HistoricSiteMarkers
Reconstruction & Gilded Age

Robert Cyrus Allen Home

Hearne, Robertson County, Texas

Marker Inscription

(1871-1933) Had this Victorian residence built in 1900 as a wedding present for his bride Florence (Blair). A prominent area merchant, banker, and civic leader, Allen also served as mayor of the city and was instrumental in the organization of the Hearne and Brazos Valley Railroad. This house, constructed on the site of his family home, was designed by the noted Waco architect W. W. Larmour. The exterior features decorative shingling and classical revival detailing. Interior furnishings include intricate woodwork and seven fireplaces. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981 Incise on base: Hearnewood - Preserved by Jack and Norma Holloway

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Robert Cyrus Allen (1871โ€“1933) built this ornate Victorian home in 1900 as a wedding present for his bride, Florence Blair, on the site of his family's earlier house. A leading merchant, banker, mayor, and organizer of the Hearne and Brazos Valley Railroad, Allen commissioned noted Waco architect W. W. Larmour to design a residence rich with decorative shingling, classical detailing, intricate woodwork, and seven fireplaces.

Why it matters

The house embodies the confidence and civic ambition of the small-town Texas businessmen who tied their communities to the railroad age.

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Related people

  • ยท Robert Cyrus Allen
  • ยท Florence Blair Allen
  • ยท W. W. Larmour

Themes & tags

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