By: Turner S.R. No. 507 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Spence-Chamberlain House, which has been 1-3 part of the City of Crockett for more than 100 years, will receive 1-4 an official Texas Historical Marker on April 1, 1995, at a special 1-5 dedication ceremony; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Descendents of the families who once occupied the 1-7 dwelling will gather for the event and to pay tribute to their 1-8 ancestors who played an important role in the history of Crockett; 1-9 and 1-10 WHEREAS, The road in front of the Spence-Chamberlain 1-11 House located at 717 East Houston Avenue was originally named 1-12 El Camino Real and was a portion of the Old San Antonio Road during 1-13 the settlement years when settlers travelled from the south into 1-14 East Texas; in 1936 the name was changed to Houston Avenue; and 1-15 WHEREAS, John Spence and his family moved to Crockett around 1-16 1870 and soon established the first well-organized school in the 1-17 city; he and his wife, Adele, taught in the Crockett Academy; 1-18 Mr. Spence began practicing law in 1873 and died in 1879 at the 1-19 age of 53; his will listed several properties in Houston County 1-20 including his homestead on Houston Avenue; Adele continued to live 1-21 in the home with her children, John and Margaret, until 1891 when 1-22 it was sold to B. F. Chamberlain; and 1-23 WHEREAS, B. Frank Chamberlain was the grandson of 2-1 Captain John F. Smith who served in the Texas Legislature; a 2-2 young druggist, he married Una Smith in 1890 and the couple moved 2-3 into the house the following year; they became the parents of four 2-4 children and remained in the home the rest of their lives; Frank 2-5 died in 1945 and Una deeded the home to their daughter, 2-6 Katie C. Arledge, upon her death in 1960; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Henry B. and Katie Arledge continued to live in 2-8 the home until their deaths; in her will, Katie left the house to 2-9 Cecil Bennett who had cared for the couple in their later years; 2-10 although Mr. Bennett never occupied the house, he left the property 2-11 to his sons when he died in 1983, and they sold it to Joseph B. and 2-12 Cherry Netardus, the present owners, in 1984; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The exterior of the frame house is made of cypress 2-14 wedge-siding that is secured with square nails; the window sashes 2-15 are also cypress and many of the window panes are original; a wide 2-16 porch across the front of the house is supported by eight circular 2-17 columns; the second floor has a large bay window that looks out on 2-18 a landing with a railing; directly above the bay window is a dormer 2-19 with two windows that contain 52 diamond-shaped panes in the upper 2-20 half of each window; the three-story dwelling has three fireplaces 2-21 and red brick chimneys are visible on the roof; and 2-22 WHEREAS, The handsome interior has been carefully restored 2-23 by the present owners to retain its original character; the 2-24 fireplace mantel and unusual staircase have been stripped and 2-25 refinished as have the hardwood floors; the original claw-foot 3-1 tubs in the bathrooms are intact; and 3-2 WHEREAS, The lovely old home has been used for numerous 3-3 social and civic events, and visitors delight in viewing the 3-4 historical home during the Christmas Tour of Homes; now, 3-5 therefore, be it 3-6 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-7 74th Legislature, hereby recognize the Spence-Chamberlain House 3-8 as it receives an Official Texas Historical Marker commemorating 3-9 its important place in the development of the state; and, be it 3-10 further 3-11 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 3-12 memento of this notable event. 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 President of the Senate 3-15 I hereby certify that the above 3-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-17 on March 22, 1995. 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 Secretary of the Senate 3-20 ______________________________________ 3-21 Member, Texas Senate