Weisman-Hirsch House

The Weisman-Hirsch House just south of the courthouse square in Marshall, Texas, commands an imposing view of the county seat. The residence was built with elements from the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles and was designed for Joe Weisman, a native of Syracuse, New York, by architect C.G. Lancaster. A resourceful and successful merchant, Weisman held various civic posts during his lifetime and enjoyed a large measure of influence in the city's thriving Jewish community. Weisman's son-in-law Joe Nathan Hirsch, a wealthy businessman in his own right, lived in the house from 1910 to 1966. The handsomely proportioned, two-and-a-half-story, wood-frame structure contains 12 rooms. Its interior woodwork and art glass are impeccably executed. Of the many houses designed by Lancaster, the Weisman-Hirsch House is probably his most distinguished. It is also one of the major structures linked to the city's era of Jewish pre-eminence.

Joe and Lena Young Weisman, leaders in Marshall's Jewish community, commissioned architect C.G., Lancaster and a builder remembered only as "Brink" to construct the present residence in 1900, after their first home burned in 1898. Lancaster also designed the city's landmark Gnocchio Hotel (1893-96), and supervised the construction of the Har- rison County courthouse (1900) which was designed by J. Riely Gordon. The Marshall Morning Star is filled with accolades for the patriarch of the Weisman family. "The brilliant career of J. Weisman, who has led the way in the introduction of many important business methods, has built up a mercantile business that would be a credit to any of the larger cities of the Union," reads a clipping from an undated, May 1894 issue of the Morning Star.

In addition to his business, Weisman also found time to devote to the construction and support of the Moses Montefiore Temple, Marshall's first synagogue. Mrs. Weisman was an equally devoted and strong advocate for the temple and organized the Jewish Fair to raise funds to build the edifice. Known locally as "Dr. Lena," Mrs. Weisman enjoyed a thriving career as the neighborhood homeopathic practitioner. A student of Dr. Peterman, she performed diagnostic examinations and dispensed pharmaceuticals to all segments of the community from her first-floor bathroom. Several apothecary bottles used by "the doctor" have been located.

Valerie Weisman (1890-1963), remembered by her family as an extremely generous philanthropist, attended the University of Texas, Austin, from 1908 to 1910. Like her mother, she was a community activist and served as president of the Sisterhood of Moses Montefiore for many years. In 1910, she married Joe Nathan Hirsch (1883-1966), a native of Campti, Louisiana. Hirsch was an orphan when he came to Marshall in 1895. Valerie's father hired Hirsch as his stockboy and allowed him to take his lodgings in the store's loft. A favored employee, Hirsch received several promotions over the years, and upon Weisman's death, was named general manager of Weisman's business. He was active in several civic organizations, most notably the Chamber of Commerce and the Marshall Board of Education.

Toward the end of the 1940s, younger Jewish families began to move from Marshall to Longview, the new economic center, causing the local Jewish population to decline. The Moses Montefiore Temple was finally demolished to make room for a municipal complex. To-day, only three architecturally significant residences from Marshall's age of Jewry re-main.

A family caretaker occupied the house from 1966 to 1971 when Greg Beils purchased the structure from Hirsch's children. Since 1971, The Weisman-Hirsch House has undergone considerable renovation. Ceilings that the Hirsches lowered at some unspecified date were raised to their original height. All of the walls of the house have been provided with wallpapers with late Victorian patterns. Several light fixtures found in the attic and believed to be original to the house were reinstalled. Finally, the exterior of the structure has been repainted in recent years.