L. A. and Adelheid Machemehl House
Encyclopedia
The L.A. and Adelheid Machemehl House, a Texas Historical Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission
, was built in the early 20th century. The house was a center of social activity for the German Texan
community in Bellville, Texas
.
by Johann Machemehl, (1816–1880), and his father, Michael Machemehl, in 1849. Once in Texas, they settled in the Bellville area of Austin County, Texas
. Johann, university educated, was formerly the forester
for the city of Annaberg
in Saxony
. His wife Henrietta (1814–1950) died in Texas in 1850 and is buried at the Machemehl Cemetery. Johann married twice more, had four more children, died in 1880 and is also buried at the Machemehl Cemetery.
Johann's son Paul Machemehl (1845–1932) is known for his participation in the passage to Mexico that numerous German Texans endured during the American Civil War
. Documents located at the Eula and David Wintermann Library in Eagle Lake, Texas
report that local German Texans were "discussing the hostility between the North and the South with Paul Machemehl of Bellville. Many Germans
did not believe this was their fight and many joined Paul Machemehl."
Paul's son Louis A. Machemehl, (1881–1952), was a German Texan civic leader as well as a rancher and land and cattle broker. He married Aldelheid Reichardt (1882–1949) of Cat Springs. She was the daughter of Charles Reichardt (1852–1882), a Colorado County farmer who died a month before Aldeheid was born on August 24, 1882.
Louis and Adelheid Machemehl's son, Charles W. Machemehl (1922–2005), served in the European theater as a forward observer. He received several medals including two Bronze Star
s and a Silver Star
. At the end of the war he had attained the rank of captain and was a member of the staff of General
Matthew B. Ridgeway, 1st Allied Airborne Army.
, to design the L.A. and Adelheid Machemehl House in Bellville, Texas
. The structure is a -story house built in Airplane Bungalow
style. The upstairs portion is set behind a large wrap-around porch. Many festivities and social occasions took place on that porch for the local community. These festivals including dances for the youth of the city to the music of a Victrola. The house has a southwestern view of the historic German Texan settlement of Cat Springs. In its present condition, large oaks and magnolias trees surround the house. It is located one and a half miles from the town square. The architect's original watercolor rendition and floor plans are in the archives of the Houston Public Library
. The structure is recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission. It was originally built for Louis A. Machemehl, his wife Adelheid Machemehl (d. 1949), and their five children (including Charles W. Machemehl). The landmark remained in the Machemehl family until 1953.
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
, was built in the early 20th century. The house was a center of social activity for the German Texan
German Texan
German Texan is an ethnic category that includes residents of the state of Texas with German ancestry who identify with the term. This identification may include cultural agreements—German language, German cuisine, feasts, music, hard work, frugality, and close family ties. From their first...
community in Bellville, Texas
Bellville, Texas
Bellville is a city in and the county seat of Austin County, Texas, United States, located in the southeastern part of the state. The population was 3,794 at the 2000 census. Bellville was named for Thomas Bell, one of Stephen F. Austin's earliest colonists, after he and his brother James Bell...
.
Family history
The Machemehl family and companions was brought to TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
by Johann Machemehl, (1816–1880), and his father, Michael Machemehl, in 1849. Once in Texas, they settled in the Bellville area of Austin County, Texas
Austin County, Texas
Austin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas adjacent to the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 28,417 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Bellville. Austin County is named for Stephen F...
. Johann, university educated, was formerly the forester
Forester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
for the city of Annaberg
Annaberg
Annaberg is a former district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It was bounded by the Czech Republic and the districts of Aue-Schwarzenberg, Stollberg and Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis. Its national colors are pink, green, and blue.- History :In the Middle Ages the Ore Mountains were virtually...
in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. His wife Henrietta (1814–1950) died in Texas in 1850 and is buried at the Machemehl Cemetery. Johann married twice more, had four more children, died in 1880 and is also buried at the Machemehl Cemetery.
Johann's son Paul Machemehl (1845–1932) is known for his participation in the passage to Mexico that numerous German Texans endured during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Documents located at the Eula and David Wintermann Library in Eagle Lake, Texas
Eagle Lake, Texas
Eagle Lake is a city in southeastern Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,664 at the 2000 census. It is home to a golf course, the largest private lake in Texas, and the Eagle Lake Regional Airport, which services light aircraft....
report that local German Texans were "discussing the hostility between the North and the South with Paul Machemehl of Bellville. Many Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
did not believe this was their fight and many joined Paul Machemehl."
Paul's son Louis A. Machemehl, (1881–1952), was a German Texan civic leader as well as a rancher and land and cattle broker. He married Aldelheid Reichardt (1882–1949) of Cat Springs. She was the daughter of Charles Reichardt (1852–1882), a Colorado County farmer who died a month before Aldeheid was born on August 24, 1882.
Louis and Adelheid Machemehl's son, Charles W. Machemehl (1922–2005), served in the European theater as a forward observer. He received several medals including two Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
s and a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. At the end of the war he had attained the rank of captain and was a member of the staff of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Matthew B. Ridgeway, 1st Allied Airborne Army.
Architecture and location
In 1920, Louis A. Machemehl commissioned Houston architect, Alfred C. FinnAlfred C. Finn
Alfred Charles Finn , a notable Texan architect, was born in Bellville, Texas, on July 2, 1883. Finn grew up in Hempstead, and moved to Houston in 1900 to work for Southern Pacific Railroad as a carpenter and draftsman. Finn was an architect for the Capitol Lofts, the Ezekiel W...
, to design the L.A. and Adelheid Machemehl House in Bellville, Texas
Bellville, Texas
Bellville is a city in and the county seat of Austin County, Texas, United States, located in the southeastern part of the state. The population was 3,794 at the 2000 census. Bellville was named for Thomas Bell, one of Stephen F. Austin's earliest colonists, after he and his brother James Bell...
. The structure is a -story house built in Airplane Bungalow
Airplane Bungalow
Airplane Bungalow style dates from the early 20th century and grew out of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The Airplane Bungalow is typically found with American Craftsman or Prairie Style elements.-See also:*L. A. and Adelheid Machemehl House...
style. The upstairs portion is set behind a large wrap-around porch. Many festivities and social occasions took place on that porch for the local community. These festivals including dances for the youth of the city to the music of a Victrola. The house has a southwestern view of the historic German Texan settlement of Cat Springs. In its present condition, large oaks and magnolias trees surround the house. It is located one and a half miles from the town square. The architect's original watercolor rendition and floor plans are in the archives of the Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library is the public library system serving Houston, Texas, United States. The library system has its headquarters in the Marston Building in Neartown Houston.-History:It can trace its founding to the Houston Lyceum in 1854...
. The structure is recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission. It was originally built for Louis A. Machemehl, his wife Adelheid Machemehl (d. 1949), and their five children (including Charles W. Machemehl). The landmark remained in the Machemehl family until 1953.
Historical recognition and awards
- The House was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1992.
- The House received the "Best Front Porch Award" given by Arrington's Bed and Breakfast Journal.http://www.bnbjournal.com/BBIntro/BBIntroFrame.php