Walk through historic home
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Newsboy photo/ Charles Kerr THE BEATY ORTON HOUSE on Water Street in Jasper belongs to the city. Budget constraints mean that it is rarely open for tours, but this Saturday is an exception. It will be open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. for Azalea Festival, March 17. It is also available to rent for special occasions. Many a bride has changed clothes in the children's bedroom upstairs.

To be almost 119 years old, there's one grande dame in Jasper who still looks pretty good for her years- of course she had a face-lift almost 30 years back and has been coddled ever since.

The Beaty Orton house at 206 South Main has been in the national registry of historic homes since 1975.

She was in such a sad state at that time that she nearly fell to the bulldozers, as did many other vintage houses near downtown Jasper, according to Gayle Cahal, past president of the historical society that maintains the home.

The house, originally one story, was built of native pine by State Senator John T. Beaty in 1888. Some time in the next two decades, and five daughters later, the second story and a lot of Victorian gingerbread was added.

Newsboy photo/ Charles Kerr THE PARLOR of the Beaty Orton house features showcases period furniture. Mary Ellen Eddy is looking forward to sharing the pleasures of this old home with free tours at Azalea Festival.

Over the years, family moved away and the house fell into neglect. The youngest daughter, Marguerite Beaty Orton, sold the home to the City of Jasper in the early 70's.

"It was in such disrepair that squirrels were living in the attic," Mary Ellen Eddy, current curator, said.

The society started working on the dilapidated home when there was only one bare light bulb in the entry.

"We stripped it down to the bare walls," Cahal said. "It needed everything."

They needed more than hard work and willing hands- they needed expertise. With grant money from other historical societies, they called in Raiford Stripling, 1931 Texas A&M graduate who specialized in preservation architecture. He restored significant Texas structures like the Presidio and Mission Espiritu Santo in Goliad.

"We were lucky to have an individual of that caliber," Cahal said.

Eddy said the home was damaged during Hurricane Rita and was closed for awhile.

"Mostly it was water damage over my office," Eddy said, "and we were told there was no use repairing inside until the roof is fixed."

Eddy said as time dragged on and they realized it might be quite some time before a roofer was available, they asked the city to let them reopen.

This weekend the Beaty Orton house will be open for tours at no charge during Azalea Fest, March 17.

"Any time we have a city or county event, we stay open and do not charge for that, " Eddy said. At other times, groups can arrange for tours, "but we have to charge to subsidize the cost of opening it up, and by law one of us has to be here the whole time," Eddy explained.

The Beaty Orton house is also available to rent by the hour for special occasions.

"We've had weddings, lots of showers, dinners, luncheons, quilt shows and art shows, antique dealers and all kinds of groups here," Cahal said.

"Around this time of year, we see lots of graduations and receptions, baby showers and wedding showers," Eddy added.

Everyone's favorite room to decorate and display presents is the "wicker room," which has some of the original Beaty furniture. Most of the house is decorated in period furnishings donated by people all over Jasper County.

"If I tried to name them all, I'd leave somebody out and they'd be mad," Eddy said, but she did point out some work "that just goes above and beyond."

"Bobbie Tilley made most of the drapes and put up the wallpaper in the parlor. It was the nearest they could match to the original paper," Eddy said.

The wallpaper is a floral red stripe with a red and white border, and the carved settee is done in cherry red velvet. The room also has an antique pump organ that was not original to the house but is of the same era.

"We've tried to decorate it where people can be at ease. We want them to be careful (of the antiques) but we want them to enjoy it," Eddy said.

Upstairs entire bedrooms are furnished by donations from families in Jasper County. Many handmade quilts brighten the rooms. A pair of antique shoes lies near a lady's ornate vanity chest.

"The children's room is where brides like to change clothes," Eddy said. It features a reproduction cheval mirror and three beds with antique china dolls and tattered teddy bears.

"Be sure to mention that the outside is part of the rental," Eddy said. "People set up tables outside, and the porches, that's where the guys like to gather."

The ladies said they've had outdoor weddings even in the dead of summer and winter. Eddy said in July there's always a breeze under the magnolias.

Cahal described a wedding in January, "They laid white paths in the garden and set up a dance floor out there. They had to bring in heaters in to the tents. The bride wore a Jean Harlow gown and I know she still had to be cold."

Eddy said, "It worries me that we can't keep the house open as much as we'd like. " This Saturday is a rare opportunity to tour a bit of Jasper history. Both ladies said they are looking forward to showing off their treasures.

For information on tours or renting the property call Mary Ellen Eddy, 384-2650; Gayle Cahal, 384-7905; Katherine Penney, 384-4706; or Janie Ewing, 384-5260.