Friends of the Seaquist House

Matching Grant News

 

Seaquist House Foundation ( SHF) has received a matching grant for up to $100,000 from the Mark Grosse estate. This challenge is a wonderful opportunity to raise needed funds for the exterior renovation and kick off the celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Seaquist House purchase. The unique stone mansion begun in 1887 has three floors, a basement, and Victorian features such as a turret and a cupola. Exterior house renovation includes repairing and painting wood porch, ceilings, flooring, balcony railings and posts, as well as window and door frames and concrete repairs. Estimates for this project are approximately $300,000.

Richard Mark Grosse lived in Mason intermittently with his grandparents and considered it his “hometown”. He enjoyed his Mason ranch for many years. As an adult he created a successful real estate company in Port Aransas, living there more than 50 years with his wife Carol. Mark gave back to his community with his time and financial resources. He was known for his integrity, positive and calm demeanor, and love of life. Shortly before his death he made major donations of land and money to the Nature Conservancy and the Port Aransas Art Center. He arranged a donor-advised fund which continues to grant to charities. SH foundation is proud to receive his support.

The Grosse grant stipulates they will match up to $100,000 of individual donations to the Seaquist House in 2025. Individual gifts are important to achieve the match from the Grosse estate . Every dollar donated will be matched! Donations can be made through the website Seaquist.org or by mailing checks to SH Foundation, PO Box 1496 Mason Tx 76856.

Looking toward the next ten years, the Seaquist House Foundation will move the focus to improving the one- plus acre of grounds. This may include leveling, driveway and fence work, brush clearing along Comanche Creek, additional landscaping, and tree planting.

The SHF will be seeking grants from several entities including LCRA and the Texas Historical Foundation to finish exterior work as well as grounds improvement.  Success with the Grosse matching grant leaves open the possibility of additional grants including from the Texas Historical Commission.

Please Help Us Continue Restoring The Seaquist House

 

One hundred percent of your donation goes to renovating The Seaquist House.  Everyone who works for the Seaquist House Foundation, Inc. is a volunteer.  We have no paid staff.  We genuinely appreciate all donations, your time and/or financial contribution, to saving this unique and historic structure. The Seaquist House Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization making your donation is tax deductible.

Two Ways to Donate

Please make check payable to:
Seaquist House Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 1496
Mason, TX 76856

Donate Online via GoFundMe:

Saving History

 

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.

Board of Directors

Jerry Bearden – President
Nonie Stringer – Vice President
Michael Keller – Secretary
Gerry Gamel – Treasurer
Thom Canfield
J.D. Kidwell
Jane Titus

Advisory Board

Jan Appleby – Tour director

Laura Lehmberg Talent
Brent Hinckley
Lee McMillan
Paul Branch

Our Progress

The house interior walls have been  repaired and repainted and all rooms are furnished....

The plants, border stone and grass now enhance the entrance to the Seaquist House.   We are looking forward to seeing the flowers bloom over the next few months....

Our goal for 2024 is to renovate the exterior porches.  This will include repair or replacement of the decking and railings and paint.   A capital campaign will be announced later this year....

Thank you to LCRA and San Angelo Health for their $25K donation, each, to allow completion of this important project.            ...

Men’s, women’s and a private ADA compliant bathroom are available to those visiting the house for tours or events....

Quite the task  …. what an improvement!   The long awaited installation of systems for cooling and heating the three floor house is almost finished.  This will provide a comfortable environment for tours and events held here. The days of conducting tours and holding meetings......

After purchasing the house in January of 2015, there were many safety issues to take into consideration: the railings on the balconies on the second and third floor are not built high enough for building code safety, so we have not been able to allow......

Three rooms were renovated in the 1970’s, and unfortunately the linoleum and tiling used were made with asbestos. The estimate received from the environmental company in San Antonio is a little over $9400, plus additional work for five days that must be done by a......