texas [1860s] to become Calvert, Dallas, and Galveston business leaders. Jacques Adoue owned numerous enterprises. This store, built in 1884 for Collat, Adoue, and Risser Dry Goods, set an ambitious style for the town. It was said by friends that Adoue's death, years later from injuries sustained in Calvert Compress fire, marked passing of an era." [#10897/1973] Victorian commercial building erected in 1884. Two-story, iron storefront, pressed tin cornice and detailing, four bays with double doors, 1/1 windows - second story - four sets of two 1/1 windows. Above once owned several enterprises - this store set an ambitious style for the town.
THC Survey,
THC Marker |
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508 - 510 Main Street Built around 1875, Two-bay, one-story, original double doors, brick dentiled cornice, segmental arches in north bay (508) over doors, also contains transoms - continuous line of brick joins them visually.
THC Survey |
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Casimir Drugstore, 512 Main
Street,
30 58 44 N /
-96 40 27,
Map Texas Historic Marker reads: "Sometime after 1869, Jean Pierre Casimir [died 1929], native of Toulouse, France, built this structure. His family operated drugstore here until 1949. A patio in the rear connected drugstore to the Palace Opera House, also owned and operated by the Casimir family." [#10910/1973] One-story - two entries, brick dentiled cornice - flat brick arches - plastered and scored to resemble stone, connection of patio to opera house at rear.
THC Marker,
THC Survey |
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516 Main Street Originally constructed as a bank, this building is now a dentist's office. A one-story masonry structure, its formal neo-classical details are enriched further by the raised parapet above the pressed tin cornice. Distinguished by its corner entrance favored by banks, the entry is emphasized by the Ionic columns which flank the doorway and by the elaborate pedimented entrance.
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600 Main Street | ||||||||||
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600 - 602 Main Street Built around 1890, 600-raised parapet and pressed tin cornice and front, cast iron storefront with transoms of diamond-shaped glass, double front doors; 602-brick detailed cornice with cast iron storefront with transoms and double doors, brick panels pilasters.
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602 - 608 Main Street | ||||||||||
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606 - 608 Main Street Antique Store (606); Barber Shop (608). Built around 1875, two two-story brick buildings, both with segmental arches and both have brick detailed cornices. 606 has double doors, 608 has three 6/6 windows. Above new storefront.
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610 - 616 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Cotton Blossom Antiques, 610 Main Street A fine example of nineteenth century commercial Victorian design, pressed tin, cast iron, wood and brick have been used to obtain a visual richness. A set of center French doors framed by large plate glass windows fill the ground floor of this two- story, three day structure. A unique feature of the interior, originally constructed as a dry goods store, is the second story mezzanine which curves around the interior, open in the center to the first floor. Built around 1895, two-story with raised brick parapet and pressed tin cornice, 1/1 windows with center windows coupled; all having tin hood molds, cast iron storefront, double doors, mezzanine area on second floor open in center to first.
THC Survey
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618 Main Street | ||||||||||
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616, 618, & 620 Main Street 616-618 two building row with pressed tin cornice and upper front, cast iron lower front with central double front doors; bank at 620 Main is commercial style built 1868, originally general store, First National Bank of Calvert, exterior done 1887, three-bay front. 620 - first floor, round brick arch moldings, second floor - segmental arch, raised brick parapet with brick corbeling.
THC Survey |
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Citizens State Bank, 620
Main Street,
30 58 41 N / -96 40 25 W,
Map Although the first floor facade of this two-story three-bay nineteenth century structure has been altered, the exterior retains its 1887 style. Brick arch moldings surround first floor openings while segmental arches span second level openings, giving them a visual continuity. Interest is provided at the cornice by a raised brick parapet with brick corbelling. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Built 1868 by James S. Hanna, for a general store. Owned 1870 - 1871 by a Battle of San Jacinto veteran, the Revered Robert Crawford. Bought 1872 by J. S. McLendon, whose store and private bank were housed in the structure. In 1887 this was site of founding, first National Bank of Calvert; later renamed Union State Bank; finally Citizens Bank & Trust. Exterior remains 1887 style." [#10914/1968]
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700 - 712 Main Street | ||||||||||
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700 - 706 Main Street Built around 1875, one-story, two building row each with two bays, four double doors, each with six panes and eight-light transom, plastered brick facade. Has been severely altered since original survey.
