Donley County Historical
Markers
Martin--Lowe House,
Clarendon
(photo)
Address: 507 W. Fifth
Narrative: The Martin-Lowe House is a two-and-a-half-story frame
house built of cypress wood in 1904 in the Queen Anne style. It
is prominently sided on an attractive city lot in an older
residential area of Clarendon, Texas. Numbered among its
distinguishing characteristics are the bay areas, the encircling
veranda on the north and east sides, the conical roof which has a
striking needle-like finial, the exterior cypress clapboard
siding on the first story and an elaboration of patterned
shingles on the entire upper portion, and the two pedimented
dormers on the half story with a projecting overhang. The
original lightning rods and weather vanes, as well as the
imposing center chimney, make the house stand tall and majestic
with a true awareness of its splendid legacy to the town of
Clarendon and the Panhandle.
The front elevation, which faces north, features a generously
wide, six-step entry to the north side of the wraparound porch.
The entry handrails and balusters match the porch rails and
balusters, and a newel post complements this in a harmonious
fashion. The exterior of the first story is clapboard and the
second and half stories are done in various kinds of ornamental
shingles: square, cove diamond, and butts. From the front
elevation the six porch columns are beautifully displayed and
mounted on terra-cotta brick supports which are the same height
as the handrail on the balusters. Beneath the overhanging veranda
is a wide, 42 inch front door with beveled glass and
bead-and-cove sticking. To the left of the front door is a
three-sided bay window, while paired directly above this bay is
another bay on the second floor. The two ornamentally shingled
gables on the half story are very prominent and seem to add much
height to the house. Also, from the front elevation one can see
the conical roof with the tall, decorative feature and
needle-like finial which adds up to a striking visual display. A
stationary, almost square window with twelve 8-by- 8-inch panes
on the north side is another element that adds to the
asymmetrical composition of the facade. Originally, the sidewalks
were wooden board walks; concrete was laid later. Since the
concrete could not be repaired, a wide, handsome walk has been
laid recently, and is made from historic street pavers-a gift
from the city of Clarendon. On each side of the walk is a 22-inch
flower bed edged in cypress wood and running the entire length to
the porch entry.
On the north and east veranda, a rectangular panel with a frieze
of spindles has been added at the top between each pair of porch
posts, and at its juncture with each post is placed a fan-shaped
bracket. This recent frieze should be considered a modest, modern
decorative element typical of the period, rather than an actual
historic feature. Period paint colors have recently been used on
the exterior.
The east elevation is more simply decorated than the front
elevation. The main features are a veranda that continues on the
east side, with an entry from the east section of the yard. There
is also another three-sided bay area off the dining room. A large
native persimmon tree, over 60 years old, is on the east side of
the house and can be seen directly outside the kitchen window.
The south elevation shows the back of the sun porch, as well as
the roof of the kitchen and library on the first level--all of
which has a lean-to effect. Also visible are the two windows on
the second floor; the south window of one bedroom and a window of
an upstairs bath. Restoration work has not yet been done on the
lean-to porch. A beautiful hackberry tree grows about thirty feet
from the porch, and is a redeeming scenic feature for the south
elevation.
The west elevation has a distinctive view because of the
threesided bay window on the first floor, which is paired with
another three-sided bay on the accord floor; both are directly
under the conical roof.
There are no outbuildings around the house except for a
single-car garage which was built soon after Sam W. Lowe bought
the house in 1926. Earlier stables were removed prior to that
time.
Upon entering the front door, one finds a large reception area.
On the right is a semicircular bench in the bay window area, and
to the left are two 9-foot pocket doors; each door has seven
panels. These two doors lead to the parlor, which is highlighted
by an ornate fireplace with a mantel that has one rectangular and
two oblong beveled mirrors. The mantel also has embossed molding,
raised-wood carving, and two columns five inches in diameter with
pilaster capitals. The fireplace facing and hearth are laid in
11/2 by 6 inch enameled tile. The fire opening has a summer front
polished to look like copper.
