c. 1870 – Cuero, TX – $394,900
Status and price shown on OHD may not be current. Check the links below.
Added to OHD on 1/31/21 - Last OHD Update: 1/31/21 -
Added to OHD on 1/31/21 - Last OHD Update: 1/31/21 -
For Sale
National Register
218 N Terrell St, Cuero, TX 77954
Map: Street
- $394,900
- 4 Bed
- 3 Bath
- 4725 Sq Ft
- 0.72 Ac.
The historic Edward Mugge home is a classic example of early Cuero architecture, ingenuity, and craftsmanship. Built in the 1870's, this two-story house was a home to generations of early Texans. With attention to detail throughout, this home has stunning carved pillars, gingerbread carvings with a stately, walnut stairway upon entering. There is a large dining room that showcases the spacious high-ceilings and built-in china cabinet. This well-maintained home has 4 large bedrooms, 3 baths, and is well-equipped for entertaining family and friends. And don't miss the 4 fireplaces and light-filled sunroom that make an ideal spot for comfort and relaxing. The large upstairs bedrooms open to the front balcony. On this quiet, tree-covered lot, in the middle of town, you will find plenty of room to enjoy the peaceful enjoyment of South Texas living the way it use to be. This home was designated as a Texas historic landmark in 1971, one hundred years after it was built.
OHD Notes
Marker: "Built in 1870s by a key man in the activities and ideology that gave the town of Cuero its economic leadership role in late 19th century south Texas. Edward Mugge (1839-97), a native of Germany, arrived in the now-extinct seaport of Indianola (80 miles southeast) on Aug. 20, 1854. Seizing opportunities to rise through hard work and resourcefulness, he attained in two decades the eminence of partnership in the pioneer banking firm of H. Runge and Company. In his diverse enterprises he offered many other young men -- particularly those of similar Teutonic - American heritage -- chances to invest work and skill in development of this area. Beginning this house as a typical comfortable home of the region, he originally built seven rooms -- three of these milled in Saint Louis and assembled here. Over ensuing years he made additions as surprise gifts to his wife (Nee Pauline Blumenthal) and six children: Edward, Lilly, Anna, Henry, Oscar, and Fred. The house grew to 15 rooms, five halls, three porches. On grounds were a summerhouse, greenhouse, bath house, wash house, smokehouse, huge cistern (still existent), and stables (which later became a garage for some of the first automobiles in Cuero). The Mugge house illustrates the history of its builder and period. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971"
Links, Photos & Additional Info
Listing details may change after the posted date and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Independent verification is recommended.
Independent verification is recommended.
State: Texas | Region: South (West South Central)
Period & Associated Styles: Victorian Era
Features: Neighborhood, Painted Wood, Unpainted Wood | Misc: Must See Houses, National Register
Period & Associated Styles: Victorian Era
Features: Neighborhood, Painted Wood, Unpainted Wood | Misc: Must See Houses, National Register
23 Comments on c. 1870 – Cuero, TX – $394,900
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Commenting means you've read and will abide by the comment rules.
Click here to read the comment rules, updated 1/12/20.
OHD does not represent this home. Price, status and other details must be independently verified. Do not contact the agent unless you are interested in the property.
R'lyeh,
This house is quite incredible! The rooms which have not been updated are all knock-outs; one can only imagine what this place looked like when new. The exterior is a fascinating mix of various influences: Italianate, Stick, Exotic Revival, etc… I really can’t say which is winning! It could really benefit from a more adventurous exterior paint scheme. Wow, wow, wow.
You are so right about giving this home a more dramatic color scheme. Tons of incredible details are lost in the beige jungle of the current scheme. Something seems off to me in the low roof line on this house. Victorian homes of this era typically had a high roof line especially in a hot climate to draw heat into the attic. Close to the gulf, perhaps a hurricane altered things years ago. Still a great home!
Noblesville, IN
Oh my goodness Cthulhu!! Heheheheheheh. You killed Justin Beiber! Lulz.
It used to have one: Street View 2013: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.0927877,-97.2925268,3a,31.7y,232.95h,92.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQPvEwSb6usx2Il_Jlq_S7A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
So sweet!
What a True Southern Beauty! I really love this one-there are so many pretty, feminine details here! I love all of the gingerbread trim, but that rear screened porch is the icing on the cake!
What a lovely old home! I love the understated way the exterior is painted. It reminds me of a wedding cake. Interesting, the way there are stairs down to bathrooms. And the mantels….. It’s easy to see that this home has been well loved.
Noblesville, IN
Best OHD house of the year so far for me.
Completely sperging out on this unfathomably rad house. Jeeez.
I do believe the LR is the most divine room, (for me), I’ve ever seen. It has the quality of a Latter Day Temple anteroom, (from what I know of such things 😉 )
The S U P E R B set of mantles are an invaluable treasure. The overmantle is STUNNING – of course. 😉
Everything is nearly perfect.
