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