HERITAGE SOCIETY RECEIVES GRANT TO RESTORE GIDDINGS STONE MANSION
The Heritage Society of Washington County soon will restore the historic Giddings Stone Mansion, thanks to a $21,840 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Brenham.
The grant, along with $9,360 in local matching funds, will help replace eroded mortar on the building’s stone exterior and make other restorations to the 147-year-old home of notable early Brenham resident J.D. Giddings.
The Pennsylvania resident moved to the area that was to become Brenham in 1836, following the death of his brother in the battle of San Jacinto as Texas won its independence from Mexico. Giddings was instrumental in getting Brenham incorporated and named the county seat of Washington County. He also played a major role in the extension of the railroad from the port at Galveston to Brenham and eventually to Austin. A stop along the rail line was given his family name and today is the city of Giddings.
The Giddings Stone Mansion was built in 1870 on the highest hill in the county after the family sought to escape an outbreak of yellow fever borne by mosquitoes in lower-lying areas nearby. The Greek Revival structure features a veranda and balcony with Doric columns, a carved cantilevered staircase, Victorian bay windows with intricate woodwork and other details.
The building’s appearance is still striking, but the years have taken a toll, says Vicki LaRue, heritage society vice president for fundraising.
“If we didn’t do something soon, we would have some very serious damage that would have cost us three or four times the amount needed to repair it now,” LaRue said. “Over time, the mortar on the stone exterior has been stable, but now it is starting to erode. If water gets in through the walls, it’s going to cause some serious problems for the structure of the building.”
Replacing the damaged mortar is vitally important because the stone exterior is not ornamental, but contributes to the building’s structural integrity, she said. Already, water has damaged window frames and wood molding in the kitchen wing.
LaRue said the mansion is an important link to the area’s history. The heritage society offers guided tours to civic groups and the general public, as well as educational programs for area school students. The Giddings Stone Mansion also is a popular site for weddings.
“This grant is tremendous,” LaRue said. “We don’t have a lot of funding and this would be a lot of money for us to raise from the community. We are so excited that LCRA and the City of Brenham are giving us this grant to allow us to restore this important part of our history.”
The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Brenham is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants are due July 31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
It is so good to see LCRA and the City of Brenham support this important and vital symbol of our history. The Heritage Society does so much good work in our community that is often unknown or overlooked by many. I am thankful for the hard work they do that makes Brenham a better place to live.