Rountree Rock House

Historical marker location:

Beeville, Texas

( From Beeville, take US 59 west about 4 mi. Then go south on FM 1349 about 6 mi.)

Marker installed: 1971

On land bought 1875 by Joseph Gustave Rountree (1838-80), who planned house before his death. Built 1881 by his young widow, Elizabeth Cornelia, with aid of her father, John Stillwell. The lumber was Florida pine, hauled from Rockport. Stone, quarried as caliche and hardened by the air, came fron nearby Mulas Hills.

Structure has withstood major stoms and is still owned by descendants: Adele Rountree, Ann Marie Rountree Anderson and sons. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971.

houses residential buildings

Texas has been a major oil-producing state for over a century. The first big oil discovery in Texas was the Spindletop field near Beaumont in 1901, which set off a massive oil boom that transformed the state's economy and made Texas one of the wealthiest states in the country.