Smith-Brundrett House
901 N. Austin Street, Rockport, TX 78382 , West side of N. Austin St. between Orleans and Cedar streets. (see map) MARKER TEXT Built in 1903 in Old Rockport, this Cottage and Craftsman Style House is an early frame Bungalow surrounded by giant oak trees. In 1920, W.H. smith, grandson of early Refugio pioneers, bought this house where he lived with his second wife, their four children and his sister. In 1934, John Frederick Brundrett and his wife, Elizabeth, purchased the house. Fred was a rancher and the family ranched on 8,000 acres on Matagorda Island and later on Port Bay. The Brundrett’s were devout members of the First Presbyterian Church. The Brundrett’s remained in this house for 53 years, until Fred’s death in 1987 at age 99. This home is a symbol of the generations of influence on local history.
Joe & Bertha Harper House
811 N. Live Oak, Rockport, Tx 78382 (see map) MARKER TEXT Built around 1910, this two-story frame Colonial Revival was used as a boarding house for shipyard employees. The home was also used for shelter for 50 refugees during the 1919 hurricane that devastated the coast. In 1920, county judge Joe A. Harper (1881-1928) and his new wife, Bertha Oertling Harper (1888-1978), purchased the home. Judge Harper, a four-term County Judge, was influential in bringing the first coastal highway to the area which spurred development. After Joe’s untimely death in 1928, Bertha and her siblings lived in the home for almost 45 years while she continued her long career as a teacher for primary grades and at the First Baptist Church.
Baldwin-Brundrett House
1028 N. Live Oak, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Aransas county judge W.H. Baldwin, who promoted Rockport as a deep water port, lived in this house in the 1890’s. George A. Brundrett, Jr. was a confederate veteran and cattle rancher on 15,000 acres on Matagorda island; His family lived here from 1917- 1942. Brundrett’s second wife, Flavilla, often turned the parlor into a makeshift hospital, and it is said that 200 people took shelter here during the 1919 hurricane. This one story house retains it basic design from the 1880s and exemplifies the queen Anne style adapted to the Texas coast. The house has a front facing gable, hip roof, lace-like corner brackets and it original windows and doors. The only modification has been the enclosure of the back porch.
A.L. Bracht House
409 N. Magnolia, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Adolph Bracht (1872-1961) was born in Rockport and worked at lumber and grocery stores before establishing his own wholesale and retail grocery in 1899. He was a charter member of the Intracoastal Canal Association and active in the Chamber of Commerce and Sacred Heart Catholic church for many years. He shipped vegetables raised by growers in this area and the Rio Grande Valley. He ran his grocery business until his retirement in 1947. Adolph and his wife Gertrude (Prophet) had nine children. Their prairie-style two-story house (Built c.1898-1902) features lap siding, a low-pitched roof with dormers, wraparound porch with Doric columns and cast stone footings and an asymmetrical facade with bay windows.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
412 N. Live Oak Street, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) MARKER TEXT The Rt. Rev. Alexander Gregg, Bishop of the Diocese of Texas, officiated at the dedication of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockport on November 30, 1871. Led by lay ministers for much of its early history, St. Peter’s first was located at the corner of Live Oak and Wharf Streets near the railroad depot, where services often were halted due to the noise of arriving and departing trains. Relocated to this site in 1954, St. Peter’s became a self-sustaining parish ten years later. It continues to serve the community with a variety of programs. (1991) State Historical Marker Number: 5078
Aransas County
301 N. Live Oak, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Created out of the coastal portion of Refugio County in 1871, Aransas County is the second smallest county in Texas. Within its boundaries are three bays of the Gulf of Mexico – Copano, St. Charles, and Aransas. The area was the site of early Indian inhabitation and Spanish exploration, as well as Anglo colonization efforts of the 1830s and 1840s. Aransas County communities are supported by such industries as fishing, agriculture, offshore oil production, bird watching, and tourism. The county is home to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1937. (1990)
Bracht House
409 N. Magnolia, Rockport, Tx 78382 (see map) MARKER TEXT Adolph L. Bracht (1872-1961) was born in Rockport and worked at lumber and grocery stores before establishing his own wholesale and retail grocery in 1899. He was a charter member of the Intracoastal Canal Association and active in the Chamber of Commerce and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. For many years he shipped vegetables raised by growers in this area and the Rio Grande Valley. He ran his grocery business until his retirement in 1947. Adolph and his wife Gertrude (Prophet) had nine children. Their Prairie-style two-story house (built c. 1898-1902) features lap siding, a low-pitched hip roof with dormers, wraparound porch with Doric columns and cast stone footings, and an asymmetrical facade with bay window. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 2010
Richard Henry Wood House
203 N. Magnolia St., Rockport, Tx 78382 (see map) MARKER TEXT Born in 1846, Richard Henry Wood was one of the first residents of Rockport. In 1866, Wood partnered with James Doughty and built the first cattle pens, warehouse and wharf at Rockport Harbor. Wood ran his business until the 1919 hurricane destroyed many of his holdings. Wood was appointed Alderman in 1870 and later served as Mayor of Rockport. He also initiated the Texas Game and Fish Commission in 1907. The 1868 house exhibits many characteristics of Greek Revival architecture style, including its white color, columns and wide board and batten siding. Until his death in 1923, Richard Wood’s roles as a land developer, rancher and civic leader influenced Rockport’s early development and growth The Wood House Early records show Richard Henry Wood was owner of this home in 1868. He was the third child, first son of John Howland Wood, one of the founders of Rockport. Richard H. Wood served in the Civil War with Company B, 29th Brigade Texas Militia for Refugio County (also known as Captain Daniel C. Doughty’s Spy Company) , was active in the Aransas Pass Land Company, handled the sales promotions in connection with the area’s land booms from 1890 to the turn of the century, was mayor or Rockport and the first commissioner over wildlife laws, appointed by Gov. Thomas M. Campbell in 1907. Richard H. Wood and Samuel B. Allyn, formed a partnership and acquired all of St. Joseph Island. This cattle partnership and ownership of St. Joseph Island lasted until 1915 at which time he and his son, Will Welder Wood, became the sole owners of the island. St. Joseph’s Island was sold by the Wood family in 1922 to Cyrus B. Lucas.
Site of Aransas Hotel in Rockport
Austin and Main St.,Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) MARKER TEXT Built in 1889 by civic leader and politician John H. Traylor, the Aransas Hotel covered this city block. The three-story structure, a major tourist attraction in Rockport, had about 100 rooms and a massive open dining room with a 200 person capacity. Guests were entertained by orchestras, plays, a mounted bird display, and beach facilities. They could also cruise in Traylor’s yacht, or tour in surreys from the livery stable. Remodeled and named the Del Mar in the mid-1890s, it was sold in 1910. Deteriorated by 1906 and unused during World War I, the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1919. (1996)
Woman’s Club of Aransas County
1104 E. Concho, Rockport, Tx 78382 (see map) MARKER TEXT In March 1948, Mrs. Fred B. Hunt issued a call to organize the Woman’s Civic Club. One of the Club’s major early activities was financing a permanent building for the organization. Later that year, the recreation building for Humble Oil Company employees at Ingleside went up for auction, and the club put in a bid that was accepted. The building was then brought to Rockport in three sections by barge. The hip roof, rectangular plan building features a five-bay entrance porch with stone columns, banks of paired windows along each side and an Austin stone veneer.