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Lone Star Beer Warehouse, 708 - 712 Main Street Two one-story brick buildings. 708 has dentiled cornice and wood storefront with three double doors, four panes in each side door and two panes in each center door. Scutcheon plates. 712 has stepped raised parapets, two double doors - four-light transom.
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712 Main Street This one-story commercial Victorian brick building has stepped raised parapet, double doors with sidelight and transom.
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714 - 724 Main Street | ||||||||||
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714 - 718 Main Street Built around 1890, Two one-story buildings, 714 has brick details in raised parapet and three-bay wood storefront with three double doors with two-light transoms, 714-series of round arches (Romanesque); 718 has tin upper front and cornice, original wood storefront and paned double doors, transom over all openings, three-bay.
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726 - 728 Main Street 726 is a one-story masonry with tin upper front and cornice, no doors, missing glass; 728 is plastered brick two-story with three segmentally-arched windows, 6/6 light in upper story, scutcheon plates, brick cornice. Original opening on south elevation has been bricked closed. 728 operated at one time as J.H. Drennan and W. Groceries - first floor considerably altered from original, 726 also altered from original.
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709 - 717 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Salazar's Garage, 717 Main Street Built around 1890, this handsome four- part, eight-bay one-story masonry structure terminates the block. Eight sets of double doors with transoms set in stilted brick arches span the cast iron front. Decorative brick corbelling and pilasters capped with brick finials satisfies the desire for opulence and imparts individuality to the facade. Brick one-story building, four-part, three-bay front each with two double doors with four light transoms in stilted brick arches, brick detailed cornice and four-part, eight-bay composition - decorative brick corbeling - pilasters with brick finials, metal sill.
THC Survey |
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707, 709, & 711 Main Street Built around 1875, 707-one-story with segmentally-arched openings, two double door with two light transoms; 709 is a two-story with brick saw-tooth details and crenellations and segmentally-arched doorway, segmentally-arched 6/6 light window above and round arches below with fanlights; 711 is one-story with round arches (maintains same cornice line as 717).
THC Survey |
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701 - 707 Main Street | ||||||||||
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703 Main Street This commercial Victorian structure was built about 1880. It is a one-story building with raised parapet; corbeled dentils; brick panels; round arched windows.
THC Survey |
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701 Main Street This commercial Victorian structure was built about 1880. It is a two-story brick building, three-bay with flat-arched brick openings; 4/4 light windows; two double doors with six panes. Upper floor used by cotton broker.
THC Survey |
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611 - 617 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Chinese Farmers, 617 Main
Street, 30 58 41 N / -96 40 27 W,
Map Texas Historic Marker reads: "Home Area Of Chinese Farmers. Imported from Asia about 1874 to help in cotton fields, these exotic workers were queues and attracted much notice. At least 24 families were brought here; many became permanent residents, respected for their good work. Over 25 ethnic groups settled in Texas-- many having preceded the Chinese. Other than American Indians, first permanent Texas settlers were cattle raisers from the Canary Islands. Other migrant groups included Cuban cigar makers and European lace makers. Given new opportunities, their descendants now are in industry, business, professions." [#10912/1968]
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615 - 617 Main Street Built around 1890, ne-story brick buildings both with pressed tin cornices and upper building front, cast iron storefront, show windows, 617 has double doors. 615 only has pressed tin cornice.
THC Survey |
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611 - 613 Main
Street Built around 1880, one-story brick buildings with segmentally-arched openings, both have corbeled brick cornice and new storefronts.
THC Survey |
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603 - 609 Main Street | ||||||||||
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607 - 609 Main Street Built around 1890, 607 is a one-story brick with tin front and cornice, six-light transoms, double central doors. 609 has ABBA, with segmentally-arched openings, three light transoms on window, five-light transoms in two central openings.
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601, 603, & 605 Main Street Built around 1880, 601 is a one-story brick, front with two double doors each with two light transoms, flanked by show windows with three light transoms, brick dentiled cornice, 603 and 605 are a two-building row with central door and five-light transom, no ornament.
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601 Main Street | ||||||||||
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517 - 519 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Oscar Building, 519 Main Street Built in 1877, two-story tan brick with all openings round arched, having brick hood molds, 2/2 windows above, raised parapet with date, corbeled brick cornice with dentils, two facade openings, one now boarded up.
