Williamson County Historical Commission
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Page-Decrow-Weir House
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Coordinates UTM 14 R - east 0625444 - north 3388399
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PAGE-DECROW-WEIR HOUSE Researched by Dan K. Utley and
David W. Moore Narrative written by: Dan K. Utley
1988 Immediately adjacent to the west
side of Interstate 35 in Georgetown, near the Highway 29 exit,
is a stately two-story Victorian house that appears out of place
in the context of a busy freeway, convenience stores, and
shopping centers. The verticality of its design and its
exaggerated features, coupled with its location on a prominent
hill overlooking the city, adds to its uniqueness. It is the
type of home that would be more common on an oversized town lot
near the courthouse square or in the university neighborhood. It
is not uncommon for people to assume the home has been relocated
or that is a recent replica of an architectural style popular at
the turn of the century. In fact, however, the Victorian house
Perched high above the busy highway predates the earliest
development in the immediate area. J. M. Page (d.1929) built the home
for his family in 1903. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1832,
Page was caught up in the excitement of the California gold rush
of 1849. Sailing to the west coast by way of Cape Horn, he
participated in the frenzied prospecting and speculating. After a short time he moved to
Bastrop, Texas, where he established a saw mill in the Lost
Pines region, and where he served as a justice of the peace. By
the early 1850s he had settled in the new community of
Georgetown in Williamson County, where he was known by the title
"Captain." Whether his moniker reflected his early adventure at
sea or his standing in the military has not been determined. [1] In Georgetown, Page acquired a
great deal of land and participated in a number of enterprises.
Most notably, he was a successful rancher, the town postmaster
(1865), and the proprietor of Page's Mineral Well Steam Baths in
the 1880s and 1890s. He built his bath houses in Oak Grove Park,
near the later site of Westside School. [2] It is said that Captain Page built
his Victorian home outside the Georgetown corporate limits to
avoid paying city taxes. If that is true, he must have been
frustrated when the city soon extended its western boundaries
past his homestead. The action made little difference, however,
because a family tragedy prevented him from enjoying the luxury
of his new residence. In April, 1903, his wife Olivia died. Mrs.
Page was evidently a wealthy woman in her own right; her probate
records reveal her real estate holdings in the Texas counties of
Jefferson, Medina, Williamson, Brewster, and Wilson, and in the
states of Nevada and California. [3] Following his wife's death, J. M.
Page sold the new family home to Olivia's brother, Thomas Decrow.
Born at Decrow Point in Matagorda County, Texas, in 1849, Decrow
joined his family and others who moved from the Indianola area
following the devastating l875 hurricane. He arrived in
Georgetown the following year and eventually became one of the
county's leading ranchers. He married Jennie Cook in 1877 and
two children were born to the couple. Decrow died of pneumonia
on January 4, 1921. His obituary in the Williamson County Sun
called him "a good citizen and a man of unimpeachable integrity,
highly esteemed by his friends, respected by all who knew him
and beloved by his family for the kindliness of his heart and
devotion to them." [4] In September, 1920, just a few
months before his death, Thomas Decrow sold the family home to
Horace McClure Weir and his wife Elizabeth Cecelia "Bessie"
(Rude). H. M. Weir was the son of Williamson County pioneers
Thomas Calvin and Valinda Camp Weir. The town of Weir, located
seven miles northeast of Georgetown, was named for the family.
H. M. Weir was born in Williamson County in 1872 and attended
Southwestern University in Georgetown and Trinity University in
San Antonio. He taught school for awhile, but eventually began
farming at Weir. In 1914 he moved to Georgetown and established
a successful ranching enterprise. [5] Weir was known to his family and
friends as "Greely" because, it is said, he was born the same
year the celebrated New York journalist and Liberal Republican
leader Horace Greely decided to challenge U. S. Grant for the
presidency. "Greely" Weir was a strong supporter of rural
schools and served twenty-two years on the Williamson County
Board of Education. For fourteen of those years he was the
chairman. In addition to his educational activities, he was also
a leader in Baptist churches at Weir and later at Georgetown.
