E. J. Jenkins House
Bryan, Brazos County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This house was constructed in 1893 by prominent Bryan builder Charlie Jenkins for his brother Edwin James Jenkins (1867-1959). A native of England, E.J. Jenkins came to Bryan in 1878. He operated a drugstore in downtown Bryan for over 50 years and served as Mayor and a City Councilman. The classic Queen Anne style home, which features a domed tower and wraparound veranda, remained in the Jenkins family until the property was sold in 1971. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1893, Bryan builder Charlie Jenkins raised this ornate Queen Anne home—all domed tower and wraparound veranda—for his brother Edwin James Jenkins. An English immigrant who reached Bryan in 1878 as a boy, E.J. Jenkins went on to run a downtown drugstore for more than half a century while serving as both mayor and city councilman. The house stayed in the family until 1971 and earned Recorded Texas Historic Landmark status in 1982.
Why it matters
It embodies the immigrant-made-good story of small-town Gilded Age Texas, where a foreign-born newcomer could become a pillar of civic and commercial life.
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Related people
- · Edwin James Jenkins
- · Charlie Jenkins
Themes & tags
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