AUSTIN, Texas—Volz and Associates, an Austin architectural firm specializing in the repair, restoration and preservation of historic structures, has been employed by the Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin to undertake an initial on-site assessment of historic structures at Winedale.
This phase of the work, which will continue through this summer, marks the beginning of an ongoing project to rehabilitate the historic structures at Winedale.
Winedale, a division of the center, is a complex of educational facilities and historic structures located near Round Top, Texas. Volz and Associates also will conduct assessment and rehabilitation work at the center’s Sam Rayburn Library and Museum in Bonham, Texas, and its John Nance Garner Museum in Uvalde, Texas.
Volz and Associates has extensive experience and professional expertise in working with historic structures. The firm has done historic preservation work on the Texas Governor’s Mansion, the Littlefield House on the UT Austin campus, the Allcorn House in Brenham and the Inge-Stoneham House near Round Top, to name a few of its recent projects. It also has developed master plans for properties such as the General Land Office, the Texas Capitol and the French Legation in Austin, as well as several historic Texas county courthouses.
"The center is extremely gratified to have the opportunity to work with Volz and Associates to fulfill our goal of advancing Winedale to its next level of development," said Dr. Don E. Carleton, director of the center. "We are fortunate to have as a partner in these projects a firm that possesses such a high level of experience and expertise."
The historic structures at Winedale, specifically the Wagner House, the Four-Square Barn and the McGregor House, will be the first areas of focus for Volz and Associates. The Wagner House, built in the 1830s and once known as the Stagecoach Inn, is original to the site, as is the Four-Square Barn. The Wagner House was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1967 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The McGregor House was built in Washington County in 1861 and relocated to Winedale and renovated in 1969.
The center also has engaged Volz and Associates to undertake various landscaping projects at Winedale designed to correct drainage problems, improve visitor parking and enhance the site through native and period plantings. Securing financial support for these landscaping projects has been a long-term goal of Winedale’s Advisory Council, a group of citizens who support Winedale through their time, energy and charitable giving.
The repair, renovation and ongoing development of these Center for American History properties is made possible by public and private funds, including grants from the Fondren Foundation of Houston, Al and Ruby Wagner of Houston, Bluebell Creameries of Brenham and many others. The center also is planning a major capital campaign to raise additional funds to support historic restoration projects at Winedale.
The Center for American History is a special collections library, archive and museum that facilitates research and sponsors programs on the historical development of the United States.
Kate Adams is an associate director at the center and oversees operations and planning at Winedale. She can be reached at the center’s Office of the Director in Unit 2 of Sid Richardson Hall on the UT Austin campus at (512) 495-4515, or by e-mail at <k.adams@mail.utexas.edu> Gloria Jaster-Hickey is the manager of Winedale and can be reached at the Winedale office at (979) 278-3530, or by e-mail at <g.jaster@mail.utexas.edu>
