Tour Sites | Bastrop County Historical Society

2024 Holiday Historic Homes Tour Sites

December 14th
12:00 - 5:00 pm

It’s time for another dazzling and festive Bastrop County Historical Society Holiday Homes Tour!

Walk in the footsteps of 19th-century German immigrants, a trailblazing businesswoman, a dedicated pharmacist, a local mayor, a county home demonstration agent, and even a railroad bridge watchman. This year’s tour highlights the Kerr Community Center, a historic gathering place for Bastrop's African American community since the early 1900s. Listed on the National Register, the Center has welcomed a range of visitors, from Chitlin' Circuit performers to European royalty!

Scroll down to see photos of this year's homes and buildings!

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Eleonore Lister Home, 906 Pine Street This charming Queen Anne cottage, constructed around 1914 by accomplished Bastrop businesswoman Eleonore Lister, has enjoyed a rich history of ownership. It was acquired by Jill and Charles Barrow in 2021. The Barrows have meticulously restored the home, bringing it back to its original splendor and ensuring its historic character is beautifully preserved. This is the home’s first year on the tour!	S.L. and Yvonne Brannon, Jr. Home, 709 Buttonwood Street Pharmacist Sidney Lee Brannon, Jr. and Yvonne Giesecke returned from their 1939 honeymoon in Colorado and built this efficient, modern brick home. The house remained in the Brannon family unaltered until 1995. A 2014 addition nearly doubled its size. William and Sandra Archer acquired the property in 2019 and remodeled the interior to fit their own lifestyle. This is also this home’s first year on the tour!	Louis Baron House, 1707 Pecan Street Built around 1872 by German immigrant Louis Baron, this farmhouse began as a four room structure in an ‘L’ shape with a “dog trot” between the two front rooms. Bill and Pat Crawford restored the house in 1992, incorporating modern luxuries while preserving its 19th-century charm. Artists Jeff and Maria Montoya Stayton, the current owners, have now added their creative touch to this historic home.
Kleinert - Griesenbeck House, 802 Jefferson Street This enchanting Victorian cottage was built before 1887 by Charles and Mary Kleinert who, in 1890, gave it to their only daughter, Mary Griesenbeck. The floor plan remained much the same until after 1921. Before 1934 the front porch was modified into an ‘L’ shape and in the 1970’s a new living room was added at the southwest corner of the house. Owner Linda Borsheim continues to maintain this historic home’s timeless charm.	Cochran-Watson Home, 1206 Pecan Street Samuel and Ethel Cochran built this house at the beginning of WWII as a rental duplex to accommodate the influx of 90,000 soldiers and workers at Camp Swift. After 1951 it was converted into a single-family residence. Robert and Ruth Watson purchased and “modernized” it in 1957 by installing the Permastone exterior. Sue Ann Fruge renovated the house and reconstructed the garage after buying it in 2009.	Kerr Community Center, 1308 Walnut Street Built in 1914 by Beverly and Lula Kerr, this two-story frame building was designed to serve as a social and educational hub for Bastrop’s black community. During WW II the center served as the black USO for soldiers stationed at Camp Swift. In 1978, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable guests have included famous musicians, political figures, and even royalty.