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Historical
Homes of Moody, Texas |
| The Baugh Mansion |
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photo compliments of David and Laura Scott
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Once
Beautiful Baugh Mansion
battling with age,
neglect, fire and trespassers
By Joyce Cox
The Baugh mansion has a
special place in my heart, because my mother Angero Susan Lee
Woods was born in it November 6, 1913. Her parents were Marvin Err
and Claudia Mable Lawrence Lee. Many times my husband Charles and
I would drive by the old stone mansion and dream we could someday
restore it. I have talked to many people who has had the same
wish. In December of 1995, it was gutted by fire. All that is left
is a shell of historical stone. It appears trespassers go inside
the fence area and take some of the precious native stone for
their own use.
William Lovic Baugh (some
records give his middle name as Lovette) born in 1814, was a
farmer and rancher. He and his wife Lucille Harris Purcell, came
to Texas from Georgia. He had the house built (some records say
1850 others say 1860) out of Texas cut stones quarried on the Carl
Wright homestead. It was cut by slaves belonging to Baughs
neighbor, Jessie Jones.
It was probably the most
impressive house built in the Leon River Valley, just east of
Mother Neff State Park on Moody Road and the Pat Neff estate near
Horse Creek.
Hazel Potter, deceased
historian was a descendant of the Baugh family, and wrote a book,
“William Baugh family history.” Virginia Rush Martin was born
there in 1921. She was the granddaughter of Murdock and Hulda
Robinette. Her parents were Walter and Marie Delia Rush. Ben
Edward's was one the last to live in the mansion before it was
abandoned. There were eight large rooms, each room had its own
fireplace. Thirty-two large windows. Four ground floor rooms were
entered by a total of 18 solid rock steps positioned around a
ground entrance in an arch fashion, 9 steps to each side going up
to a solid stone front porch. The same type of entrance was at the
rear. The floor of the lower level was built 2 1/2 feet below
ground level and was of concrete.
History books and
newspapers says, progress freed the slaves, but Indian raids on
homesteads still occurred. To protect his wife and family of one
daughter and nine sons. Mr. Baugh built his house with an escape
tunnel in a downstairs room. It started in the side of the
fireplace and ran 150 yards underground to the West, exiting in a
brushy area. Rocked on all sides, the tunnel was three feet tall
and three feet wide, which made it easy for crawling. I have
talked with Ben Edward's. He says, he has no knowledge of an
escape tunnel. He and his brother explored all areas of the estate
when they were kids.
Hopefully someday there
will be a historical marker by the site, even though it has been
destroyed by people who appear not to care . . . including the
present owners.
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| The Kuykendall House
The Kuykendall House was
built in 1900 by Dr. P.M. Kuykendall. It is a fine example of
Queen Anne architecture. It contains a witch hat roof, numerous
porches, three finials, fish-scale siding and a massive entrance
hall with teardrop staircase.
It is the old home of Laura Kuykendall, former dean of
Southwestern University, Annabyrd Acree, Historian, Dr. Moran
Kuykendall and Charles P. Kuykendall, World War I veteran, as well
as later members of the family.
In 1976 the house was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Chas M. Hundley of
Marble Falls. Celesta Pack Price current owner of the home, has preserved the authenticity of the house.
Unique woods and structural elements have been uncovered.
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| The Howard House
A resident of Moody when
the town was founded in 1881, Charles Howard (1862-1915) operated
a general store and become a prosperous businessman. He bought the
lot and built a 5-room cottage for his bride Florence Carnes
Howard in 1888. (d.1959) After the cottage burned in 1898, Mr.
Howard erected this elegant residence for his family. A St. Louis
architectural firm drew the house plans and local contractors
Frank Jones and Elmo Routh built the house under strict
supervision of Charles Howard. Queen Anne detailing includes a
turret and decorative fish-scale shingling.
The heirs of Charles Howard sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. J.B.
Vandiver in 1973. The Vandivers restored the house to its original
grandeur and have moved into the house to make it their home.
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