[6] Bessie Weir, like her husband, was
part of an early Williamson County family. She was born in 1876
at the W. S. Rude homestead near Mankins Crossing on the San
Gabriel River (about 7 mi. E of Georgetown toward Taylor). Also
like her husband, she attended Southwestern University and
taught school for a short time. She married H. M. Weir in 1900.
Seven children were born to the union. The notice of her death
in 1960, which shared the front page of the Williamson County
Sun with the headline "County Landslides for LBJ," recalled: She was revered by her many friends
for her Christian character, kind patient, sympathetic
disposition and consideration for others. She was industrious,
enjoyed her work, and happy to be of service to her family. She
was a devoted wife and mother and took great pride in her
children, working unselfishly to assist them in attaining their
goals. [7] It was during the Weir family
ownership, which lasted until 1962, that the homestead gained
some statewide recognition as a sports training center. The
"sport" was polo, as unusual in Texas during the 1930s as it is
today. To understand how polo enthusiasts were able to introduce
the sport into Texas despite the predominant stereotypical
images of the rough, tough cowboy and the quick, steely-eyed
cutting horses that ruled the ranches at round-ups, it is
necessary to modify mental images of current polo matches.- In
the 1930s, the Texas style of polo was seen as a natural
outgrowth of ranching traditions, much as rodeos or quarter
horse races. Newell Sent, in his 1929 book American provided a
good description of the sport's Lone Star version: … we see the picturesque Texas polo
at its best, for the stock saddle, the five-gallon hat, and the
embroidered cowboy boot is still the usual polo equipment. [8] Esther Messick Weir, who married
into the family, gave an even more detailed picture of early
polo in Texas: The Texans might not wrap their
horses legs with bandages and braid the horses tails and manes;
they might not wear the classic polo shirt, a simple cotton knit
shirt with short sleeves and a crew neckline; they might not use
the special version of the English saddle which was used by the
Eastern players; they might not use the helmet and the high
riding boots to replace their Stetsons (sic) and cowboy boots.
But play polo they did, and the more they came into contact with
the Eastern teams the more they upgraded their equipment and
their skills. The Texans eventually would adopt all of the
Eastern gear, even the preference for Thoroughbred horses over
Quarter horses. [9] 0. W. Cardwell is the man
responsible for introducing the sport of polo to Georgetown. He
moved to Williamson County from Junction, Kimble County, in
1929, when several of his children reached college age. Cardwell
had developed a reputation for raising quality polo ponies, many
of which were used by the established Eastern players. He was
also known for his remarkable polo-playing skills, despite the
fact that he had only one arm. He established a riding school
west of Georgetown on the Leander road and soon began
instructing students in the rules of polo. In order to better
serve his customers, he received permission to set up a practice
playing field on the Weir property near town. The site of the
old polo playing field was located to the east of the house, on
land that was later excavated during construction of Interstate
35. In addition to the polo grounds, the Weirs provided stabling
space for the horses. The stables used in the 1930s still remain
behind the Weir House and would be a logical site for a subject
marker commemorating the history of polo in Georgetown. [10] Several Weir boys joined the
Cardwells, Harrises, and others to establish a polo team. Under
the direction of the senior Cardwell, the boys adopted a
vigorous training program and as a result, became quite
proficient in the sport. In 1932 they were persuaded to enter
regional competition as part of the Third Annual Southwest
Championship Polo Tournament in Fort Worth. Much to the surprise
of the other participating teams, they won the regional title.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram provided coverage of the unusual
event: Georgetown's hard hitting poloists,
playing an inspired game, Saturday afternoon defeated the crack
El Ranchito [Fart Worth] team, 13 to 7, in the final
championship game for the Third Annual Fall Polo Tourney, which
started last Saturday. In addition to winning the Southwestern
title, the Georgetown players were presented with the Hoot
Gibson trophy and player cups, emblematic of their honors, at
the conclusion of the game, which was witnessed by more than
1500. [11] The article went on to describe the
significance of the Georgetown feat: The Georgetown mounts. . . kept on
top of all the plays, shining to particular advantage on long
field runs, when they often outran the El Ranchito ponies.
