Historical Renovation by Stephen B. Chambers Architects, Inc. Wins Preservation Texas Award

Dallas, Texas...May 3, 2006

Rock Ranch, a two-story, four- room stone home on 2000 acres in Wise County near Decatur, Texas, has been recognized by Preservation Texas with its Historic Rehabilitation Award. The Historic Rehabilitation Award recognizes projects that offer creative solutions for rehabilitating historic residential, commercial, or institutional buildings and structures. Stephen B. Chambers Architects is a Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas-based architectural firm specializing in custom residential design, remodeling and historic renovation. Steve Chambers is a registered architect and interior designer with over 30 years of experience. His distinctive designs have won many awards and have been seen in numerous national publications. The Preservation Texas Award was presented at the Treasures of Texas Event during the Texas Historical Commission Annual Preservation Conference in Galveston, Texas on April 21, 2006. Other categories in the awards ceremony honored public structures, individuals, and organizations that also support historic preservation and education.

Early in the 20th century, two range riding cowboys, John Luther Waggoner and his brother, Thomas Jefferson Waggoner, purchased a ranch near Electra, Texas. Later, J.L. Waggoner was able to expand his holdings with the purchase of land in Wise County, where his family had first settled in Texas. There he acquired around 12,000 acres east of Decatur and Rock Ranch, a house of native stone (rubble with large flat veneer slabs) quarried on the spot. This dwelling was used as a fort and refuge for early settlers to fight off Indian attacks (Gregg, Wise County History). Johnnie Marie Waggoner, J.L.'s daughter, spent her childhood on this property and her love for it became a motivating force in its preservation. The property is owned by Sauder Land Holdings 1.

In 2002, John Sauder (son of Johnnie Marie Waggoner Sauder, and grandson of J.L. Waggoner) and his wife, Cheryl, undertook the meticulous rehabilitation of Rock Ranch with Stephen Chambers, A.I.A., "because it is important to preserve our Texas heritage, the beautiful isolation of its rural setting, and the integrity of the original English design of the main house." The existing structures were: a two-story, four-room stone home (attachment #1); windmill; one-story stone structure formerly supporting a water tank; a ten-foot tall stone wall (ruins of a 40' x 100' barn); and portions of dry-stack stone "cow walls."

Mr. Chambers and the Sauders worked to preserve the architectural integrity and details of the historical site while revitalizing the house for residential use. The house retains the integrity of the original English country home with a Gothic window, decorative arts, and native materials maintained. The 'dimples' in the stone sills (see sill photo caption), is an example of historic craftsmanship and the swag cut in the mantel, a decorative example. Chambers says, "Rock Ranch was important to preserve as another dimension of the rich diverse heritage of our Texas built culture, as well as a vehicle for teaching craftsmanship techniques of the 19th Century."

Preservation Texas is based in Austin and is the only private, non-profit organization in Texas that is dedicated to full-service statewide preservation. Its board and members include individuals, government agencies, and other groups concerned with preserving Texas' built environment, historic sites, and resources.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Rosalie Gregg, ed., Wise County History (Vol. 1, n.p: Nortex, 1975; Vol. 2, Austin: Eakin, 1982).