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At first glance, little seems remarkable about the green and white house on 32nd Street. Its frame exterior and hipped roof mirror those of a thousand other cottages; its interior is homey, but far from grand. To its neighbors in Houston's Independence Heights, the old Carroll house - in its 102nd year - is far more than a palace. It is an emblem, a reminder, a promise.
The house was built by Andrew Carroll, a farmer and minister, born in slavery, who came to Houston with his wife, Polly, and four of their 12 children to establish a permanent place for his family. From that day to this, the house has been occupied by Carroll kin, family members who have made their mark in business, ministry and education.
Thursday, the Carroll house, thought to be among the first in Independence Heights, which, in turn, is thought to have been Texas' first self-governing African-American community, will become the first home in its neighborhood designated a city of Houston protected landmark.
"This house is home to me. It means a whole lot to me," said Charles Piper, Andrew Carroll's great-grandson, who has lived in it since the 1960s. "My mother lived here. We brought up my daughter, Nedra, here. My dog, Roscoe, lives here, too."
Preserving the house will aid in maintaining the neighborhood's cultural landscape, said Debra Blacklock-Sloan, who researched the home's history for the city's Archaeological & Historical Commission. With the protected landmark status, the structure can be demolished, moved or dramatically altered only with the commission's permission.
Story by Allan Turner, Houston Chronicle |
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