Harris-Martin House, Anderson, Grimes County, TX

1996 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Fourth Place
Significance: Braced-frame construction and documentary evidence suggests that the house was built c. 1840. John Birdsall Harris inherited it and the business of his cousin, Charles J. Birdsall, in August of 1844. Harris and Birdsall were two of the first merchants in the community of Alta Mira established by Henry Fanthorp in 1838. Harris's father, John R. Harris, founded Harrisburg, Texas. His mother, Jane, was active in Texas' independence ... The original house had a simple braced frame with a porch on two sides. The interior consisted of two rooms. Later Greek Revival changes added a double portico central section with a narrow staircase from the front porch.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N469
Survey number: HABS TX-3409
Building/structure dates: ca. 1840 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1877 Subsequent Work