O M G
The window sizes and their interior and exterior trim details are SO curious! I wonder if they were done that way for economy; or perhaps the Texas summer sun; or possibly for some design or (A)esthetic reason. I would bet your nickle change them to full length – to the floor; using correct methods, materials, and antique or restoration glass; four over four. Fo sho. 😉
https://www.oldhousedreams.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/22-218nterrellst.jpg
Noblesville, IN
The other matching overmantles are also insanely good: not to give them short shrift. They are just some of the many subtle treasures this house holds.
This couch would look great in this house:
https://flic.kr/p/rxKbbv
Noblesville, IN
Only change the windows in the FR of course! D’oh. 🙂
Noblesville, IN
Restored, re-dedicated, Provo City Temple (probably sealing room), (at night, and lacking the glory of the sun illuminating the windows and infusing the space with celestial radiance):
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/19/4a/99/194a996b8d4529bfddcc8d58ebd19faf.jpg
Gorgeous.
Noblesville, IN
What is going on with this upper banister?? Are my eyes buggin this late? Did someone cut it to make their shelf fit? Nooooooo, surely not. Hopefully an end post survives somewhere on property if so.
https://www.oldhousedreams.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/42-218nterrellst.jpg
MmmmmK, enough gawking. Yawn… 😉
R'lyeh,
The banister does appear to have been altered. It’s hard to imagine anyone willfully doing that, but there it is! This staircase is really fascinating — and just as quirky as the rest of the house. Yum!
This would be perfect for a filmed-in-the-60s Disney live action period movie. With some slight changes to set dressing. And a spoonful of sugar.
“The Mugge house illustrates the history of its builder and period.” You’d have to stop your time machine a few times to understand all the changes and additions made by Mr. Mugge and his family before the house was sold in 1943. The original Italianate house was 7 rooms with only the parlor plastered, wallpaper in the rest. Most likely the wonderful Eastlake details were added in the first decade or so. The house with its additions appears on the 1881 panoramic map of Cuero.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Old_map-Cuero-1881.jpg
I’d like to have seen the stables, greenhouse, gazebo, summer kitchen, smokehouse, gardens, iron fence etc., all lost years ago. The Christmas parties there were legendary, with Christmas trees shipped in for the season, fresh homemade sausage and beer on tap.
Historical notes, etc from 1971:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth460903/m1/
I am moving, loved this house to pieces!!!!!
That fireplace mantel is beautiful with its ebonized and gold gilt effects. I wonder if originally the entire room woodwork followed the same scheme. I have seen and read this recommended before. And though black woodwork with gold gilt may seem dark and odd to our eyes today, it was not totally ruled out in this time. It is very extreme though and many people later painted over it.
Wonderful comments above, very perceptive.
I am certain that I have seen this house in a pattern book. Perhaps by Geo. Woodward or William Comstock. My entire library is in storage, so I may have to go out and purchase lots of reprints. Very frustrating!
Chestatee, GA
New agent and photos, FINALLY got around to updating the post. Resharing, comments above may reference the old listing photos.
Worton, MD
Yes to all the previous comments! Yes to the exciting stick architecture and neo-gothic Italian mantles and staircase! From the owner’s eclectic piecing-together of this love Aesthetic-Era love gift, I imagine it had a Japanese-themed room with the ebonized mantle, an Italian Renaissance room, a library with a private museum of treasures, etc. It wouldn’t take much for the Fantasy Island exterior to “pop”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Anne_Cottage_and_Coach_Barn#/media/File:Queen_Ann_Cottage.jpg
New Orleans, LA
Beautiful House! But I am wondering what is going on with the lowered ceiling in the dining room. It looks a bit odd with viewing from the front room. Possibly for the AC ductwork?
Cadiz, OH
A very interesting history belongs to this house. Worth noting is that RTHL (Registered Texas Historic Landmark) houses seldom come on the market. Mention is made about of the lost city of Indianola. That once prominent town was founded in 1846 specifically as an entry point for German colonists. However, fate put it in the center of a Hurricane zone and by the 1880’s the once thriving seaport was gone from successive Hurricanes as well as a major fire with many of its settlers relocating to other German communities in the San Antonio area including the original owner of this house. The decor inside is surprisingly cosmopolitan for 1870’s Texas with Modern Gothic/Aesthetic details that would not have been out of place in many of the East coast’s larger cities.
The number of surviving Victorian era homes in Cuero is modest but much of the downtown retains it’s late 19th and early 20th century appearance. Cuero is about 90 miles from San Antonio by the shortest route and 28 miles from the larger community of Victoria. Historically, this agricultural region was for raising cattle and that economic sector is still active today.
Did anyone else notice? I think somehow these are the same design.
https://www.oldhousedreams.com/2020/10/03/cuero-tx/
Chestatee, GA
Interesting! I didn’t notice before, will have to look into the architect. Great eye!