Shedding some light on the history of the Home Villa Boarding House in Waco, Texas.

The Home Villa Boarding House is one of the many long forgotten boarding houses of Waco, Texas. This news article will shed some light on the history of this boarding house.

J Hansel was the original architect responsible for building the Home Villa Boarding House. He came up with the original designs and facades around 1886. (Ref: Waco Tribune-Herald, Page 75,  Sunday, June 28, 1936)

The Home Villa Boarding House was established at Columbus Avenue and North 6th Street at the address of 605 Columbus Avenue. According to a Sanborn map dating back to 1899, Home Villa Boarding House was 3 stories in height with a back gable located on the 2nd floor in the rear end. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth548550/m1/1/zoom/?q=Waco)

The house had many renters throughout the years. Many of whom which were doctors such as Dr. P. R. Hengst and Dr. Walker.

Mrs. A. J. Simmons was the mistress responsible for operating and managing Home Villa Boarding House herself and the address of Home Villa Boarding House was 605 Columbus Avenue according to Morrison & Fourmy Directory Co. Directory of the City of Waco, 1902-1903. Mrs. A. J. Simmons ran Home Villa Boarding House by herself much of the early 20th century. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth29753/m1/263/?q=villa)

Home Villa Boarding House was well known and reputed for having carved stone lions in front of the boarding house. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/60041882/)

[J Hansel had built a fine home at Tenth and Columbus. Which still is standing. As they passed the Home Villa, a hotel that formerly stood on the spot where Cogin’s hospital now is located, with a stone lion on either side of the main entrance, the subject of installing something distinctive in front of the store, by which it might be recalled by foreigners, many of whom were here at that time, was brought up by Hansel Wood. "I think, he said, 'we ought to have a marker in front of the store like father had back home.” The marker in front of their father’s general mercantile store in Arkansas was a wooden Indian chief. The carved stone lions in front of the Home Villa appealed to the Wood brothers. The next day they ordered one from New York. That was 44 years ago He weighed 600 pounds, and he’s been in front of Wood Bros store ever since Many years ago the store had the designation: "The Sign of the Lion." Chose Choice Spot When J, Hansel Wood removed to Los Angeles and opened Wood Bros.' store he selected the choicest location in the business district, for which he paid a higher rental than anyone else in a similar business in that city. At his retirement five years ago, he was paying $3500 per month. Both J Hansel Wood and Hernando Wood still reside in Los Angeles.]

The Home Villa Boarding House was remodeled extensively in 1920 and was fully equipped with modern appliances and utilities. Alton W. Scott was the architect responsible for the new design of The Home Villa Boarding House. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/77665406/)

Home Villa Boarding House was demolished in 1961 and now serves as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Office and Law Office Of J.R. Vicha.

The address and location for Home Villa Boarding House was 605 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas, US 76701.