Machemehl Family House
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The Machemehl Family House, a Texas Historical Landmark built in the early 1900’s, was a center of social activity for the German Texan community of Bellville, Texas. [1]
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[edit] Historical Context of Family and House
The Bownds archive states that the Machemehl name first appears in 1316 in property records from Meiben, near Dresden in Saxony. It literally means Maker of Flour, or Miller. The Machemehl family was brought to Texas by John Machemehl and his father Michael Machemehl, both German members of the Forty-Eighters. They led German immigrants to Texas in 1849. Once in Texas, Mr. Machemehl led these early German Texan settlers to the Bellville area of Austin County, Texas. John, university educated, was the forester for the city of Annaberg in Saxony. His wife Henrietta, born in Switzerland, was a French Huguenot who was a governess for the family of a Russian prince of Courland whose estate was on the Baltic. She met John Machemehl in Saxony while traveling with the Russian family. As John’s wife, Henrietta Borel Machemehl (August 10, 1814 - August 23, 1950) [2], accompanied him on the 10 week sailing voyage to Texas. Henrietta died in Texas in 1850. John married two more times, had four more children, and died in 1880. [3] In 1849, John Machemehl led his family from Annaberg, Saxony, to an area near the present day town of Bellville, Texas. [4] John's son Paul Machemehl would become a leader among the German-Texans of Central Texas.
By the early 1860's a number of German Texans came to believe that the Confederate fight was immoral and decided to move their families to Mexico. Paul Machemehl is known for his participation in the passage to Mexico which numerous German Texans endured during the American Civil War [5] [6]. Many Central Texas Germans rode to Mexico. All of these individuals met hardship and many were killed at the Nueces Massacre which set a fearful example to others German Texans trying to ride to Mexico. Many individuals from Central Texas joined Paul Machemehl and rode south to Mexico, hoping to return to Texas after the American Civil War had ended. Documents located at the Eula and David Wintermann Library in Eagle Lake, Texas report that: John Machemehl "was discussing the hostility between the North and the South with Paul Machemehl of Bellville, Texas. Many Germans did not believe this was their fight and many joined Paul Machemehl and rode south to Mexico to sit out the war before returning." [7]
On Paul Machemehl's return from Mexico, it was around 1868 that Paul began his courtship with Hermina Brune in Colorado County, Texas." [8] Paul was a successful farmer and cattleman and acquired land in many areas within Austin County before retiring to Bellville in 1913. Paul’s wife was Hermine Brune of the adjoining Colorado county, also of German immigrant stock. [9] [10] On January 8, 1881 Paul Machemehl married Hermine Brune. The marriage was performed by Colorado County Judge, Charles Riley [11]. Mrs. Hermine Brune Machemehl died on December 18, 1936 and was laid to rest in Austin County [12].
[edit] Architeture and Construction
In 1920, Paul's son Louis A. Machemehl commissioned famed Houston architect, Alfred Finn, to design the Machemehl Family House in Bellville, Texas. The structure 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. It remained in the Machemehl family until 1953. The architect's original watercolor rendition and detailed floor plans are in the archives of the Houston Public Library [13]. This house, a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission was built 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. [14] [15] [16]
[edit] Location
The house has a southwestern view of the historic German-Texan settlement of Cat Springs, Texas. In its present condition, large oaks and magnolias trees presently surround the house. It is located one and a half mils from the town square of Bellville, Texas. [17]
[edit] Historical Recognition and Awards
- The House received the "Best Front Porch Award" given by Arrington's Bed and Breakfast Journal. [19] [20]
