Roberts-Dolezal Farmstead, 75 miles northeast of the intersection of CR27 and FM 1722, Garrett, Ellis County, TX

Significance: The farmstead is symbolic of the assimilation of Eastern Europeans into early twentieth century American culture. Although the front of the house resembles a 1920s craftsman bungalow, the original building dates to the 1880s. The farmstead is named for Jefferson D. Roberts and Joseph (Joe) Dolezal, who owned the property for a combined 65 years. Jefferson D. Roberts purchased this land in 1880, which originally encompassed 100 acres in the Claibourne Garrett Survey, and built the house soon thereafter. Like most residents of rural Ellis County during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Roberts was a cotton farmer. He operated a family-run farm that included only the 100 acres in the Garrett Survey. He sold the property in 1913. Four years later, Joe Dolezal acquired the land and the buildings on it and eventually added the existing front wing on the house. Dolezal was one of a large number of Bohemian immigrants who settled in eastern Ellis County during the early twentieth century and who today comprise a significant portion of the population in Ennis and surrounding areas. Dolezal later purchased other nearby properties, as well as a town lot in Ennis, while continuing to live in this house. He sold this property to his son, Joseph (Joe) Dolezal, Jr., who kept the land from 1949 until 1979. The Robets-Dolezal Farmstead's significance stems principally from its association with the influx of Eastern European immigrants into Ellis County during the early twentieth century and their assimilation into the existing culture.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1864

Survey number: HABS TX-3380

Building/structure dates: ca. 1880 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1900 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1920 Subsequent Work

farming farmhouses cotton industry bungalows craftsman architectural elements immigrants ellis county roberts dolezal farmstead roberts dolezal farmstead miles northeast intersection garrett ellis texas architexas joseph dolezal bruce fowler gary garmon heck hardy gilbert hickox historic american buildings survey larry irsik craig king richard martratt craig melde robert l mitchell david moore jeanie o brien jefferson d roberts ernesto robles edward sergeant gary skotnicki w p slater stan solamillo texas national research laboratory commission diane van buren photo library of congress

1933 - 1970

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