National Register Listing

McFaddin House Complex

1906 McFaddin St., Beaumont, TX

The McFaddin House is characteristic of the Classic Revival mansions built by Texas millionaires at the turn of the century. Massiveness, the colossal Classic portico super-imposed over a one-story wrap-around gallery, and the concentration of expensive detailing at the entrance are each typical of the period in the state.

The McFaddin House was built for one of Texas's oldest and wealthiest families. The founder of the family was James McFaddin, who came to Texas from Louisiana in 1833. His son, William McFaddin, participated in the Battle of San Jacinto and the siege of the Alamo and created a cattle and oil empire based on land he received for his service in the Texas Army William McFaddin built a home in Beaumont in 1854. After the house burned in 1905, his daughter, Di Vernon Averill, decided to build 200 yards east of the ruins. The Averills hired Henry Conrad Mauer, a noted Beaumont-area architect (June 6, 1873-July 7, 1939). Mauer was a native Texan, who earned an architecture degree from Pratt Institute. He returned to Texas in 1898 and practiced in El Paso. In 1901, he moved to Beaumont, where he lived until his death. He was best known as a builder of elegant homes and designed residences for M.L. Hinchee, V. Weiss, M.J. Bass, C.T. Heisig, and J.E. Broussard. Mauer built the Averill house in 1906. He framed the structure and finished the top floor so that the Averills could move in. Too late, however, the Averills realized that they could not finish the house, and Mrs. Averill appealed to her brother, William Perry H. McFaddin, to buy and complete it. William P. H. McFaddin was one of Beaumont's wealthiest businessmen. He was born in Beaumont, on February 5, 1856. He attended Texas Military Institute from 1873 to 1874, and a business college in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1876 to 1877. From the early 1870s until his death, McFaddin was identified with the cattle, oil, and land industries of south Texas. was a pioneer railroad builder and oil developer; President of McFaddin, Wiess, Kyle Land Company, which he organized in 1901; and Director of the First National Bank of Beaumont.

The McFaddins moved into the Averill home and added a conservatory to the breakfast room. They added on to the service room and installed steam heat.

The home is still owned by the McFaddins, Members of the family have modified the house since 1906; most of the old plumbing has been replaced, and air-conditioning added upstairs. A sleeping porch has been glassed in, and the kitchen modernized. of various outbuildings, such as barns, smokehouses, a carriage house, stables, gymnasium, and servants' quarters, only the carriage house and stable remain, for Beaumont has grown and the McFaddin homestead has been divided into blocks and lots, and sold for residential sites.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1966.

Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

architecture houses residential buildings
The Battle of San Jacinto fought on April 21, 1836, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, and led to the capture of Santa Anna and the end of the conflict.
Texas random facts
Jefferson County, Texas, has a rich history that spans back several centuries. It is home to the indigenous tribes who had lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers reached the area and claimed it as part of New Spain. However, it was not until the early 19th century that the region began to see significant settlement.

In the early 1820s, Empresario Joseph Vehlein obtained a contract to settle 300 families in the region. The land, once inhabited by the Atakapa people, soon attracted settlers of various origins, including Americans, Europeans, and enslaved Africans. The area became known for its fertile soil, offering ideal conditions for agriculture and ranching.

The city of Beaumont was established in the mid-19th century and quickly developed into a major trading and shipping center due to its access to the Neches River and the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 marked a turning point in the county's history, as the region experienced a significant oil boom. This brought great prosperity and transformed the area's economy, leading to the development of the petrochemical industry in the following decades.

Throughout the 20th century, Jefferson County witnessed various social and economic changes. It played a key role in World War II, serving as the location for significant military activity, including the establishment of one of the largest military shipbuilding centers in the country. The county also experienced desegregation struggles during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, which eventually led to greater equality.

Today, Jefferson County continues to be an important industrial center for petrochemicals and petroleum-related industries. It is also home to a diverse population and offers a mix of urban and rural landscapes, with a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Jefferson County, Texas.

  • 1836: Jefferson County is established as a municipality of the Republic of Texas.
  • 1838: The town of Beaumont is founded.
  • 1840: Jefferson County becomes part of the newly-formed State of Texas.
  • 1845: Texas is admitted to the United States, and Jefferson County becomes a county within the state.
  • 1858: A railroad is completed, connecting Beaumont to surrounding areas.
  • 1865: The Civil War ends, and Jefferson County begins to recover from the war's impact.
  • 1881: The Spindletop oil field, the first major oil discovery in Texas, is found in Jefferson County.
  • 1901: The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop oil field erupts, launching the Texas oil boom.
  • 1925: The Neches River is first navigable by deep-draft vessels, boosting the county's shipping industry.
  • 1943: The Port of Beaumont is established as a major center for the shipping and petrochemical industries.
  • 1989: Hurricane Gilbert strikes Jefferson County, causing significant damage to the area.
  • 2005: Hurricane Rita makes landfall in Jefferson County, leading to widespread devastation.
  • 2017: Hurricane Harvey causes widespread flooding in Jefferson County.