Brenham, Washington County
Jabez Deming Giddings (1814-1878) of Pennsylvania bought this land in 1837. A lawyer, businessman, and civic leader, he built this residence of hand-hewn cypress boards before his marriage in 1843 to Ann Tarver (1822-1907). An unusual rooftop reservoir held rainwater. Remodeled about 1870, the house was sold in 1871 to John B. Wilkin (1827-1913), whose family occupied it until 1942. Scheduled for demolition in 1972, it was bought and restored by the Heritage Society of Washington County.