River Oaks in Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
J. Robert Neal Estate Garden
Photographed by James Hulse, August 24, 2024
1. J. Robert Neal Estate Garden Marker
Inscription.
J. Robert Neal Estate Garden. . Beginning in 1931, architect John F. Staub (1892-1981) designed and constructed a chateau style house in River Oaks for James Robert Neal (1894-1939), coffee magnate and vice president of Houston's Second National Bank, and his wife, Marian Holt Seward Neal (1897-1957). James Frederick "Fred" Dawson (1874-1941), senior associate of the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architecture Firm of Brookline, Massachusetts, designed the accompanying garden., The Staub and Olmsted complementary designs allowed Neal to transform his 3.75 acres adjacent to the River Oaks Country Club into an American interpretation of Louis XV's chateau in Versailles, France. Together, Neal and Staub intricately designed every aspect of the interior and exterior of his new house, creating cobblestone courts and French architectural touches to the exterior., In planning the ornate garden, Olmsted Brothers included native plants, reflecting an extensive understanding of Texas soil and climate, and arranged for Teas Nursery in Bellaire to supply and plant them. From the garden's initial planning stages in 1931, through Neal's untimely death in 1939, Neal and his wife oversaw every aspect of its design. Throughout the 1930s, national and state magazines featured the impressive garden in their publications. The garden is still intact from its original Olmsted Brothers design. The J. Robert Neal Olmsted Brothers garden is the only private estate homestead project the firm completed in Harris County and it is one of six in the state of Texas. The Neal House is the only structure John F. Staub designed in a French Chateau style
Beginning in 1931, architect John F. Staub (1892-1981) designed and constructed a chateau style house in River Oaks for James Robert Neal (1894-1939), coffee magnate and vice president of Houston's Second National Bank, and his wife, Marian Holt Seward Neal (1897-1957). James Frederick "Fred" Dawson (1874-1941), senior associate of the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architecture Firm of Brookline, Massachusetts, designed the accompanying garden.
The Staub and Olmsted complementary designs allowed Neal to transform his 3.75 acres adjacent to the River Oaks Country Club into an American interpretation of Louis XV's chateau in Versailles, France. Together, Neal and Staub intricately designed every aspect of the interior and exterior of his new house, creating cobblestone courts and French architectural touches to the exterior.
In planning the ornate garden, Olmsted Brothers included native plants, reflecting an extensive understanding of Texas soil and climate, and arranged for Teas Nursery in Bellaire to supply and plant them. From the garden's initial planning stages in 1931, through Neal's untimely death in 1939, Neal
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and his wife oversaw every aspect of its design. Throughout the 1930s, national and state magazines featured the impressive garden in their publications. The garden is still intact from its original Olmsted Brothers design. The J. Robert Neal Olmsted Brothers garden is the only private estate homestead project the firm completed in Harris County and it is one of six in the state of Texas. The Neal House is the only structure John F. Staub designed in a French Chateau style
Erected 2018 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18946.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.
Location. 29° 45.289′ N, 95° 25.253′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in River Oaks. It is on Lazy Lane Boulevard north of Inwood Drive. The marker is located along the front entrance to the property. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2960 Lazy Lane Blvd, Houston TX 77019, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and on the Gulf Coast.
Photographed by James Hulse, August 24, 2024
2. The front entrance to the private residence
Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
More about this marker. The gardens are located on private property and not available to visit.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,073 times since then and 121 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
