Spake, Jacob and Eliza, House

Nestled in the heart of the State-Thomas District, one of the oldest residential sub-divisions of Dallas, the Spake House stands today as a reminder of the growth and prosperity of Victorian days. Reflecting several architectural stylistic traditions, the Spake House was among the first residences to be built in the neighborhood. The builder and contractor, Edward T. Overand, built the structure about 1890, as a wedding present for his daughter Eliza Overand Spake and her new husband Jacob W. Spake. Overand lived with the couple from the completion of Spake House until his death in 1891. Members of the Spake family made the residence their home until approximately 1920. The house is significant for its varied architectural styling, as well as its original inhabitants; both the Spake and the Overand families were important to the history and growth of Dallas.

The Overand family, specifically Edward Overand and (later) his daughter Eliza, was a driving force behind the north- and westward expansion of Dallas' residential area into the neighborhood originally known as the Thomas-Colby District. Edward's mother, Agnes Bast Overand, originally dedicated the eleven acres of land comprising the original development in the district in 1886, but Edward and Eliza were largely responsible for the sale of the lots to home builders. Overand is listed as a builder and contractor in the 1889-90 City Directory, the years when he built the Spake House. He promoted the development of the neighborhood by constructing one of the first homes, and by selling lots or tracts from the family farm for other area builders and settlers. The 1890 tax rolls, one year before Overand's death, credit him with owning 10 lots of the original 11 acres, as well as two carriages and two horses.

Overand's son-in-law, Jacob W. Spake, enjoyed the position of a prominent Dallas business figure. He was the first employee of the G.H. Schoellkopf Co., the earliest leather-goods firm in Dallas, and the largest business of its kind at the time. Jacob embarked upon his long and successful career with Schoellkopf Leather Goods Co. around 1888, beginning as head cashier. By 1902, he had worked his way up to secretary-treasurer, and in 1919 he also became a member of the board of directors.

During their years at the Spake House, Jacob and Eliza had five children. The young- est, Mary Spake Moore, is a Dallas resident to this day. Each of the Spake children inherited his parent's drive and ability and rose to positions of prominence within his careers and localities. Aileen, the oldest child, married a successful cotton broker and athlete, Marc Anthony. Edwin, the Spake's oldest son, became controller of the Schoellkopf Co.

By tradition, the house was built about 1890 and reflects a number of stylistic in- fluences. The massing, roof, and dormer suggest American Foursquare influences while the front porch and columns indicate Colonial Revival or Queen Ann's inspiration. Others have attributed Italianate characteristics to the structure. Although the overall design would have been stylistically advanced for 1890, no major early 20th-century rehabilitations are known. The house was a typical middle-class residence when built, although Dallas, a city once rich in Victorian-period architecture, has remarkably little left from that era. The Spake House has thus grown in importance, and it is one of several noteworthy restorations in a neighborhood surrounded by extremely intense commercial development.