As a photographer who primarily works in the real estate sector, I’ve seen and shot my fair share of interesting properties, but very few inspire me to much of anything beyond wondering what kind of stone a kitchen counter top is made of and how best to accentuate its natural beauty in post-processing. On rare occasion, a shoot will leave me with the desire to learn more about what exactly it is that I’m taking pictures of. I feel fortunate to have recently had the opportunity to photograph such a place. Constructed between the years of 1908 and 1909, the building now known as the Holman-Allen House is a Texas Historic Landmark and, as of 2010, also occupies a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Located on the corner of Avenue K and Third Street in Bay City, the two and half-story Victorian house stands today as a testament to the construction techniques and vision of its creators. Its fourteen rooms, three balconies, and three fireplaces occupy 3,236 sq ft and was one of the largest houses in Bay City at the time it was built.
Designed by architect A.W. Large for City Attorney William Shields Holman, the house fell into a state of disuse after Holman’s son Thomas fell ill in 1973, until 1978, when Mr. and Mrs. James M. Allen, with the help of architect A.J. Wildrodt, removed every- thing that wasn’t a part of the original dwelling and restored the home to it’s original grandeur. Replete with the fixtures and amenities of a stately turn of the century home, the arguably odd looking residence continues to stir the imagination of visitors and locals alike with its quirky asymmetrical design, yellow ocher paint job, and ornaments of times past. Click here to view a custom slide show of the property!