HistoricSiteMarkers
Progressive & Modern Era

Cervini House

Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Joseph Cervini (1857-1922) came to Texarkana from Genoa, Italy in 1884 and opened a restaurant. With profits from downtown land investments, he had this home built for his family in 1914. Exhibiting influences of the bungalow and Prairie School styles, the home features a two-story wraparound gallery, brick piers, cast-stone heavy balusters, and a low-pitched tile hipped roof. The home remained in the Cervini family until 1981. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1988

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Joseph Cervini emigrated from Genoa, Italy, to Texarkana in 1884 and opened a restaurant, parlaying profits from downtown land into this family home in 1914. Blending bungalow and Prairie School influences, it features a two-story wraparound gallery, brick piers, heavy cast-stone balusters, and a low tile hipped roof, and it remained in the Cervini family until 1981.

Why it matters

The home reflects how immigrant entrepreneurs put down roots and prospered in booming turn-of-the-century railroad towns of the American South.

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Related people

  • · Joseph Cervini

Themes & tags

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