Contact the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce to arrange a tour of one of Texas’ most historic homes.
Following are brief descriptions of the rooms and areas in the house:
Downstairs
Hall — There are double doors at the front and back, both upstairs and down. The upper half of each door is decorated glass. J.B. Wells, Jr., made some of the furniture in the house. The hall tree was made from parts of an old organ and slats from a discarded bed. The staircase is made of walnut and J.B. Wells made the replica of the Alamo.
The Parlor — Pier glass between the windows is 10 feet tall. The frame and base are made of river bottom walnut and still have the original finish. The curtains and wallpaper are original from 1885. The Tiffany lamp was made by Louis Tiffany, who was noted for the unusual color and decorative effects of his glass. That lamp has been with the Wells family since 1910.
South bedroom — The mantle is of green and white Italian marble. Two tall old vases have been with the family since 1873. When the wells family moved into the home, Mr. Wells marked the date of the old calendar clock, Jan. 1, 1890, and it is still visible today. A love seat at the foot of the bed is made from two dining room chairs.
Bedroom 2 — The old walnut bed has a carved headboard and a trundle bed under it. The chest of drawers is made of cherry wood brought to Texas on ox cart by the Hodges family before the Republic of Texas was formed.
The Library — Mantle was built by J.B. Wells of walnut from an old discarded organ. He also built the desk and light fixture and the replica of the ships and other items in the case.
Dining Room — The mantle was made by J.B. Wells. There is a collection of old brass candlesticks, some of which were burned in the Runaway Scrape. The sugar bowl of the Hodges family was buried on a family farm at the fork of the Guadalupe and San Marcos rivers during the Runaway Scrape.
Upstairs
Hall — Pictures are featured in this hallway. There are photos of the Wells children, Charley, J.B. and Effie Wells Bright. Members of the Wells family served in three wars — the Civil War, World War I and World War II.
Dressing Room — There is a use of red marble in the corner lavatory and walnut wash stand.
North Bedroom — A massive walnut bed and dresser is featured in this room. The chest of drawers, dated in the 1860s, has a long history of usages in Gonzales. It is made of walnut and pine. The small looking glass has supports in the “dolphin’s tail” design. A baby cradle was likely made in Gonzales County. It has been in the Wells family since 1892. A picture on the wall is of Charley Wells.
West Bedroom — The early Texas massive bed and dresser was made in Gonzales of native walnut. The two-door wardrobe, made around 1870 by August Kleine, a Gonzales cabinet maker, is of walnut from the Guadalupe River Valley.
South Bedroom — The walnut bed and marble top dresser are not as heavy and massive as earlier furniture. The pieces were probably made in the Civil War era or a little later. The mantle is hand made.
