The Eggleston House

The Eggleston House. . ​​, The Eggleston House was one of the first houses built in Gonzales after the Runaway Scrape and burning of the town in 1836. Horace Eggleston built this house in 1848 and it was one of the first permanent type in Gonzales. The house was erected on lots nos.1 to 6, block 15 of the inner town of Gonzales which was 600 feet east of the Guadalupe River and on St. Michael Street. Walnut and Oak trees were cut from the banks of the Guadalupe River from logs with the use whipsaws and broadaxes. The timbers were cut to build the house. The whipsaw side of the timber was faced to the outside and the broadaxe side to the inside. The thickness of timbers furnished protection against the Indians and wild animals. Spaces were left between the timbers from which to fire their weapons. The house was built as it is seen today, with two rooms separated by and open space which was called a dog run. Each room was provided a fireplace. One room was used for cooking and the serving of food. The other room was used for sleeping quarters. When the family had overnight visitors which was often, one room would be used for the men and the other for women. Dogs were a necessity for protection and hunting and the dogs slept in the dog-run., In 1954, the house was given to the city of Gonzales by Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Smith Jr. The city council employed Fred B. Miesenhelder to move the house to city property. Due to weight and condition of the house, it was necessary to disassemble all the timbers. Each timber was given a number as it was taken down and then reassembled in reverse order. Those parts which had deteriorated were replaced by new logs cut from the banks of Guadalupe River.