Earl-Rochelle House
Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The last of three nearly identical homes built in Texarkana, the Earl-Rochelle house was constructed in 1899 for realtor and merchant John W. Earl (1861-1925) and his family. An excellent example of Queen Anne style with asymmetrical composition, the home features a complex roofscape incorporating gables and polygonal turrets. Eastlake detailing is evident in the decorative gable end treatment. James F. (1864-1938) and Ella Jo (McMickle) (1873-1966) Rochelle owned the home from 1929 to 1966. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1997
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
By the end of the 1890s Texarkana was prosperous enough to fill with fashionable homes, and the Earl-Rochelle house — built in 1899 for realtor and merchant John W. Earl — was the last of three nearly identical residences in town. Its Queen Anne design revels in asymmetry, with a busy roofline of gables and polygonal turrets and delicate Eastlake woodwork in the gables. The Rochelle family made it their own from 1929 until 1966.
Why it matters
The house is a fine surviving example of the Queen Anne exuberance that expressed the confidence of Gilded Age America's rising merchant class.
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Related people
- · John W. Earl
- · James F. Rochelle
- · Ella Jo McMickle Rochelle
Themes & tags
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