Architectural Mystery

Calvert, Texas Architectural Feature

photograph

What is this?

This is one of those mysteries that is going to bother me until I figure it out or someone tells me the answer. I hope it's the latter and soon. I've been looking, thinking, and researching for a while, and I still don't have an answer. Maybe you, or someone you know, can solve this.

This feature is on the south, north, and west sides of the home that once belonged to Sid and "Lizzie" Pierce in Calvert. There is a porch on the east side. It looks like clocks.

What is the significance of this feature? This is a very old home in town and, when I used to go there to see Mrs. Pierce, the house was not painted, and trees and shrubs cut off the view of most of the house. Mrs. Pierce was proud of her garden and how well things grew for her.

When plants were cleared away with the latest owners, and the house painted and worked on, that brought out these clocks that I had never seen before.

In the research that I have found, possibilities include that someone was a timekeeper, or did something with clocks. A custom from another country like Germany.

They certainly look like clocks, to me. I feel sure that there is some significance to them, either from the first owners or the builder.

I've mentioned this mystery before, but, this time, we took a picture of it, in hopes of finding an answer.

I wondered if anyone noticed this when they did the documentation for the National Historic District in Calvert. I haven't found anything, so far.

I did notice that there is some incorrect information on the documentation that is on the Texas Historical Commission site, where they list some of the historic homes in Calvert. I sent corrections to them, but I don't think it was ever fixed.

I hope someone out there has an answer!

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Attention Storkwatchers! The storks are back in Poland! They are fascinating to watch on the webcams! Watch them at http://www.bociany.edu.pl/ . You can see a video of their arrival at http://www.bociany.edu.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1484 .

Check out the other links under Stork Sites in my sidebar to enjoy more storks.

Hope that all goes well for the bird families this year.

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Speaking of Calvert and historic homes there, Calvert is having their spring homes tour and festivities, Showcase Calvert 2009, April 25. Check out the activities at http://www.calverttx.com/activities.html#showcase2009

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The date has been set for the Victorian Tea and Gala in Calvert. The fall event will be October 17. You can see the plans for that event at the same link as above. They're planning some different things at different locations in Calvert.

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Bryan/College Station is joining in the rest of the country with a Tax Day Tea Party on April 15. This Tea Party will be at Tanglewood Park. For more information, go to http://bcsteaparty.wordpress.com/ .

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You can find links to events in my sidebar.

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Wear your tartan tomorrow for National Tartan Day!

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Brazos Valley Art League meets at the Art Center in College Station at noon tomorrow, Monday.

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Join in the 22nd World Wide Sketch Crawl

Saturday April 11

See my sidebar for more information

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Abandoned

Cozy Home 9" x 12" watercolor
My sister and I made a short trip to the old hometown today. It's sad to see so many of the old buildings and homes gone, others crumbling, and still others "restored" in ways that seem to take away the dignity that they always had. My sister has commented that, one of these days, we may drive through that town and find nothing but a pile of dust on each side of the street, where bricks have crumbled and structures collapsed.
Still, some places maintain the character that they always had.
Sometimes I wonder what they are teaching in design and architecture classes these days. I don't know why some people consider a "box" interesting, or even an accomplishment. Seems like they just put any old thing together, the easiest and cheapest way possible. It just looks like they didn't really try, to me.
Lightning and rain hit as we were on the highway. There are a lot of memories from years of driving that old highway 6 and spending time in the towns along the way. One little house and old filling station that I used to watch as I drove past, and had, for years, been almost hidden in trees, is no longer in view. I think they may have been torn down as the land was cleared for a commercial property next to them. After seeing so much restoration work done, I feel like the old interesting places could be saved. Instead, people seem to be quick to tear down anything that is old or needs work.
This little watercolor is of a small abandoned house, west of Calvert toward the Brazos River. I painted this before the house became covered with vines. I always thought it was a cozy-looking little house. Typical of many homes for workers on the farms in the area, in times gone by. A few of those little houses are still in use, but many are used for hay storage, or, like the one in my painting, are just left for nature to reclaim. Many are gone, however, as seems to happen to so many things, and people, as they grow older.
Cozy Home was done on 140 pound Arches watercolor paper, using Winsor Newton watercolors.