HistoricSiteMarkers
Progressive & Modern Era

Glenn-Dowe House

Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Local contractor Daniel Glenn built this residence in 1900-01, incorporating a band of decorative brickwork in the design. He sold the property in 1901 to Bessie Chisum, a widow who married Luke Dowe in 1906. Dowe had a long career as a peace officer on the Texas-Mexican border, serving first with the frontier battalion of the Texas Rangers and later with the U. S. Customs service. The Dowes occupied this house for 50 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1985.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Local contractor Daniel Glenn built this brick residence in 1900–01, working a band of decorative brickwork into its design, and sold it in 1901 to the widow Bessie Chisum. In 1906 she married Luke Dowe, a border peace officer who served first with the Texas Rangers' Frontier Battalion and later with U.S. Customs. The Dowes made the house their home for fifty years.

Why it matters

The home links the architecture of a growing border town to the lawmen who policed the turbulent Texas–Mexico frontier.

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Related people

  • · Daniel Glenn
  • · Luke Dowe
  • · Bessie Chisum

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryHome

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