Dublin Core
Title
Landmark Homes - Ida Baden House
Subject
Williams Borden Landmarks
Description
Ida Bayden House
1919 37th Street
From Galveston’s Historic City Landmarks – link below
Like other houses that architect Nicholas Clayton designed in Galveston, this house impresses not only by its size but by the consummate ability that he displayed in orchestrating its shapes, proportions, solids, voids and the detailing of material. As is often the case with Clayton’s buildings, it quietly radiates architectural authority. The house was renovated in 1975.
The house was built for Miss Ida D. Baden, a women who went to great lengths to keep her identity a secret, even to the extent of dealing with Clayton though an agent. She is most noteworthy for what is not known about her - she managed to avoid every Census count, and city directory, and how she came about many real estate holdings and other wealth is unknown.
Later owners include Benjamin and Sophie Sproule. Benjamin was the principal partner of a freight and brokerage firm, B. Sproule and Company. Sophie worked for the American National Insurance Company as an underwriter after her husband's death, and became one of the company's most successful agents and first female member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
https://galveston.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=23784f7927f84a13ad81317c2bba113c
Texas Historical Markers
Marker Number: 58
Marker Text:
Designed by noted Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton, this house was built in 1899 by Ida B. Baden on land once known as Thomas Borden's farm. West Island landowner John D. Settle sold Miss Baden the land and assisted her in the architectural arrangements. A wealthy property owner, Baden owned considerable stock in the Galveston Wharf Company, which was highly unusual. She died in 1906 at 43, following a sudden illness in her uptown residence, 2407 Avenue E. Her sister of Boston inherited the estate. The house was sold in 1913 to Benno Sproule, the principal in an ocean freight brokerage business. Following Sproule's death in 1932, his family continued to occupy the home until 1959. A fine example of the Queen Anne style of architecture, the house features a wraparound veranda with paired turned posts. Bow windows can be seen at the first and second floor levels, and fishscale shingles appear on the second floor. A balconette in the front gable exhibits a Palladian-inspired motif. Outstanding features also include the paneled and pedimented fireplace back and corbelled chimney caps. The home stands as an important element of Galveston's development and architectural history.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1989
Photo: Nancy Flint-Budde 2020
1919 37th Street
From Galveston’s Historic City Landmarks – link below
Like other houses that architect Nicholas Clayton designed in Galveston, this house impresses not only by its size but by the consummate ability that he displayed in orchestrating its shapes, proportions, solids, voids and the detailing of material. As is often the case with Clayton’s buildings, it quietly radiates architectural authority. The house was renovated in 1975.
The house was built for Miss Ida D. Baden, a women who went to great lengths to keep her identity a secret, even to the extent of dealing with Clayton though an agent. She is most noteworthy for what is not known about her - she managed to avoid every Census count, and city directory, and how she came about many real estate holdings and other wealth is unknown.
Later owners include Benjamin and Sophie Sproule. Benjamin was the principal partner of a freight and brokerage firm, B. Sproule and Company. Sophie worked for the American National Insurance Company as an underwriter after her husband's death, and became one of the company's most successful agents and first female member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
https://galveston.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=23784f7927f84a13ad81317c2bba113c
Texas Historical Markers
Marker Number: 58
Marker Text:
Designed by noted Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton, this house was built in 1899 by Ida B. Baden on land once known as Thomas Borden's farm. West Island landowner John D. Settle sold Miss Baden the land and assisted her in the architectural arrangements. A wealthy property owner, Baden owned considerable stock in the Galveston Wharf Company, which was highly unusual. She died in 1906 at 43, following a sudden illness in her uptown residence, 2407 Avenue E. Her sister of Boston inherited the estate. The house was sold in 1913 to Benno Sproule, the principal in an ocean freight brokerage business. Following Sproule's death in 1932, his family continued to occupy the home until 1959. A fine example of the Queen Anne style of architecture, the house features a wraparound veranda with paired turned posts. Bow windows can be seen at the first and second floor levels, and fishscale shingles appear on the second floor. A balconette in the front gable exhibits a Palladian-inspired motif. Outstanding features also include the paneled and pedimented fireplace back and corbelled chimney caps. The home stands as an important element of Galveston's development and architectural history.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1989
Photo: Nancy Flint-Budde 2020
Source
Photo Credit Nancy Flint-Budde 2020