Louis A. Machemehl
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Louis A. Machemehl (1881-1952) was a German Texan civic leader. A native of Bellville, Texas, he was a land and cattle broker and builder of the Machemehl Family House. [1]
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[edit] Bellville Native
Louis A. Machemehl, a German-Texan, was the son of Paul Machemehl and grandson of John Machemehl. In his adult life, Louis A. Machemehl was the vice-president of Austin County State Bank, horseman of note, and owner of the 3rd. automobile in Bellville. [2] [3] [4]
[edit] The Machemehl Family House
In 1920 Louis A. Machemehl commissioned famed Houston architect, Alfred Finn, to design a house for his family in Bellville, Texas. The Machemehl Family House is a one and one-half story house built in Airplane-Bungalow style. The the upstairs portion is set behind the large wrap-around porch. Many festivities took place on that spacious porch, including dances by the youth of the city to a Victrola. Mahogany crown molding and doors and a fireplace with inlaid decorative tile, original brass wall sconces and chandeliers and a door into the kitchen for ice deliveries set this house apart. The architect's original watercolor rendition and detailed floor plans are in the archives of the Houston Public Library [5]
[edit] Historial Marker
The Louis A. Machemehl House is a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission [6]. The family residence was designed by prominent Houston architect Alfred C. Finn [7]. It was built in 1920 for Louis A. Machemehl, his wife Adelheid Machemehl (d. 1949), and their five children. The house was a center of social activity for the Central Texas community of Bellville. The landmark remained in the Machemehl family until 1953. [8]
[edit] Children
Louis A. Machemehl's son was Charles W. Machemehl (1922-2005). Mr. Machemehl was a member of the Texas A&M class of 1944 that was transferred to Army Officer Candidate School in 1943. He served in the European theater with several airborne units as a forward observer and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Pocket, and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. His unit linked up with the Russian army at the Elbe River precipitating the end of the war. He received several medals for gallantry in combat including two bronze stars and a silver star. At the end of the war he had attained the rank of captain and was a member of the staff of General Matthew B. Ridgeway, 1st Allied Airborne Army [9]. Louis A. Machemehl's grandson is Chuck Machemehl (1947-present), a prominant rancher, businessman and civic leader in Washington County,Texas [10]. Chuck Machemehl was also a Cleveland Indians pitcher during 1971 [11].
