207 NE 8th St, Smithville, TX 78957

This beautiful home is perhaps the only Victorian mansion on the Lower Colorado River. It was built between 1899 - 1903 by Murray Burleson, an early Smithville landowner. The home sits on 3 acres and was built of cypress with double wrap porches. There are 7 fireplaces with Venetian tile and carved mantles. The elaborate woodwork is heart of pine, and pocket doors separate the front parlor from the entry and dining room. Many of the windows have original louvered shutters, including some that are shaped to fit the curved windows. The central staircase is an ornate, hand carved showpiece. The first floor has two living areas, dining room with built-in china cabinet, library with stained glass windows from Rome, a wet bar, main kitchen, back stairway, and 1-1/2 baths. The second floor has a large central foyer, two living areas, three bedrooms and three baths. A second kitchen was constructed from the second floor back porch and has a lovely view of the back of the property. Both the first and second floors access the covered porches, which wrap around the corner of the house and catch the breezes with a vew through huge magnolia trees. The attic was finished in 1988 and includes two large bedrooms and two bathrooms. A sitting area connects the bedrooms and has the best view of the Colorado River in town. A partial basement is situated under the back of the house. An original cistern is nestled into the back porch and once collected rainwater from the house for the water supply. The property terraces down to the bank of the Colorado River. It has several large live oak trees and once featured an orchard and gardens, irrigated from the river. There are two separate apartments on the property, which were remodeled in 2004. One is a one bedroom, one bath; the other is two bedrooms and two baths. Both have lovely back porches facing the river and are currently rented. An original carriage house awaits renovation as a guest house or an office with quite a personality of its own. This unequaled Victorian home is truly a piece of Texas history. It was awarded a Texas Historical Building Medallion in 1962 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.