45th Annual Heritage Home Tour: Classical Revival Home

The Classical Revival Home located at 220 N. Johnson Ave, is the home of Dr. and Mrs. Theodore Dake and the first stop on the 45th Annual Heritage Home Tour. Guests will enter the immaculate gardens through a gate to the right of the home and enjoy mimosas and elegant musical performances by the SMART Orchestra.

The pristine home is a vintage turn-of-the-century Texas home built in 1906 by J.H. Barbee and his wife Abbie King Barbee, the daughter of a prominent local farmer. Barbee helped established San Marcos Baptist Academy, founded in 1906, and was elected to its original Board of Trustees. Of the eight charter members of the San Marcos Baptist Church, founded in 1857, four were members of the Barbee family, including his father J.J. Barbee. In addition, Barbee was one of the founders and principal shareholders responsible for establishing the Farmers Union Gin Company in 1908, the first industrial building and business of its size in San Marcos. Barbee was also instrumental in expanding the First National Bank of San Marcos. Though Barbee built this house for his wife, the couple did not live in it for long before he sold it to build a much bigger and grander house. Interestingly, the second home was torn down, but this Classical Revival home superbly remains today.

The current owners, Dr. Theordore Dake, and Mrs. Thea Dake bought the home in 2001 and have carefully and lovingly renovated both the interior and exterior of the beautiful home. They have incorporated many architectural antiques into the house including stained, etched and beveled glass, crown molding, marble and granite hearths, vintage light fixtures, and antique tiles. The home provides a solidly colonnaded broad front porch with an enchanting glimpse of a lovely side garden as you approach the home. The exquisite home is also surrounded by old pecan trees that are between 75 to over 100 years old.

In addition, extensive landscaping was designed to restore and enhance the beauty of the home. The boxwood hedge maze that adorns the verdant gardens was inspired by Monticello, President Jefferson’s home in Virginia. Mrs. Dake thought the hedges would be low maintenance at the time, but soon realized the necessity of trimming. The patio was enlarged, with charming walkways integrated throughout the garden. Mrs. Dake designed and built two stone architectural features — one called “The Alamo Wall,” which if you close one eye and squint, could be said to resemble the actual one. The pathways are made of brick and stone and inlaid with interesting odds and ends. One large stone includes inlaid copper outlines of the hands and feet of the Dake’s two grandsons, who were about four or five at the time.

This year's "See, Sip and Savor in the Historic Gardens of San Marcos" tour is on June 4, from 11 am – 4 pm. Tour tickets are limited to the first 400. $25 advance/$30 tour day. Tickets can be purchased through the HASM website at www.heritagesanmarcos.org or the Charles S. Cock House Museum, located in Veramendi Plaza Park at 400 East Hopkins Street, on June 3 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

All proceeds from the 2022 home tour will go toward our 2022-2023 Capital Campaign to raise funds for the restoration and renovation of the Charles S. Cock House Museum.

The Heritage Association of San Marcos would like to thank the following 45th Annual Home Tour Sponsors:

Eleanor Crook

McNutt Law Firm

La Cima

Divided Sky Roofing and Solar

Sal’s House of Tint

McCoy’s Building Supply

Advanced Imaging

Zelicks Icehouse

The Damron Group Realtors

Palmers Restaurant Bar & Courtyard

San Marcos Daily Record

Jude and Kathy Prather

Germer Insurance Services

The Crystal River Inn

Brita and Robert Northcutt

Premier Cuts

Café on the Square

Sergi & Associates

Paul Velte Attorney at Law

Jane Hughson

Carl Deal Photography

Central Texas Eye Center

Frost Bank

Italian Garden

Sage Capital Bank

SMART Orchestra

Cardinal Frames

The Floral Studio

Cody Couch

Harry and Ellie Stewart

Lea and Tim Rice

Paradise Palms at York Creek

Sean Crowder