Gustav Groos House

231 Washington Street

The Gustav Groos House is a Texas German Vernacular native limestone house with a stucco exterior. The quatrefoil and trefoil porch detailing above the front entrance is a delightful Victorian touch. The second story on the back wing is of brick.

This stone house with its ornate exterior was the first Groos home to be built in this area. It was erected around 1875 by Gustav Groos, who was associated in business with his brothers Carl and Friedrich. (See 335 King William). It appears to have been built in two stages, but by 1896, it looked much as it does today. The original fence which stood until the 1990s looked very much like the one in front of the Steves Homestead at 509 King William. The property remained in the same family until after the death of Gus Groos, son of the builder, in 1979. Agnes Bain purchased the home in 1989 and lived there for several years, then sold the property to Fernando and Beverly Avila. Chris Hill purchased the property in 2013.

The King William Area, A History and Guide to the Houses, Mary V. Burkholder and Jessie N.M. Simpson; published by the King William Association, 2017