The Seaquist House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a State of Texas Historical Marker. It is a major feature of the established Historic District in Mason and is on its way to becoming a central focus of historic tourism in the Hill Country. The community already benefits from important tourism assets such as the frontier Fort Mason, (founded in 1851 and commanded by Robert E. Lee just prior to the Civil War), the home of Fred Gibson (author of “Old Yeller”), the Mason County War , the Odeon Theatre, and the only natural sources of blue topaz (the state gem of Texas). The oldest concrete truss bridge in the Southwest is directly adjacent to the Seaquist House property.
This remarkable Victorian residence is one of the best examples of Italianate architecture in the region. In 1976, the House was included in a statewide survey of the significant 19th century homes conducted by the Amon Carter Museum and the University of Texas. In 2014 it was named as one of Preservation Texas’ “Most Endangered Historic Places”.
In that year, the Seaquist House Foundation was formed as a non-profit 501(C)3 organization to purchase, renovate and open the house to the public. In working toward this goal, the Foundation Board began securing tax deductible monetary donations, memorials and pledges to facilitate full restoration. The home was purchased by the Foundation in January of 2015 from the Seaquist family who had owned the house since 1919. The Board has received significant public support for the preservation of the Seaquist House with over sixty local individuals volunteering assistance in the initial stage, including both the County Judge and City Mayor.
In May 2015, the Foundation with $411,000 in pledges, memorials and gifts began the task of making the property secure, cleaning the interior, and repaying the loan. With additional contributions, the electricity was upgraded, and in 2019 the HVAC systems were installed. This allowed the foundation to achieve its goal to open the House for tours. Grants and additional fundraising helped pay for repurposing the garage as modern bathrooms, putting on a new roof, and modernizing the indoor plumbing. The next accomplishments focused on interior restoration and involved extensive wall and ceiling repairs or replacements as well as refinishing the wooden floors. Since 2019 there has been a thoughtful acquisition of period-piece furniture and art. Grass and plantings that require less water along with a sprinkler system were installed in 2023 . The next major project will be exterior renovation. It will require repair of the columns, balcony, railings, as well as painting. Long-term goals include additional landscaping and upgrades to the grounds.
As the Seaquist House Foundation improves and operates this historic property, we share our continued deepest appreciation to the generous people who have volunteered and contributed to make this Victorian landmark beautiful again.
