February 14, 2007
Rhodes scholar
Back in October, just as we began our renovation project, I was given information on the provenance of the house. Michael and I are the fourth owners. The original owners were a family by the name of Rhodes; originally from England, they came to Austin by way of Taylor, Texas. Apparently Mrs. Rhodes moved into the house in the 20's after her husband had passed away. Her youngest son, an IRS agent, and her daughter, a stenographer at the Fish and Wildlife Agency, lived with her for many years.
I can just imagine what a cool place this house must've been for them. Three people living in a 1,500-square-foot house. It was configured differently back then. There was a galley kitchen and a butler's pantry with a pot bellied stove that must've heated the whole house. There was a third bedroom off the kitchen and a screened in porch from there. Our contractor, Bill Moore, helped us piece together the scenario when we were a few weeks into our remodel. He used clues—like the fact there was no central heating vent and round holes for pipes going into the bedrooms—to figure out they used a heating stove.
I don't know how long Mrs. Rhodes lived in the house, but I do know her oldest son, Buddy was the final owner. There are legends of an 80-year-old Buddy climbing up on the roof every winter to close off the vents. This information I learned from Sonny Rhodes, the grandson of the original owner. We found he had sold the house after Buddy died and located him through a Google search. He still lives in Austin and, as coincidence would have it, has a house 2 blocks from where Michael and I are living during the remodel.
—Michele
(16) Comments
Comment on this BlogHey Michele,
I opened my new issue of TOH yesterday and noticed something familiar about a lady goofing off in a toolbelt. Then I realized it was somebody I knew...from almost twenty years back!
Ginger and I love what you and Michael have done with the house! We have lived in a 1912 farmhouse for the last nine years, but my friends are not quite as handy as your friends, Norm and Tom!
If you have time, we would love to hear how you are doing and get caught up.
Take care,
Paul and Ginger L.
we do not have the oppurtunity to watch all your programs lately. my wife and i were regular viewers when bob vila was the host.i have grown disappointed in your more recent efforts. they are not for the common man unless he has won the lotto and has a 1 million dollar budget.why dont you ever go to small town in the midwest and help lower income people with the problems they cannot afford to do but need to do to protect their investment.a house thats worth 70,000 to 100,000, in a small out of the way communitywould make your core audiance feel like they count too. the last two efforts were definatly in the million dollar house range.people who are just getting by would benefit from your expertice far more than people who can afford to pay expencive contractors and architecs are in our oppionion not the audience that got you were you are today.thank you. sincerely vince goldberg
Hello,
I don't know if you are aware but some prominent and historical Austin folks lived in Hyde Park in the past. Once such was Peter Mansbendel whom I have studying for about two years now. Check out the website that I developed about PM and his work. His father-in-law Monrow Ship was the developer of HP. www.petermansbendel.com. I saw you guys were in HP and thought about the connection.
Thanks
Doug Oliver
I am interested in the Texas salvage works (door knob collector) in Gonzalez Texas that supplied craftsman doors and knobs for the Austin house. His name bas Brad Pattel. I cannot google to find his architectural salvage operation.
The salvage shop is called Discoverys -- this is their website:
http://www.discoverys.com/
I would like any information you have about the solar powered attic fan that was used in this episode of TOH. Thank you for any insight you can share with me.
-Sandra
walsht@sosbbs.com
In a recent episode, you showed another green house in Austin with an H-shaped layout. I was hoping to see more pictures of this house and maybe a sketch of the floorplan. Is that possible?
Have you had experience with Ecostar Majestic slate (made out of recycled plastic and rubber with TPO (polypropelene))? We are thinking about using that on a new residential roof, but have heard that it curls and fades over time.
Thank you - KC Ridihalgh
I just saw the first installment of toh on public television and was amazed that no mention was made of ground source heat pump technology pertaining to the 5 star rating.
Has this info not reached Texas, or why was this possibility overlooked?
Thanks for an answer.
You showed a vendor of very old used doors removing old paint by scraping. The paint dust was going every where. In the air, on the floor, and on the workers. I hope it wasn't lead based paint.
Lawrence
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