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509 - 515 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Cobb's Market, 515 Main
Street, 30 58 43 N / -96 40 29 W,
Map Texas Historic Marker reads: "Original meat market here in 1868 was remodeled into present Victorian building of handmade brick in 1878, by Mrs. Ella Oscar. Original fixtures still used include wood burning stove of cast iron, marble top counters, meat saw rack." [#10915/1967]
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513 - 515 Main Street Built around 1880, Two one-story buildings in row, brick with brick details, 513 has brick panels, three-bay front of cast iron with three-light transoms over double doors, dentiled cornice; 515 has brick corbeling, two-bay front with double doors with brick round arch and fan lights.
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501 - 507 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Oscar Building, 507 Main Street. Built in 1879 by the Oscar family,
prominent Calvert merchants, this two-story, four-bay masonry building retains
its original facade almost intact. Remodeling has altered one bay. Originally
all ground level openings were filled with French doors. Brick label moldings
surround the second story windows. The building is terminated by a metal
pedimented cornice stamped with the name of the builder.
Two-story, four-bay brick building with pressed tin pedimented cornice and brick
hood molds on round-arched upper story windows of 6/6 light with fan lights
above, tin canopy - pedimented carries name Oscar.
THC Survey |
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501, 503, & 505 Main Street Built around 1890, row of three brick buildings, cast iron storefronts, each with three bays, 501 has scutcheon plates, 503 has six light transoms, 505 has corbeled brick cornice, brick panels.
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413 - 415 Main Street | ||||||||||
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413 Main Street Although it is in poor structural condition, this late nineteenth century commercial building has maintained much of its original design. The facade is spanned by six sets of French doors set into the cast iron store front. Built about 1885, one-story, six-bay building with cast iron storefront with brick belt course above, double doors in each bay with four paned transoms above.
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405 - 411 Main Street | ||||||||||
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407 - 411 Main Street This three building row of one- story, three-bay masonry commercial structures were constructed ca. 1880 and are exemplary of nineteenth century commercial construction. Romanesque in flavor, the building at 407 Main is especially handsome with its three sets of French doors capped fanlights. The other two structures are marked by wooden fronts with French door openings covered by transoms. All the structures maintain the same roof line. 409 and 411 Main share an identical continuous line of brick dentils and corbelling below the cornice. Built around 1880, three-building row each with three bays, double doors, 407 has wooden doors, fan lights, round-arched doors with hood molds, all have corbeled brick cornice and 409 and 411 have brick dentils, one-story buildings.
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401 - 403 Main Street | ||||||||||
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Hazel's Flower and Dress Shop, 401, 403, & 405 Main Street At one time this three-bay, nineteenth century one-story commercial structure was marked by three large brick arches which spanned its facade. The supportive brick pilasters were removed to allow the installation of a new opening framed by large plate glass windows The remaining brick arches are sagging because the wooden lintel cannot support the weight of the masonry. A brick cornice acts as a decorative element. Built around 1875, two three-bay one-story buildings, brick round arched fenestrations, central entry, fanlights and double doors in 401, brick dentiled cornice and brick hood molds in 403. Brick pilasters in both.
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Gibson Gin & Weigh Station The cotton industry brought great prosperity to the town of Calvert in the late 1800s. At one time, there were three gins in operation. The Gibson Gin & Oil Co. was founded by brothers J. H. & P. C. Gibson and became incorporated in 1899. By 1912, it claimed to be the world's largest ginning operation. The present depot-styled office building and weigh platform were constructed in 1918 by a local carpenter, W. N. Lange, on the site of a single story office and warehouse owned by the Maddox family until 1877. The canopy over the weigh station was destroyed by a tornado in 1975. 4x6 wood brackets at overhanging eaves - upper story windows 2/2 covered by stone lintels - segmental arch over doorway - very unique wooden doorway perhaps added at a later date - part of the Gibson Gin and all business - doors from Citizens State Bank. The Gibson Gin & Weigh Station is one of 12 buildings or groups of buildings in Robertson County that is preserved in the U.S. Library of Congress American Memory Collection. Architectural drawings and floor plans of this historic building from this collection are featured below.
THC Survey
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Calvert Hotel The Calvert Hotel at 408 Railroad Street has a raised two-story, brick foundation, Doric columned portico and balcony, doors with transom and sidelights, cypress siding, imbricated shingling in gables, made into hotel 1890-1966.
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Dobkins Hotel The Dobkins Hotel at 706 Railroad Street was built by the White sisters in 1912 and operated as a hotel until 1969 and again to 1973.
THC Survey |
| THC = Texas Historical Commission |
= For additional information |
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