Incidentally, El Ranchito is conceded to have the finest string
of polo mounts in the Southwest, so the result of Saturday's
game must be taken as a big tribute to the gameness and staying
qualities of the Georgetown mounts, most of which are rather
small, but remarkably fast and agile. .. This marked the first
time Georgetown has participated in a Southwestern tournament.
[12] The Star-Telegram article listed
the winning players as 0. M. Cardwell, L. Starks (probably C.
Starke), Afton Weir, George Kuykendall (probably Bill
Kuykendall), and Billy Cardwell. [13] The Georgetown Polo Team on the
Southwestern title again in 1934, despite the loss of the
Cardwells; 0. W. had moved his family and horses back to
Junction earlier in the yearAfter 1934, the Weirs and others
continued to participate in competitions in Austin and San
Antonio, and in Shreveport, Louisiana. By 1938, however, they
disbanded the club because of increased costs and difficulties
associated with the care and transportation of the horses.
Additionally, given the context of an imminent world war in
19:8, polo lost some of its immediate importance. [14] Since the training field was
subsequently destroyed by highway construction (the present
highway was built well below the original grade of the Weir
property; oak trees on the east side of the highway denote the
original lane to the Weir property), only the family house and
the stables remain as reminders of polo in Georgetown. The Page
Decrow-Weir House is also a reminder of the town's prosperity at
the turn of the century. It is a two-story frame structure with
Queen Anne influences on a Victorian design. The architecture
exhibits a variety of stylistic details and textures. A major
element in the design is the 2 and 1/2 story octagonal tower on
the southeast corner. It is an unusual feature, both because of
its proportions and because it is enclosed without exterior
openings. A common assumption would be that original windows
were later covered, but historic photos show it was built as it
now appears (see exhibits attached). The home is designed on an L-plan,
with an intersecting gable roof. A large, two-story gallery
features Doric columns and turned-wood balustrades. A pent roof
with shingled siding separates the first and second floors.
Additional features include a brick chimney with a corbelled
cap, cutaway corners on the northeast projecting wing, 1 over 1
double hung wood sash windows, and transoms over the doors. The
house is prominently sited on a hill facing Georgetown. That it
was designed to be seen only from the direction of town is
evidenced by the lack of ornamentation on the rear elevation. The Page-Decrow-Weir House is an
important landmark for residents of Georgetown and for travelers
on the busy freeway. Its architecture is unique in the context
of Georgetown, as it is in its association with the sport of
polo in Central Texas. Throughout its history, it has been the
home of three important local families. Today, it continues its
ties with the past by providing space for an antique business
known as Past and Presents. The current owners are committed to
the preservation of the historic home, the stables, and the
surrounding grounds. It is their hope that historical markers
commemorating the Page-Decrow-Weir House and Polo in Georgetown
will result in a new appreciation for the "big house on the
hill." Researched by Dan K. Utley and
David W. Moore Written by: Dan K. Utley Austin, Texas May,
1988
THE WEIR HOUSE: A VICTORIAN TOUR Narrative by Dave Summers
1977 In the year 1903, a man by the name
of J.M. Page, known as Captain Page,wanted a way of escaping
city taxes. For this reason, he built a beautiful house, just
outside Georgetown's city limits. But his efforts were in vain,
for by the next city council meeting, the limits had been
extended past Page's house. Since Page failed to achieve his
goal, he sold the house to a man named Thomas Decrow, in 1904.
Decrow kept the house for 16 years, then sold it. In 1920, H.M. Weir, a Williamson
County farmer and rancher bought the house along with 500 acres
for $ 5,000. The Weir family immediately moved
into the house. When Mr. and Mrs. Weir died, the ranch was
inherited by their seven children. In 1963 they were tired of
family business, so they sold the land. The house shows little wear, but it
almost bursts with character. When the weirs moved into the
house, there was plenty of room. There are ten rooms altogether.
