Dr. Bronaugh - Hasdorff Home
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967
203 Brackenridge Street, Edna
 

Dr. Bronaugh-Hasdorff Home

Built, 1866, in Texana by practicing physician, J. M. Bronaugh. Of Florida heart pine, square nails. Moved to Edna in 1883. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967
 

Courtesy of Texas Historical Commission and The Portal to Texas History
 

Dr. Bronaugh - Hasdorff Home
By Louise LaBauve
Jackson County Survey Committee Chairman

This old house was first built in Texana, where Dr. J. M. Bronaugh was a practicing physician during the early days of Jackson County. He was married to Miss Julia Dutart of the Carancahua section in December of 1866. He started buying lots in the town of Texana in that year and continued to do so until 1877. It is likely that he built the house when he married after purchasing the lot in 1866 at Texana. At one time the Masons held their meetings in the home and there was a dentist office in one of the rooms. He made his will at Texana in 1877, but the will did not have to be probated until 1889 in Edna.

The property was left to his wife, Julia Emma Dutart Bronaugh and their children, Lorrain E., John M., Jr., Mary E. and Robert L. His final inventory was not large, but he left them a good heritage. The medical profession at that time was not the same as it is now. The witnesses to the will were his brother, Richard Keith Call Bronaugh and A. Dupuy of Texana, members of old and honored families, who have many descendants in Jackson County today.

The house is built of heart pine said to have been brought to Texana by boat from Florida. That was the most logical way to obtain good lumber cheaper due to the transportation facilities that were in Texana on the Navidad River.

It is said that this two-story home had from 2 1/2 to 3 feet of head room between the floors. It was built with square nails, as were all the homes of that era. It has been well kept during the past years that the Hasdorff family have owned it.

Mr. Charles M. Hasdorff married Miss Bertha Westhoff, whose home was next door to this home. She was living with her mother in an old beautiful home that burned about 50 years ago (c1915). Mr. Hasdorff moved to Edna prior to 1899. The next step that Edna made in progress, after they abolished the "The City of Edna" form of government, was to authorize telephones. The Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company was given the authority to construct, operate and maintain its lines upon and over the public roads leading from Wharton County and operate a telephone line from Wharton to Edna. It was not until August 12, 1901 that the right to erect telephone poles and wires on the streets, alleys and public ways of the city of Edna was granted to the Southwestern Company. Mr. Hasdorff was Edna's first telephone operator. Later, he was co-owner Mr. Gideon Egg, Jr. in the grocery firm of Egg and Hasdorff. He was a successful rancher, owning many acres of land and many head of cattle which the family continued. Mr. Hasdorff died June 1, 1945, but his wife and daughter, Miss Marion Hasdorff, still live in the beautifully maintained home. Miss Marion married her distant cousin, Frederick L. Hasdorff in 1922 and they lived in San Antonio until the death of her husband on August 31, 1952. Marion assumed the care of her mother who is in very bad health at this writing. [Bertha died February 27, 1967.]

When repapering one of the rooms, Mrs. Marion Hasdorff said they found that the Richmond children had carved their names in the wood work under an upstairs window. Mrs. Hasdorff has always kept the house in apple-pie order inside and out. It has been the scene of many social functions, both during her time and that of her daughter, the daughter being quite a lovely girl.

The lot on which the house stands was bought November 19, 1883 by Dr. J. M. Bronaugh from Robert J. Brackenridge and was a portion of the Job Williams league. The house was moved from Texana to Edna in 1883.