Struve House
Marble Falls, Burnet County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Amand Von Struve (1838-1902) came to Texas in 1848 with his father, a former Imperial Russian officer. Buying land here, 1858 and later, he amassed over 8,000 acres, with herds of horses, cattle, and sheep. To wooden dwelling, he added (1869) this stone spring house-kitchen, to protect food and water from Indians and animals. He married (1871) Christiana Fissler Ebeling. Had 8 children. Their main dwelling was razed in 1940s. Stone annex was restored for preservation, 1950s. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1973
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Amand von Struve came to Texas in 1848 with his father, a former Imperial Russian officer, and set about building a vast ranch that eventually spread over 8,000 acres of horses, cattle, and sheep. In 1869 he added this stone spring house and kitchen to his wooden dwelling, its thick walls meant to guard food and water from raids and wild animals alike. He married in 1871 and raised eight children; long after the main house was razed, this stone annex was restored to survive.
Why it matters
The Struve spring house is a rare surviving trace of a European immigrant's frontier ranching empire on the still-contested Texas Hill Country.
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Related people
- · Amand von Struve
- · Christiana Fissler Ebeling
Themes & tags
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