It was obviously built with many great ideas and quite a bit of
money. Page was intent on copying the
"Victorian" style architecture and he did a tremendous job of
it. The roofline, broken by many gables, is outlined by
intricately carved trim. There is a rounded dome or tower,
sometimes called a cupola; very stylish at this time. There are
porches around the entire house, and many doors and windows. The fence, porches, and trim are
all decorated in lavish hand-carved woodwork. The house's colors
are yellow with white trim. For these reasons this style is
called "Gingerbread", a distinctive and fashionable "Victorian
"feature. Many people are interested in
touring this house, and for good reasons. As a visitor
approaches the large 10-room house, one feels as if time has
gone back. The outside is made completely of cypress. Page had
the siding sent up from the California coast in wagons. This was
a very expensive venture, but well worth the money. Cypress
never rots and requires painting very seldom. As the visitor
enters through the large front door, he finds himself in the
Entry Hall. The Entry Hall is an expanded hallway. The solid
pine floors are also an expensive and beautiful feature
throughout the house. Every room throughout the house opens into
the other rooms surrounding it. From talks with Doc Weir, a
former owner of the house, I learned the reason for this. " In the summer, we would go up
into the attic and open the north and south windows. As we went
back downstairs, we could feel the heat rising to escape from
the house". This is proof that the house was
very well ventilated and cool during the entire summer. Directly to the left of the Entry
Hall is the Parlor. The Parlor is the interior room of the
cupola, used as an informal sitting room. Windows surround the
whole dome wall. Directly to the right of the Entry
Hall is the Tower Room. or formal living room. This room has one
of three fireplaces with a large mirrored mantle and a tile
front. With Victorian style furniture, I'm sure this room was
beautiful and was probably used for entertainment. Directly ahead of the Entry Hall is
the formal dining room. This room was the most spectacular of
them all. Obviously, many formal dinners had taken place in this
large 30 foot long room. At one end is the second fireplace. It
is identical to the one in the formal parlor and goes
beautifully in the large room. At the other end is a large
built-in china cabinet. This cabinet starts at the floor and
reaches the 11 foot ceiling. Again there is some intricate
designs carved in the hardwood. The front of the cabinet fact
has a beautiful glass cover. This glass slides up into the
higher part of the cabinet. Its ease ability shows how skilled
the crafter was. Directly behind the dining room, in
the back of the house is the kitchen and breakfast nook. This
room has been totally refinished, to the injury of the Victorian
effect. As we enter the Entry Hall again
one turns into the second doorway by the cupola and enters the
only bedroom downstairs. This room contains the third fireplace
of the house. It is large and very comfortable, with three big
windows for ventilation. If the visitor goes back into the
cupola room, he can see the main stairs leading to the second
floor (there is a back stairway in the kitchen). The main
stairway is the most spectacular sight in the house. It is all
carved into hardwood, climbing gracefully to the second floor.
At the top of the stairs and to the right is a
small sitting room going out to one of the two balconies. This
balcony is on the front of the house. Then one can take the first doorway
along the front of the house and enter one of the three
bedrooms. All the bedrooms are both large and cozy. Turning down the hall and taking
the first left, is the second bedroom. This bedroom opens into
the bathroom. Further down the hall, there are
stairs leading to the attic. Though not quite as pretty, these
stairs are still of high quality and a touch of class for attic
stairs. The second door on the left goes
into the bathroom, still containing the claw-and-ball legged
bathtub, porcelain sink, and commode all with porcelain
fixtures. This room is well preserved. At the end _is the last bedroom
which is large. At the south end is the door leading to the
second balcony. This balcony was private to whoever used the
room. As I left the house, I was almost
reluctant to go back to modern times. The house now stands
empty, looking lonely and sad. The Weir house had much to tell
and a beautiful way of showing how times have changed. Bibloigraphy Interviews: Doc Weir, Georgetown.
Lived in house as child. Clara Scarbrough, Georgetown.
Georgetown historian. County Records: Deeds from Williamson
County Courthouse.
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Historical
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