My family had a chance to buy that mansion plus the 13 acres that went with it........all for $40,000! Of course, that was a good while back. If you don't know the history behind the Waggoner Mansion (El Castille), you should really enlighten yourself. Very interesting. (Thistle Hill Mansion in Ft. Worth is "related" to El Castille.) Good stuff!
It's a shame that it can't be turned into the ultimate "historical" bed & breakfast (with help from a government grant/loan?). Otherwise, it's just deteriorating year after year until it falls in and becomes the ultimate eyesore. The present owners should really think about what they want to do with it. If they don't want to anything with it--sell it to someone with the where-with-all to do SOMETHING!
856 that is an excellent idea for a possible highest and best use of this property..no doubt it's one of the most historically significant structures in north texas..however i've been told by someone familiar with this mansion, that renovation could cost well over $1 million dollars, that's just for the interior. it would be great for all of wc if this great place were restored...
Forget the Mansion. What we need is for Patel to build another motel...maybe a couple since there is lots of room. They could take care of all the people who come in to do business at the Landmark Industrial Park.
Then how about a Wendy's to feed 'em. (We don't have one of those yet do we?)
And throughout the house you will find the Texas Lone Star motif..I believe the ceilings on first floor are 12ft and 10 or 11ft on the second floor. In addition to Thistle Hill the town of Electra has a similar one that he built for his daughter. I would love to tour it!
There is also black marble floors on the ground level. I went there on a field trip in the third grade. So...who is it that knows the real history? I've been asking for years.I understood that this was the house Waggoneer built for Electra. I also think it is the same architectual style at the house in the movie Giant.
5:32- no. The last I knew Lukers(sp?) owned it but no one has lived there for years. My dad did some work on it while people were living there-he said it was dark,cold,drafty,musty and compared it to being in a cellar.
I bet as someone suggested it would cost every bit of a mil. to do anything with that structure. To compare with another legendary structure the courthouse cost 100,000 to build.
I believe this book might provide some insight: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Thistle-Hill-the-Cattle-Barons-Legacy/Roze-M-Porter/e/9780877061137/?itm=6
I understand that the place is for sale....last asking price was $2 million. It needs significant restoration, but I agree that the CITY should buy the property and work to restore it via fund raisers..etc. One place like the Waggoner Mansion is the Daly Mansion in Montana. Unlike Waggoner though, Daly made his fortune in copper and was known as the "Copper King" in the nation. Hamilton, MT purchased the deteriorating Daly Mansion and has worked over the years to restore it to its original grandeur. (Link: http://www.dalymansion.org/ ) With the amount of tax dollars the county is bringing in with the Barnet Shale...I can't see why the county or the city cannot step in to purchase and begin restoration of this home. 11:17, as for this home being the same architectural style as the home in the movie "GIANT" ...you are correct! Actually, those film producers came to Decatur all those years ago and fell in love with El Castille! They wanted to make the movie here in Decatur, but in order to make it they were going to cut down all the trees that surrounded the place. The owners balked at that and so the movie makers did the next best thing. They built a set and designed the home on the set to match El Castille. I bet not many people in Decatur even know that bit of history! Electra Waggoner was the daughter of Tom Waggoner. He did build this mansion for her. And yes, the town of Electra, TX is her namesake as well, since the Waggoner Ranch reached clear up into the Vernon, TX area as well. Electra Waggoner was pretty famous herself. She was an artist. Are you familiar with the bronze statue of Will Rogers on his horse out in front of the Will Rogers Coliseum? Electra Waggoner is the artist of that statue. She married a Malone and was Electra Malone for a few years. They divorced and later in life she married a man named Biggs. Electra Biggs is famous for several busts she did of some folks you might recognize. http://www.waggonerranch.com/MrsBiggsArtTribute.htm
The web is full of history about the Waggoner Ranch and family. Just remember, there were TWO Electra Waggoners though! You might do some investigation on the web to find out more.
It would be an absolute shame to let this beautiful piece of our history ruin before us. The Waggoner Mansion needs rescuing!
Here is a brief bit of info found on the web. Electra Waggoner Wharton was the aunt of Electra Waggoner Biggs. (Notice the death dates) Such an interesting history in this home.. even the horse Poco Bueno came from the Waggoner Ranch...
"Electra Waggoner Wharton was born January 6, 1882 near Decatur, Texas. She married Albert Wharton June 10, 1902 and they planned to live in Philadelphia. Tom didn't want his daughter leaving Texas, so he planned to build Electra her wedding present. It was a beautiful home in Fort Worth, which was to become known as "Thistle Hill." She died November 26, 1925.
Electra Waggoner Biggs is a nationally known sculptress and passed away in 2001. Best known for her sculpture of Will Rogers on his horse "Soapsuds" called "Into the Sunset". Amon G. Carter commissioned Electra Biggs to create the work after Will Rogers' fatal airplane crash at Point Barrow, Alaska in 1935. Electra Biggs also had the honor of having an automobile named after her. In 1959, John Biggs' brother-in-law, Harlow H. 'Red' Curtice, President of Buick Motors, Division of General Motors, named one of their luxurious Buick models, Electra."
Waggoner Mansion
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21 comments:
Everyone sure was impressed with the photo. Does that house have a porter?
I knew Chip was rich but I had no idea his house was that big!
I love that house. I would really love to see it restored.
I'd steal gas from school buses if they didn't run on diesel.
My family had a chance to buy that mansion plus the 13 acres that went with it........all for $40,000! Of course, that was a good while back. If you don't know the history behind the Waggoner Mansion (El Castille), you should really enlighten yourself. Very interesting. (Thistle Hill Mansion in Ft. Worth is "related" to El Castille.) Good stuff!
