HASM HOME TOUR
The Victorian home at 802 Belvin Street was built by George Henry Talmadge on property that was originally a portion of the Spanish Land Grant made by the state of Coahuilla and Texas to Juan Martin de Veramendi on November 10, 1831. The plat of land was in the original Town of San Marcos and was considered some of the most desirable land in the county. Talmadge bought the property, which was approximately one acre in the Belvin addition, in 1889 for $500 and immediately began construction of his home.
Talmadge was from York, Illinois. He served as a Union soldier in the Civil War. After the War, he returned to Illinois, married Lydia Maria Geger in 1868, and settled in Hinsdale, Illinois where they raised their three children. In 1888, Talmadge sold his vast farmland and moved his family to San Marcos in the hopes of finding a more suitable climate for his ailing wife. George was an experienced carpenter, and after securing property, he utilized his skills to begin construction of the Victorian style residence.
The home is built from cypress felled from the banks of the San Marcos River and sits on a pier and beam foundation. The exterior siding, trim and shutters, and interior double sub walls were also of cypress. The beautiful floors are tongue-andgroove pine and original to the house. There are three fireplaces in the home, all served by a central chimney, which provided comfort throughout the house on wintry days. Square nails were used to build the house, and they can still be seen throughout the house today. The house was electrified in the 1920s and plumbed in the 1930s with two bathrooms added to the house.
There are two porches on the front of the house, one on the first floor off the living room, and one above, off the bedroom. Entering the front door, you arrive in the parlor. Large double doors lead you to the living room where you will notice a curved staircase adorned with Greek revival columns and intricately carved balusters. The living room and parlor fireplaces were back-to-back and have pine mantles. The dining room and a safe room complete the first-floor alignment of the house. The second floor featured three bedrooms, one with a fireplace, and a small porch. There was a barn at the back corner of the property which burned many years ago; however, remnants of the stone foundation are still visible.
The Talmadge family occupied the home for over eighty years and in 1975 the house was sold to Randall and Kathy Morris. The Morrises, to preserve the historically significant structure, carefully and painstakingly restored the home to reflect its past but also to provide modern conveniences. They made every effort to leave the house as it originally was and retain the architectural integrity of the home which stands as an outstanding example of the Texas-Victorian style that was predominant on this early residential street.
Further remodeling occurred in 1996, with the addition of a pool to create a backyard respite for summer enjoyment. Recently (2021) the Morrises began a two-year modern living renovation that completely gutted the kitchen area, insulated, added new windows, floors, doors, cabinets and countertops. They also added new appliances and an elevator as well as repainted all rooms up and down.
Through the years, Kathy and Randall Morris have been committed to preserving the architectural integrity of their home. They credit Jeff Kester’s excellent architectural plans that allowed them to maintain the same exterior design when adding on to the house, and they have been fortunate to find craftsmen and women to execute those plans. From salvaging materials like doors, locks and hinges, to milling the exterior siding, no detail was overlooked in this stunning home.
The George Henry Talmadge House proudly stands as a testament to the stewardship of Kathy and Randall Morris and their belief that it is vital for communities to protect public and private historic structures, both commercial and residential.
“The older neighborhoods, and there are many, define the tenor of the community” said Kathy, adding “and it is imperative that they remain intact as residential environments.”
Historic preservation is a never-ending project if the structure is to be properly maintained. With a lot of patience these labors of love bring continued awareness of the history of our town.
The “Heritage & Home: Americana Experience” HASM home tour is scheduled for Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance at www.HeritageSanMarcos. org ($35 the day of the tour). Proceeds support the Heritage Association of San Marcos and its mission to preserve the historic structures and districts that make San Marcos one of Texas’ most treasured cities.
Founded in 1975, the Heritage Association of San Marcos (HASM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic buildings, celebrating local culture, and perpetuating the traditions that enrich the community life of San Marcos. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting historic preservation and the ongoing stewardship of the city’s heritage.
