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This picture appeared in Florence Stratton's 1925 book "The Story of Beaumont" on page 56. It is not known who is standing outside the house, but it may be Abel and Pauline (Wiess) Coffin's son Arthur Coffin (who d. bef. 1900) or their grandson, Arthur Coffin, Jr. (1892-1978). The white on the roof and the ground, and on the top of the kitchen building out back looks like snow and makes me wonder if this was taken after the remarkable snowstorm of 1895. See the picture of Mark Wiess' home in Beaumont after that storm. There are icicles hanging from the eaves of Mark's house, but none here (there may be some barely visible at the right front eave). Also notice the chimney at the right top. Is that smoke coming from it or part of a tree? The kitchen was probably warm and snow would have melted off its roof. (It's likely the picture of Mark Wiess' house and this picture were not taken the same day, since they were about 20 miles apart, so the snow may have melted some when this picture was taken.)
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Miss Florence Stratton, in her book "The Story of Beaumont", described the Wiess home this way: "The
house is situated on a bluff overlooking the Neches on two sides, with
a porch 75 feet long, extending its length. A bannister railing is
attached by hooks to the gallery, so that it may be let down and used
as a shelf for airing mattresses, blankets and quilts. At one end and
entirely separate except for a covered passage, are the dining room and
kitchen."
"The house has six large rooms, built on either
side of a great hall, in addition to kitchen, dining room and two store
rooms. A den flanked with stuffed animals that were killed at the Bluff
is an interesting feature; then, too, there is the old wooden bucket
with cover and gourd, that is kept filled with water from one of the
three cisterns on the place that contains cooler water than the others."
"Old-fashioned heavy beds, with testers, marbletopped tables, a
grandfather's clock, walnut highboys, tall glass candle shades to keep
the wind from blowing out the lights, are some of the prize possessions
of this home."
"The flower garden, quaint and orderly, has been
retained practically as it was originally planned. All the walks are
borderd by yellow stone quart bottles that came from abroad, and
massive liveoak trees shade the yard. Pink crepe myrtle, red roses,
gladioli and bachelor button flaunt their loveliness in the
old-fashioned garden that radiates an air of romance of bygone days." (To see one of those old ale bottles Simon used to line the walks, click here.) |
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