Rudolph and Therese Runge House
Mason, Mason County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In the 1880s and 1890s, stonemason Thomas Broad built several homes in Mason similar to this one, owned by E.J. and Louise Broad from 1891 until they sold it in 1895 to Therese (Marschall) Runge (1855-1946). Her husband, Rudolph Runge (1849-1914), was a German native who became a noted local attorney. The couple's sons, Carl and Roscoe, became prominent lawyers and politicians. The family sold the home in 1946, and subsequent owners have maintained the building's Victorian elements, many of which are common in Thomas Broad's work. These include turned posts and the use of random ashlar stone with unique pointing treatment and articulated quoins. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2003
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Stonemason Thomas Broad built this Mason home around 1891, one of several he crafted with turned posts and random-ashlar stonework marked by distinctive quoins and pointing. From 1895 it belonged to Therese Runge and her husband Rudolph, a German-born attorney; their sons Carl and Roscoe grew up to become prominent Texas lawyers and politicians.
Why it matters
The house reflects the German immigrants who shaped the Texas Hill Country, and the fine stonework of masons like Thomas Broad that gave their towns a lasting architectural signature.
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Related people
- · Rudolph Runge
- · Therese Runge
- · Thomas Broad
Themes & tags
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