Dutart - McDowell House
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Texas Museum ground, 403 Wells Street, Edna
 

Dutart - McDowell House

Built in Texana about 1860; later moved here. Housed many of Edna's first families. Typifies homes of that era. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967.
 

Dutart - McDowell Home
From Cavalcade of Jackson County by I. T. Taylor
Notes by Louise LaBauve
Jackson County Survey Committee Chairman

One of the oldest houses in Edna is that in which Mrs. Flora McDowell now resides (1936). This house was moved from Texana and was occupied by Colonel Gideon Egg while his own home was under construction. George F. Horton later occupied this house while his present home was being moved from Texana and rebuilt. It is located on the corner of South Hanover and Brackenridge Streets. It is old fashioned in design. The Dutarts were a prominent family that lived near the West Carancahua River, near the old Buhler Community and the McDowell family were also very prominent families, the particular Mr. Dowell having married a Miss Dutart. There were several of this Dutart family, who contributed to the social life of that community and to the new town of Edna.

The above mentioned owner, now deceased, Mrs. Flora McDowell, was before her marriage, Miss Flora Wells, the granddaughter of the founder of  Jackson County, Mr. F. F. Wells. She contributed much to the cultural aspect of our new town, being quite talented, teaching music, and being the towns only photographer. Her son is now the owner of the house, Mr. Wells McDowell of Corpus Christi, Texas.

The house was built in Texana about 1860 - 65, some time during the Civil War. From the style of architecture, it seems a certain man must have been the main carpenter at that time in Texana. For a home of that era, it is in fair to good condition and is located in the heart of town. Due to the good location and the popularity of all of the occupants from the time that it was moved to Edna from Texana, this house more or less symbolizes the trend of architecture, even though there were at one time many houses almost like it that have gone the way of most old houses. Therefore we think that it should be preserved.

This is not and was not ever a pretentious house, just a home for many of the first families that came to Edna to live, some until their homes could be moved here or to be rebuilt or to build new. The reason that so many lived here was that soon after the house was brought here the Dutart girls wither married or they passed on, and the McDowell portion of the family lived at the McDowell Hotel in town near the Macaroni Station. A few years ago the Hotel made way for the First National Bank, being remodeled, but the shell of the building being the old hotel.

The home is not large, being about average of the houses built around here at that time. It consists of the long gallery on the front, a fairly wide entrance hall, with a large room on either side. Behind those two rooms were two smaller rooms, then an ell back with a kitchen and dining room. In latter years, a bedroom was made from the old dining room and a dining room was made from the front part of the kitchen. A long gallery on the ell portion was screened in later years. A bath was made from one of the smaller rooms, leaving six rooms and hall for living purposes, the materials being brought up the Navidad from Florida.

The general appearance is about the same as so many of the older homes that were here a long time ago, but have had to give way for progress and new homes. There is one other in town of the same vintage, the Kleas Home from Texana, bought in 1908 by my grandfather and was my home for many years. Our home had more rooms, fireplaces, more galleries and a little more style, but there are renters living there and it is not kept in such a way to qualify for a medallion.