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The years leading up to the turn of the 19th century witnessed considerable growth in Denton. Much of this growth is still present today in historic buildings around town.
Around 1885, when R.H. Evers and his brother, Adolph “Dolph” Evers opened Ever’s Hardware at 109 W. Hickory Street on the perimeter of the Courthouse square, a primitive style house was built at 213 E. Oak Street. The simple house was purchased by Mary Euphenia Evers (R.H. Ever’s wife). Both Ever’s Hardware and this little house have an indelible mark on Denton History.
Ever’s Hardware is one of Denton’s oldest and most cherished landmarks. Ever’s Hardware was a family-owned and operated business until 2000. Though the lesser-known of R.H.
Ever’s homes, the Evers-Bouschor house, complete with its hall that ran the length of the house and two added-on rooms, holds historical significance in Denton County. Both were the beginning of Denton’s prosperity.
Denton’s population was at 4,187 residents in 1900. Its town square was unpaved and the new courthouse was a mere four years old. C.A. Bridges stated in History of Denton, Texas, “For many years prior to about 1900, the elite portion of town, if there was such a thing, was south of the square extending four of five blocks down South Elm Street, then still called Sand Street, and for two or three blocks down South Locust. By 1905, East Oak was becoming the favorite – someone called the swanky part of town. On the street were the Witherspoon, Bass, Blewett, Withers, Davidson, Wilcoxen, … R.H. Evers, and Huffines homes, plus those of other prominent families.
By 1903, R.H. Evers was enjoying greater prosperity and his family was growing too large for the original house, so they relocated to West Oak Street, later known as “silk stocking row,” where they lived in a palatial residence with a wrap around porch and two storied columns.
The house at 1035 W. Oak Street remained in the Evers family until 2004, where Celia Reid, the great-granddaughter of A.F. Evers, and her family lived. Mrs. Reid also continued the family tradition at Evers Hardware, where she took ownership after the death of her father, Dolph at the age of 87 in 1983 until she could no longer run the business.
The property at 213 E. Oak, whose street number mysteriously changed to 217 at some point in its history, remained an Evers family possession until 1983, when Mr. Homer Bly, the president of First State Bank of Denton, and his wife purchased the home. A year later, in 1984 it was granted a Historic Landmark Zoning designation. The most recent owner, David S. Bouschor, II, bought the home in 2000, and has worked to restore it to its original beauty.
Attorney Bouschor has restored much of the house and will continue to keep life in this historic home. Legend has it, however, that under the sheetrock in the front hallway is a Venetian colonnade canal scene mural, just one of the many mysteries of this home that has yet to be uncovered.
Thanks to the C.A. bridges book, History of Denton, Texas: From Its Beginning to 1960, Adeline Martin, Mike Cochran, Mike Reid, Celia Reid, Jennifer Wallers, and Neta Thurman for sharing the history of this quaint home. |
