The Parnell Home
at 1407 Main Street

 

This Victorian jewel box house was moved from Taylor, TX in 1993 and is a welcomed newcomer to Bastrop. Built around 1898, the house—now home to the Parnell family—is indicative of Folk Victorian structures built in America from 1879 to 1910. Often found in rural or country settings, Folk Victorian houses were often wonderfully embellished with materials and millwork that were brought in by railroad from distant fabrication sites. Consequently, local suppliers and builders increasingly had ready access to plans and quality components—doors, windows, hardware, etc.—that might be melded to meet the particular needs and desires of individual clients. No longer were builders as restricted by locality—wood, stone, clay, etc.—in their building. This was an early manifestation of today's building techniques—where lumber, nails, casings, trusses, and even entire structures are produced remotely and shipped to the site.

The Parnell's restoration has "gone the distance" as well: the beautiful cast-iron fence was rescued from a home being demolished in Canada. Where needed, new moldings have been custom milled in California from 100-year-old wood salvaged from a teardown in Portland, Oregon. Damaged flooring was replaced with wood salvaged from a tear-down in Houston.

Suggesting the renowned "Painted Ladies" of the period, the exterior is an exuberant mix of color—clapboards painted a sunny, mustard color trimmed out with moss green and cranberry on the gable bargeboards, the double columns on the wide front porch and the turnings, and lavender porch decking. Within the house, Victorian color schemes and flourishes are apparent as well; period fittings and the home's stained glass windows—many of which were salvaged from a Minneapolis tear-down—wonderfully dress out the interior. And many of the furnishings have tales to tell: the 80-year-old grand piano in the front parlor, for instance, survived a fire in an Austin hotel, and the period-appropriate furnishings have been collected by the owners over a 25-year period.

But for all its rich palette, the house is most decidedly green: the owners have spent the past year restoring the home using environmentally friendly building practices and systems. Insulation and sealants, including 150 tubes of caulk, and carefully selected appliances boost the house's energy efficiency. The landscaping uses native plants and benefits from an underground sprinkler system that uses 40 percent less water than a traditional irrigation system. Solar screens were customized to maintain the look of a Victorian home; ceiling fans, a radiant barrier, and attic fan provide relief from the hot Texas summers.