Randlett House - Lancaster TX
Posted by: 
sfwife
N 32° 35.354 W 096° 45.354
14S E 710623 N 3607973
Located in the small community of Lancaster, the Randlett house provides a good illustration of vernacular Queen Anne architecture.
Waymark Code: WM6JP6
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 06/10/2009
Views: 10
The Randlett house is one of the four remaining Victorian houses still standing in Lancaster. Constructed by S. D. Andrews for Sam Randlett, a prominent local merchant, the house was completed in 1896 and represented the Randlett's social status within the community. Displaying characteristics of Victorian architecture, the Randlett house possesses an asymmetrical floor plan, numerous projecting wings, a complicated roof line and detailed woodwork. Although much of the original detailing has been lost, the house still retains its Victorian character. Located on 23 acres of land which Randlett's wife, Addie, had inherited from her father, the structure was originally bounded by a cast iron fence. Brickwalks connected the carriage house, barn, outhouse and garden which were situated to the south and west of the house. The yard was landscaped with shrubs lining the brickwalks and a hedgerow of cedars imported from Lebanon decorating the north property line. The original roof consisted of Cyprus shingling with pressed tin cresting on the roof ridges. The wood shingles have been replaced with a composition covering and only portions of the metal detailing remain. The tower's lightning rod still pierces the sky, but the decorative finials are missing. Terminating the roof, the cornice encases a guttering system with a central drain. Upon emptying into a charcoal filtering system, the water flows into a 2000 gallon underground cistern.
The three-story tower with its octagonal spire dominates the east or front facade and rises from the ellshaped intersection of the projecting east and south bays. A one-story attached gallery extends from the north wall and wraps around the east and south facades. The gallery is supported by slender turned wooden posts. Initially these posts were connected with ornate carpentry, but because of neglect and deterioration, the gingerbread detailing under the eaves has been removed. The original balustrade remains in a dilapidated condition.
Other interesting features include the north facade's three- sided bay and the west winy porch. The north bay exhibits unusually proportioned windows, measuring 12'x3' on the top floor and 6'x3' on the first story. As a result, these windows greatly contrast to the standard 8'x3' doublehung windows which prevail throughout most of the structure. The rectangular wing which projects from the west (rear) facade, displays a small shed porch on the north side. Once highlighted with gingerbread carpentry similar to that of the front gallery, this porch remains relatively unadorned after the detailed woodwork was removed.
Containing twelve rooms, the Randlett house displays much of its original interior architectural detailing. The high ceilings of the four front rooms allow large three-foot transoms and seven-foot doors which are ornamented with stamped brass hinges, escutcheons and doorknobs. The projecting bay on the north side contains a carved wood staircase. The stairs include a small first flight which leads onto a landing before continuing with a much larger second flight. To provide adequate lighting, the secondstory windows are much taller than the ground floor openings,, thus creating a large open space within the stairwell.
Plumbing and electricity were added to the house when it was remodeled in 1912. A new bedroom and sleeping porch were added on the west end of the building just above the kitchen.
After years of neglect, the new owners are in the process of restoring the structure to its original appearance.``taken from website
Public/Private: Private
Tours Available?: no
Year Built: 1896
Web Address: [Web Link]
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