Dividing the reception room at midpoint is a lovely cased opening
with two large columns. In passing the cased opening, one finds
on the right another built-in seating area and, on the left, two
more pocket doors identical to the ones already mentioned. They
lead to a dining room featuring a built-in china cabinet of
stained, beveled, and leaded glass, a bay window seating area,
and a fireplace. At the south end of the reception room is a wide
main stairway with two handsome newel posts. The dining room and
parlor join, and are divided by another set of pocket doors.
A butler's pantry, kitchen, library, large bath, sun porch, and
back stairway are also on the ground floor.
The upstairs has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the
stair landing off the bedrooms is adequate for a small sitting
room.
The woodwork in the house is in fine condition and remains in
brown stain and clear varnish except for the bathrooms, the
kitchen and one bedroom. These rooms were painted years ago.
The Martin-Lowe House was built in 1904 by F. D. Martin. His wife
Nellie S. Martin owned a very fine mercantile store and was
energetic in civic activities. Also, he and his wife added much
to the musical and social life of the community. In 1926 R. H.
Muir, Sr., sold the house to S. W. Lowe and wife Lilac, and this
was to be the Lowes' home for the next fifty-six years. This
Queen Anne structure, with the Lowe family as the occupants,
weaves a well-established social and civic fabric in Clarendon's
heritage. Many factors add to the elaborate texture of the
Martin-Lowe House, and each occupying family (Martins, Calhouns,
Muirs, and Lowes) added to the historic significance of the
structure.
On April 30, 1904, the Clarendon Chronicle carried an item in its
Local and Personal Column stating that "F. D. Martin will
begin the erection of a handsome residence in southwest Clarendon
in the coming week."1. On July 20, 1904, another news item
appeared which stated that "the new residence of F. D.
Martin was well under way and would make quite a showing when
completed."2 The Martins, natives of Tennessee, owned a very
fine mercantile store which advertised tailor-made suits, real
Valencia-lace handkerchiefs, and linen and Battenberg material.3.
The Martins were most sympathetic to the arts. Clarendon was
proud to have an opera house during this era, and "it is
said that many times the female singers would dress at the Martin
house for the performance."
The Martin House was acquired in 1910 by San Antonio rancher John
M. Calhoun and his wife Annie Moss, who used the structure as a
summer residence. R. H. Muir, a rancher, cattle buyer and
inspector, bought the house four years later, continuing the tie
with ranching, the key industry of the region.
S. W. Lowe and his wife Lilac bought the MartinLowe House in
1926, and lived there for fifty-six years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lowe
first lived in south Texas, although after they finished college
and were married they came to this area. Mr. Lowe was Dean of
Goodnight Baptist College, which was located about 20 miles
northwest of Clarendon. Mrs. Lowe served as matron in charge of
the girls' dormitory. They then moved to Clarendon where he
became the high school principal. In 1919 Mr. Lowe decided to go
into the grocery business and did this for twenty years. He
served three terms as judge of Donley County. The Lowes were
active in the First Baptist Church, where Mr. Lowe served as a
deacon, Sunday School Superintendent for twenty years, taught a
class for over fifty years, and was an active lay preacher. Mrs.
Lowe taught the beginners Sunday School class for over forty
years.
During the fifty-six years that the Lowe family lived in the
present house, they opened their doors for district and local
church affairs, receptions for visiting dignitaries, club
meetings, weddings, and funerals. Mr. Lowe died in 1968 and Mrs.
Lowe in 1982. Clarendon in 1904 was very much a frontier of
American culture and arts. It is hoped that the restoration of
this fine historic house will help preserve a feeling of the
times for future generations.
NOTES:
1. Clarendon Chronical, Clarendon, Texas, 1904. Microfilm,
Panhandle Plains Historical Museum Archives, Canyon, Texas.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4 . Mr. S. W. Lowe, from a taped interview made by Zell R.
SoRelle in December 1980.
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