This news article will explore and explain history behind the farmstead house located at 13707 FM 1100 in Manor, Texas. This farmstead house was actually a plantation home where slaves worked.
Lois Nelson had built a 3-story farmstead house on FM 1100 in Manor, Texas sometime in 1840. This house was a plantation home. There was a shed across the street where slaves were kept. Slaves worked the fields and around the house. There used to be a huge barn on the property as well.
Now there were 2 different sheds were on the property. These 2 sheds were used for storage of farming equipment. Slaves were not kept in these sheds but had access to them.
Lois Nelson transferred her property to Lois M. Nelson and Lester C. Nelson sometime in 1900. Now Travis CAD data reports the house was built in 1900. However that is not true. The house Lois M. Nelson and Lester C. Nelson owned was not built in 1900 but was actually built sometime in the 19th century possibly during 1840. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=248163)
Prior to 1971, no renovations, modifications, alterations, fixes, or additions were done or made to the house. However this could be inaccurate. 
In April 1980, Willow Ranch School was damaged by a tornado that destroyed farm properties and ranch properties in Northeast Travis County. The school building was purchased after the tornado by Lester C. Nelson and Lois M. Nelson in 1981. The couple moved the building onto their house as an addition. The roof from this school building was added to the front of their house.This addition to their house was visible from public right of way facing FM 1100. Its 19th century country styled wooden pillars were added to the front and back of their house.
Travis CAD data reports that Lois M. Nelson sold their property on a warranty deed to Lester C. Nelson on the date of 6/6/1984. She had been owning their property since 1981.
Faith Sullivan and her family rented this house from Lester C. Nelson with the timespan of 1991-2007. They moved out in 2007. The owner, Lester C. Nelson lived closed by the house when they had rented during that time. Lester C Nelson put the property on a life estate called Nelson C Lester Life Estate via quit claim deed on the date of 6/29/1993. The property has been on the Nelson C Lester Life Estate since that date. (Ref: Travis County Real Estate, Volume 11971, Page 1172)
Sometime during the 2000s, the couple removed the walls of the former school building and its 19th century country styled wooden pillars were removed and salvaged from their house. Exactly when is unknown. Lester C. Nelson had done extensive renovation to the house with significant alterations and modifications. Additions were removed.
Wood from the barn and sheds was sold to build a restaurant. The sheds were taken down after 2007. The barn was taken down prior to 2007. There was a sidewalk going around the house that now is gone as well.
The house was abandoned by 2011. All of its windows were missing. The roof was sinking into the structurally unsafe floors. Over time the house was vandalized and scrapped. Graffiti was strewn all over inside. The house was in an uninhabitable state by 2013.
The site was used as an illegal dump over the years before a “no trespassing” sign was posted. It was specifically the 2010s decade when people used the property as an illegal dump since the property was located out in the county. A couple of “no trespassing” signs were posted in 2016. 
Today the farmstead house belongs to the Lester C. Nelson Life Estate. The house has not been maintained properly and has fallen into rural decay. Everything has completely fallen apart.
This farmstead house is located at 13707 FM 1100, Manor, Texas, US 78653.
No comments:
Post a Comment