Historical Homes of Lubbock, Page 4
Buddy Holly's childhood home
This house is not historic because of age, but because it was Buddy Holly's childhood home, or at least as I can determine. I would welcome anyone else's take on that, or other information about the house located at 1606 39th Street.
Foster house
This house is historic, but one must look around pretty hard to find references on it. It's known as the Foster house and is located at 2302 28th. It was built in 1938 in what is referred to as the International Style and reference state that it ranks very high architecturally. Characteristics of the international Style were Plain Stucco or plaster surface, Metal Casements Windows, an absence of cornice or projected eaves, Windows appear as a continuation of wall surface and turn corners.
Bruno Home
Yes, the first one everyone knows about, and it's been photographed many times, but here is my take on it. I consider it historic because, well, it's of course weird, but let's give it credit for being very creative and original. And if anyone outside of Lubbock knows about a Lubbock Home, this is the one they've probably heard about. Located on a ridge overlooking Lake Ransom Canyon, Robert Bruno’s Steel House is made of 150 tons of blackened steel, each piece welded by hand, and was created with virtually no outside assistance. The interior is wooden, resembling the inside of a tree trunk, and many of the windows are made of beautiful stained glass.
But after 35 years of hard labor, time got the better of Bruno and his masterpiece was never completed. There are gaping holes between the house’s different levels, and the architect’s plans of installing an aquarium, a pool, and the moldings of nude models plastered to the walls were never realized. To Bruno, the Steel House was viewed as more of a hobby than a project that needed to be finished; the architect was known to scrap months of work at a whim, and the lack of closure was of no concern.
Robert R. Bruno Jr. was born in Los Angeles in 1945, and he grew up in both Mexico and the United States. After college, then graduate school, Bruno relocated to Lubbock to teach art at the Texas Tech University School of Architecture in 1971. In a video about the house filmed before his death, Bruno clarified the Steel House was more art installation than home. Visitors today may tour the house, and videos are also available online from those who have previously visited the site.
Wiley/Smith/Quilliam Home
The Wiley/Smith/Quilliam Home located at 2901 19th Street is a Georgian Revival influenced home built in 1951 for H. W. Wiley by Harold Biffle. The Kenneth Leftwich family lived in the house between 1953 and 1973. Governor Preston E. Smith and his wife, Ima, acquired the house in 1973. Smith was governor of Texas between 1969 and 1973. He also served in both houses of the legislature and as Lieutenant governor. Reed and Myrna Quilliam and family bought the house in 1978. Quilliam was an attorney, a state representative and long-time professor at Texas Tech University school of law. It was designated as a state historical landmark in 1981.
Howard/Green/Hayes Home
The Howard/Green/Hayes Home located at 2801 19th Street was built in 1928 for Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hoard. J. B./ Maxey was the contractor for the home designed by architect Wilford Boque of Fort Worth. William Dickson and Miriam Green bought the house in 1933. Green (1897-1945), president of Wilson State Bank, owned ranching and commercial property in Lynn and Lubbock countries. Miriam Green, who died in 1984, a social and civic leader, lived in the house until 1978. Jack and Jan Hayes purchased the home in 1983. Dr. Hayes taught at the T.T. U. School of Medicine. It was designated as a Historical Landmark in 1984.