JOHN & LAVERNE BROOKS

Across the Fence

 

By Arvord Abernethy

 

Another pair born in Central Texas have winged their way back and settled in Hamilton . They are John and Laverne Brooks. They bought the Elmer Richey home at 606 east Main last year and have done much to make it a comfortable home. Their son, Allen, came on ahead and had much of the paneling and other work done before they moved here in October.

 

John was born in Lampasas County and Laverne near Edna Hill, which is south of Dublin . He was an engineer for the Texas Highway Department for a number of years, so they have lived in several places. For the past several years, he was an engineer for the Richardson Construction Co. of Ingleside, which is near Corpus Christi . This company did mostly marine work, such as dredging, etc.

 

Laverne doesn’t call herself an antique hound, but she has done some old furniture refinishing, and does like some of the older things. They are keeping the original high baseboards, the French doors between the living and dinning rooms, the chandeliers and some other things. When Mr. Rogers was rewiring the house and had the chandeliers down, she gave them a good cleaning and polishing and they are beautiful.

 

Allen redid one of the bathrooms and has it very modern looking. This is the bathroom the Richey’s put in when they wanted an additional one. In so doing the fireplace ended up being in the hallway. Hamilton may have the only house in Texas that has a fireplace in the hallway.

 

Barn plank design paneling was placed on some of the walls, new carpeting laid throughout the house and acoustical tile put on the ceilings. The outside has been given a new coat of white paint, so the Brooks now have an attractive, comfortable home.

 

They have not redone the kitchen yet, but will do so soon. Neal Elwood, who is doing much of the work, will tear out the old cabinets and build new ones that will accommodate modern built-in appliances.

 

The Brooks’ are liking Hamilton and the friendliness of the people real well. John says that his breathing problems are much better here. They are Methodist.

 

 Shared by Roy Ables

 

ACROSS THE FENCE