Hess-Kollatschny Farm House
Cat Spring, Austin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Austrian-born Henry Hess (1851-1914) and his wife Fransiska (Schlapota) (b. 1854) built this cottage in 1876-77 in the German settlement of Cat Spring. Purchased by Charles (b. 1875) and Fannie (b. 1879) Kollatschny in 1904, the home was enlarged about 1915 and remained in that family over 50 years. Now located northwest of its original location, it features the original cypress siding and interior stenciling. The fine German craftsmanship is a tribute to Austin County's early settlers. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In the German farming settlement of Cat Spring, Austrian-born Henry Hess and his wife Fransiska built this modest cottage in the mid-1870s, showing off the careful joinery and cypress construction their homeland traditions prized. The Kollatschny family bought it in 1904, enlarged it, and kept it for more than half a century. Its original siding and hand-painted interior stenciling survive as evidence of that early craftsmanship.
Why it matters
Homes like this one document the wave of German-speaking immigrants who reshaped rural Texas, bringing Old World skills to a new frontier.
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Related people
- · Henry Hess
- · Fransiska Hess
- · Charles Kollatschny
- · Fannie Kollatschny
Themes & tags
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