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Jasper “Jake” Preston Sewell, Jr. (1878-1961) bought three lots south of Midlothian’s business district in November 1912. In 1915, Jake married Nettie (Witherspoon) Sewell (1886-1978). The Sewells, who attended Polytechnic Institute in Midlothian, commissioned this house to be built after 1918, most likely with dividends from shares in the Hog Creek Oil Company. Jake was associated with Producers Co-Op Mill and several other businesses and was a member of the Midlothian school board. In the late 1930s, Nettie let rooms in their house to single female teachers in Midlothian schools. The Sewells sold the house and 8.5 acres in 1933. For more than 50 years, the house was occupied by Clyde P. Trotter (1893-1970) and his wife, Cloma (Hanson) Trotter (1903-1987). The couple had no children, and Cloma, who was a civic leader and the first female mayor of Midlothian, left the house to the salvation army. The house’s architecture exhibits arts and crafts and prairie school styling in its design, materials and construction. Significant features of this brick, stone and wood house include its large front porch with wide supporting columns, overhanging eaves, decorative rafter ends, and triangular brackets. The design also includes a porte-cochere and a two-car garage with upstairs apartment behind the house. The interior exhibits an open floor plan, oak floors, wainscoting and moldings, fireplaces in the living room and family room with artisan mantelpieces. Other features include Rookwood tiles, a curved staircase leading to the upper floor, and natural light from numerous double-hung windows. First floor spaces include a large foyer, breakfast and dining rooms, living areas, kitchen, bath and a sunroom. The second floor was designed with two bedrooms, a sitting area, bath, sunroom, and balcony. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK – 2017 |