Why don't the owners fix it or sell? I know there have been offers.
Barry, please find out who is performing the maintenance for that historic landmark. It appears to need some attention. Thanks.
It's a shame that it can't be turned into the ultimate "historical" bed & breakfast (with help from a government grant/loan?). Otherwise, it's just deteriorating year after year until it falls in and becomes the ultimate eyesore. The present owners should really think about what they want to do with it. If they don't want to anything with it--sell it to someone with the where-with-all to do SOMETHING!
They're creepy and they're kooky,mysterious and spooky,they're all together ooky,the Addams Family.
Their house is a museum when people come to see'em,they really are a screa-um, the Addams Family.
I've been working on a Banjo version of this tune.
856 that is an excellent idea for a possible highest and best use of this property..no doubt it's one of the most historically significant structures in north texas..however i've been told by someone familiar with this mansion, that renovation could cost well over $1 million dollars, that's just for the interior. it would be great for all of wc if this great place were restored...
Forget the Mansion. What we need is for Patel to build another motel...maybe a couple since there is lots of room. They could take care of all the people who come in to do business at the Landmark Industrial Park.
Then how about a Wendy's to feed 'em. (We don't have one of those yet do we?)
Just a thought.
And throughout the house you will find the Texas Lone Star motif..I believe the ceilings on first floor are 12ft and 10 or 11ft on the second floor. In addition to Thistle Hill the town of Electra has a similar one that he built for his daughter. I would love to tour it!
There is also black marble floors on the ground level. I went there on a field trip in the third grade. So...who is it that knows the real history? I've been asking for years.I understood that this was the house Waggoneer built for Electra. I also think it is the same architectual style at the house in the movie Giant.
http://www.decaturtx.org/history.html
Here is some history.
Does anyone still live in it?
5:32- no. The last I knew Lukers(sp?) owned it but no one has lived there for years. My dad did some work on it while people were living there-he said it was dark,cold,drafty,musty and compared it to being in a cellar.
I bet as someone suggested it would cost every bit of a mil. to do anything with that structure. To compare with another legendary structure the courthouse cost 100,000 to build.
I believe this book might provide some insight:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Thistle-Hill-the-Cattle-Barons-Legacy/Roze-M-Porter/e/9780877061137/?itm=6
I understand that the place is for sale....last asking price was $2 million. It needs significant restoration, but I agree that the CITY should buy the property and work to restore it via fund raisers..etc. One place like the Waggoner Mansion is the Daly Mansion in Montana. Unlike Waggoner though, Daly made his fortune in copper and was known as the "Copper King" in the nation. Hamilton, MT purchased the deteriorating Daly Mansion and has worked over the years to restore it to its original grandeur. (Link: http://www.dalymansion.org/ )
With the amount of tax dollars the county is bringing in with the Barnet Shale...I can't see why the county or the city cannot step in to purchase and begin restoration of this home.
11:17, as for this home being the same architectural style as the home in the movie "GIANT" ...you are correct! Actually, those film producers came to Decatur all those years ago and fell in love with El Castille! They wanted to make the movie here in Decatur, but in order to make it they were going to cut down all the trees that surrounded the place. The owners balked at that and so the movie makers did the next best thing. They built a set and designed the home on the set to match El Castille. I bet not many people in Decatur even know that bit of history! Electra Waggoner was the daughter of Tom Waggoner. He did build this mansion for her. And yes, the town of Electra, TX is her namesake as well, since the Waggoner Ranch reached clear up into the Vernon, TX area as well. Electra Waggoner was pretty famous herself. She was an artist. Are you familiar with the bronze statue of Will Rogers on his horse out in front of the Will Rogers Coliseum? Electra Waggoner is the artist of that statue. She married a Malone and was Electra Malone for a few years. They divorced and later in life she married a man named Biggs. Electra Biggs is famous for several busts she did of some folks you might recognize.
http://www.waggonerranch.com/MrsBiggsArtTribute.htm
The web is full of history about the Waggoner Ranch and family. Just remember, there were TWO Electra Waggoners though! You might do some investigation on the web to find out more.
It would be an absolute shame to let this beautiful piece of our history ruin before us. The Waggoner Mansion needs rescuing!
Ha, somebody said,"bust"
Two Electra Waggoners?
Can someone elaborate?
Here is a brief bit of info found on the web. Electra Waggoner Wharton was the aunt of Electra Waggoner Biggs. (Notice the death dates) Such an interesting history in this home.. even the horse Poco Bueno came from the Waggoner Ranch...
"Electra Waggoner Wharton was born January 6, 1882 near Decatur, Texas. She married Albert Wharton June 10, 1902 and they planned to live in Philadelphia. Tom didn't want his daughter leaving Texas, so he planned to build Electra her wedding present. It was a beautiful home in Fort Worth, which was to become known as "Thistle Hill." She died November 26, 1925.
Electra Waggoner Biggs is a nationally known sculptress and passed away in 2001. Best known for her sculpture of Will Rogers on his horse "Soapsuds" called "Into the Sunset". Amon G. Carter commissioned Electra Biggs to create the work after Will Rogers' fatal airplane crash at Point Barrow, Alaska in 1935. Electra Biggs also had the honor of having an automobile named after her. In 1959, John Biggs' brother-in-law, Harlow H. 'Red' Curtice, President of Buick Motors, Division of General Motors, named one of their luxurious Buick models, Electra."
1110 and 841--Thanks for your comments. They were very interesting!
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