Randlett House - Lancaster TX
Posted by: 
sfwife
N 32° 35.354 W 096° 45.354
14S E 710623 N 3607973
Quick Description: Located in the small community of Lancaster, the Randlett house provides a good illustration of vernacular Queen Anne architecture.
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 6/10/2009 6:45:06 PM
Waymark Code: WM6JP6
Views: 3
Long Description:
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: http://pages.prodigy.net/procyon/lancaster/markerl.htm
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