By: Turner S.R. No. 657 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to 1-3 recognize the Reeves-Womack-Beseda residence of Caldwell which 1-4 has recently received a marker from the National Register of 1-5 Historic Places; and 1-6 WHEREAS, One of the finest examples of late Victorian 1-7 residences in Burleson County, the Reeves-Womack-Beseda house 1-8 is a large wooden two-story mansion, distinguished by its ornate 1-9 Eastlake carvings and embellishments; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The mansion is the home of Mrs. Bessie Beseda and 1-11 her late husband Mr. Frank Beseda who purchased it 1-12 December 12, 1958; the couple had owned and operated an antique 1-13 and refinishing shop in Caldwell; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The site of the house was originally part of the 1-15 L. Dickinson League which was purchased in 1831 by Lemuel Dickinson, 1-16 one of Stephen F. Austin's colonists; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The property was deeded to William Reeves in 1881, 1-18 and during the 1890s, William Reeves and his wife, Mattie, built 1-19 what Mr. Reeves hoped would be the finest house in the county; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The house was built of cypress and heart pine by 1-21 James Teague of Caldwell, a master carpenter; Mr. Reeves's 1-22 brother-in-law in Brenham, Frank W. Wood, hand-picked everything 1-23 that went into the construction of the home; and 2-1 WHEREAS, A spacious porch with Victorian posts and banisters 2-2 wraps around the front and west side of the structure, and the 2-3 reception area near the entrance hall features an ornately carved 2-4 staircase and a fireplace with a beautifully carved mantle and 2-5 glazed handmade tiles; and 2-6 WHEREAS, William Reeves deeded the property and house with 2-7 most of the furniture to Captain M. L. Womack in 1907, and the home 2-8 was purchased in 1958 by Frank and Bessie Beseda for $12,000; only 2-9 these three families have owned and lived in the house; 2-10 Mr. and Mrs. Beseda deeded it to their children in 1979; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Through the years, the successive owners have 2-12 preserved and protected the home with respect for its superior 2-13 quality and craftsmanship; located in one of the finest neighborhoods 2-14 in Caldwell, the house was lovingly maintained and decorated with 2-15 exquisite taste by Mr. and Mrs. Beseda; and 2-16 WHEREAS, A Victorian treasure, the Reeves-Womack-Beseda 2-17 residence is the finest example of its period in the Caldwell 2-18 region and its present owners deserve recognition for their hard 2-19 work in preserving its beauty; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 73rd Legislature, hereby congratulate Mrs. Frank Beseda on the 2-22 grand occasion of the recognition of the Reeves-Womack-Beseda 2-23 house by the National Register of Historic Places; and, be it 2-24 further 2-25 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared 3-1 for Mrs. Beseda as an expression of high regard from the 3-2 Texas Senate. 3-3 _____________________________________ 3-4 President of the Senate 3-5 I hereby certify that the 3-6 above Resolution was adopted by 3-7 the Senate on April 21, 1993. 3-8 _____________________________________ 3-9 Secretary of the Senate 3-10 _____________________________________ 3-11 Member, Texas Senate