The Coopwood House
Lockhart, Caldwell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A one-story residence stood on this lot when businessman James G. Blanks (1862-1927) purchased the property in 1896. He added another floor and completed the house in the classical revival style popular at the time. In 1908 Blanks sold the structure to Dr. Thomas Benton Coopwood (1860-1932), a noted Lockhart physician who served as Caldwell County health officer for over 30 years. Members of the Coopwood family occupied the home until 1970. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1979
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Businessman James G. Blanks bought this Lockhart lot in 1896, added a second floor, and finished the house in the classical revival style then in fashion. In 1908 he sold it to Dr. Thomas Benton Coopwood, a respected physician who served as Caldwell County health officer for more than three decades. The Coopwood family lived here until 1970.
Why it matters
The home reflects the rise of a professional and civic class in small-town Texas at the turn of the century, when local doctors and merchants anchored their communities.
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Related people
- ยท James G. Blanks
- ยท Thomas Benton Coopwood
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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