Article from the Houston Press, December 14, 1954, written by George
Bugbee, Houston Press Real Estate Editor
The latter-day descendants of two early immigrants to Texas have taken
the first step in converting a big tract of ranch land, studded with
150-year-old oaks and grown over with prairie grass, into a modern
multi-million- dollar subdivision.
Mangum Manor, a $6,500,000 addition bordered by Mangum Road and
Brickhouse Gully, will spring up on land that hasn't changed hands in
the last 150 years. The tract is northwest of the city and just west of
Oak Forest.
Gasper DeGeorge, representing the DeGeorge Estate in the DeGeorge and
Associates firm of developers, has bought the historic tract from the
heirs of the Sauer family, who have owned it and lived on it through
several generations.
Reinhold Sauer, 83, and Guy Moss, two of the scions of early Dutch
settlers, who first obtained the land under Spanish Land Grant when
Texas was a Republic, represented the sellers. The sale of the 109-acre
tract was consummated for a reported $300,000.
Still standing on the land, but impending sacrifice to progress, is the
old handmade manor house build by R.C. Sauer in the early 1800's. "Wood
in the house was hewn from the actual site," said Mr. DeGeorge. "The
settler actually built the house himself from the natural resources
here."
The old mansion is colonial in the truest sense of the word, with tall
columns supporting the overhang on the wide veranda. Its steep roof is
made of hand-split cedar shingles said to have been cut from wood
selected in the surrounding woods. The house sits in a clump of ancient
cedars, live oaks and pines facing a clearing for farming and grazing
still marked with the smoldering remains of the primitively charred
stumps from clearing.
Brickhouse Gully, a deep gulch on the north side of the property, got
its name from a brick house used for changing stagecoach horses.
The dilapidated manor house and its collapsed outbuildings, deserted for
more than a decade, will be torn down before the first of the year, when
paved streets with curbs and storm sewers will begin to replace the
wagon-wheel lanes that have moved overland for more than a century.
Mr. DeGeorge, whose grandfather also was an immigrant, but from Italy,
represents the second generation of an important Houston development
family. The family has been known for building, commercial development
and hostelry. His associates include Allen J. Sacco, Frank Reinhart,
Jack R. Little and James B. DeGeorge, a brother.
"We will spend some $350,000 on development of streets, curbs, gutters,
lights, storm sewers, etc. and will build around 20% of the 400 homes
planned," Mr. DeGeorge said.
Homes will be in the $12,000 to $15,000 price range on FHA and
VA-insured loans and will be built on homesites of a minimum size of 60
by 110 feet.
All utilities will be furnished by the city and according to city
specifications, since the addition will lie within the northern city
limits.
Space had been reserved for a $400,000 shopping center and a six-acre
tract has been set aside for a possible future city park.
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