Maigne-Walther House
Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Raised cottage with parapeted balustrade. Built 1869 by Charles Mainge. Siding and floors are of pine; interior walls, cypress. Foundations and fireplaces are of handmade bricks. Square nails were used in construction. Several short-term ownerships were followed by sale in 1910 to R. H. Walther, a bookkeeper and merchant, who served 1914-26 on staff of county tax collector. His daughters Grace and Rosanna Walther now own, preserve house. RTHL - 1973
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This raised cottage with a parapeted balustrade was built in 1869 by Charles Mainge in Columbus, a heavily German-settled corner of Colorado County. Its pine siding and floors, cypress interior walls, handmade-brick foundations, and square-nail construction reflect the craftsmanship of its era. After several owners it was bought in 1910 by bookkeeper and county tax-office clerk R.H. Walther, whose daughters later preserved the home.
Why it matters
Surviving houses like this one document the material world and immigrant craftsmanship of post-Civil War Texas towns, saved by families who valued their heritage enough to keep them standing.
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Related people
- · Charles Mainge
- · R.H. Walther
- · Grace Walther
- · Rosanna Walther
Themes & tags
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