Hamshire House
Hamshire, Jefferson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On land patented to William H. Smith, who died at the Alamo. Of Louisiana cypress, style is typical of ranches of the time. Built 1859 by A. Mobray for Emil Broussard. He sold to Eloi and Azema Broussard. Here grew up a son, J. E. Broussard, who built first rice mill in Texas. Widowed, Azema married Lovan Hamshire. They donated land for area's first Catholic church. Few changes have been made in house since it was first built. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1859 of Louisiana cypress on land patented to William H. Smith, who died at the Alamo, the Hamshire House is a fine example of the ranch dwellings of early Southeast Texas. It was raised for Emil Broussard, and here grew up J. E. Broussard, who went on to build the first rice mill in Texas — a crop that would transform the coastal prairie. The widowed Azema Broussard later married Lovan Hamshire, and the couple donated the land for the area's first Catholic church.
Why it matters
The house links a defender of the Alamo, a pioneering rice-milling family, and the founding of a frontier parish — threads of how the Gulf Coast prairie was settled and put to the plow.
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Related people
- · Emil Broussard
- · J. E. Broussard
- · Azema Broussard
- · Lovan Hamshire
Themes & tags
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