National Register Listing

Idle Hours

a.k.a. Land Manor

1608 Orange St., Beaumont, TX

<p>Land Manor is an excellent example of the Classical Revival style that was popularized in Beaumont at the turn of the century by affluent citizens whose business profits were dramatically increased by the oil discovery at Spindletop and all its related activities. It is an extremely important entity because of the preservation of the associated outbuildings that further illuminate the lifestyles of some of Beaumont's more prominent citizens.</p><p>The house was built in 1903 by Frank Tipton Smith for Lemuel Putman Ogden and his wife. Because the house was in the country at the time of its construction, Mrs. Ogden preferred to retain her townhome and named her new country estate `Idle Hours`. Mr. Ogden died in 1908 and his widow sold the house in 1911 to Mr. Benjamin Rush Norvell who in turn sold it to Mr. John Blewett Smyth in February of 1912. Mr. Smyth's family were pioneers in the lumbering industry in the East Texas region. He operated the George W. Smyth Lumber Company in Beaumont and later absorbed the Sabine Town Company of Deweyville, Texas. Because of his ready access to carpenters and materials, it was Mr. Smyth who replaced the downstairs woodwork with mahogany.</p><p>In 1923, the Smyths deeded the property to Mr. J. W. Stuart, a contractor of the Magnolia Refinery Company. The Stuarts revitalized the property with extensive landscaping and major roof repairs that resulted in a slight modification to the pitch of the roof. In 1934, a daughter of the Stuart family married Mr. Lee Gerald Griffin. The Griffins owned the home and utilized the property for many years for holiday receptions and traditional celebrations.</p><p>The property ceased to become a private residence in 1970 when its ownership changed to become a halfway house for persons attempting to return to independent living from local mental institutions.</p>

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1978.