Washington Bower
Texas Historical Commission Marker Number: 9367
Year Dedicated: 1971
Marker Size: Medallion & Plate
Pictures and Information from 1893 to 1971 (more pictures at the end of this listing):
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- Washington Bower 1971 Dedication of Historical Marker
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- Sketch of Washington Bower House
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- Washington Bower House Photo Source [Washington Bower Photograph #3], photograph, 1893; (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth497160/: accessed April 10, 2017), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Commission
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- Washington Bower House Photo Source [Washington Bower Photograph #3], photograph, 1893; (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth497160/: accessed April 10, 2017), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Commission
Marker Text:
“Washington Bower” – built 1853, first frame house in this area. Site, an 1838 Republic of Texas land grant to Simon Miller, was inherited by Lucinda Lawrence, wife of Henry Inlo Layne — farmer, rancher, mason, builder of this house. Layne was host here (1857) to military hero Robert E. Lee; in 1863, was a victor in Civil War Battle of Galveston. Texas Revolution veteran Adam Lawrence died here in 1878. Placed passed in 1890 to Adella Layne and her husband, William Russell Landers. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1971
Address: 733 CR 479
Primary City: Thrall
Secondary Town(s): Lawrence Chapel
Additional Information: In 2017 as well as 2012, house is in disrepair. The historical marker has been missing for years.
Longitude: -97.231575
Latitude: 30.497988
Verified Location: Verified 12/28/2016 & 5/7/2017 R006373
WCHC’s Vol III, pg 237 notes some repairs on the house were done in 1968. WCHC’s notebook pg 59: “Owned by five generations of the original family, this small yellow frame house with fireplaces on north and south sides of the house is on an unpaved road approximately one mile north of Lawrence Chapel Cemetery.”
Pictures taken of Washington Bower house in 2012 by Wayne Ware:
Pictures taken of Washington Bower house in 2017 by Nancy Bell. Note the property recently sold and the new owners are putting in a new gated entrance near the house & Bower cemetery.
