Jules Leffland

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Julius Carl "Jules" Leffland (September 9, 1854 – October 21, 1924) [1] was a Danish-born architect known for his work in Victoria, Texas, and throughout South Texas. He was active in South Texas from approximately 1886 until the 1910s. Many of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Victoria, Texas City and county seat in Texas, United States

Victoria is the largest city and county seat of Victoria County, Texas. The population was 62,592 as of the 2010 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 as of the 2000 census. Its elevation is 95 ft.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

Contents

Biography

Leffland was born in Usserød, Denmark in 1854 and studied architecture at the Institute of Technology in Copenhagen. His grandfather and father were architects in Denmark. He was married in 1879 to Emilie Sophie Struck, and they had eight children. After beginning his career as an architect in Denmark, Leffland emigrated to the United States in 1886. [1] [2] By the end of 1886, he had relocated to Victoria, Texas. He became one of the most prolific and respected architects in Victoria. [2] Leffland also designed numerous buildings in Cuero, Texas and was its "most active architect". [3] As his reputation grew, Leffland received commissions throughout South Texas, including Wharton, Beeville, Kingsville, and San Diego, Texas. [2] According to one account, "Leffland was well-versed in a variety of stylistic expressions, although the Neoclassical Revival mode seems to be not only his most successful style but his personal favorite as well." [2] By 1910, he had reportedly designed at least 80 structures, including churches, banks, city halls, hotels and residences across South Texas. [1] Many of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. [2] [4] Leffland died in October 1924 in Victoria County, Texas. [5] His son Kai Leffland also was an architect and carried on Leffland's practice after his death. [2]

Denmark constitutional monarchy in Europe

Denmark, officially the Kingdom of Denmark, is a Nordic country and the southernmost of the Scandinavian nations. Denmark lies southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and is bordered to the south by Germany. The Kingdom of Denmark also comprises two autonomous constituent countries in the North Atlantic Ocean: the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Denmark proper consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and an archipelago of 443 named islands, with the largest being Zealand, Funen and the North Jutlandic Island. The islands are characterised by flat, arable land and sandy coasts, low elevation and a temperate climate. Denmark has a total area of 42,924 km2 (16,573 sq mi), land area of 42,394 km2 (16,368 sq mi), and the total area including Greenland and the Faroe Islands is 2,210,579 km2 (853,509 sq mi), and a population of 5.8 million.

Copenhagen Capital of Denmark

Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city of Denmark. As of July 2018, the city has a population of 777,218. It forms the core of the wider urban area of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen metropolitan area. Copenhagen is situated on the eastern coast of the island of Zealand; another small portion of the city is located on Amager, and is separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the strait of Øresund. The Øresund Bridge connects the two cities by rail and road.

Wharton, Texas City in Texas, United States

Wharton is a city in Wharton County, Texas, United States. This city is 60 mi (97 km) southwest of Houston. The population was 8,832 at the 2010 census. Wharton is the county seat, and is located on the Colorado River of Texas just East of U.S. Highway 59.

Retrospectives

In 1999, an exhibition at The Nave Museum in Victoria featuring Leffland's architectural drawings was opened under the title, "Architectural Drawings or Jules Carl Leffland." [6] In 2005, the Matagorda County Museum opened an exhibit featuring "the life and legacy of building designer Jules Leffland." [7]

Works

Leffland's works include:

Max Bettin House

The Max Bettin House at 602 E. Santa Rosa in Victoria, Texas, United States was built in 1908. It is believed to be a work of architect Jules Leffland. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Theodore Buhler House

The Theodore Buhler House is a historic house in Victoria, Texas. It was built in 1890 for Theodore Buhler and his wife, Katherine Schmidt. Born in Baden, Germany, he emigrated to the United States at a young age and grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the American Civil War, he worked for Cook's foundry in New Orleans, which made firearms for the Confederate States Army. In the postbellum era, he worked for the railroads and steamships in Louisiana and Texas, and he co-founded the First National Bank of Victoria, the Victoria Loan Company, and the Victoria Building and Loan Company. He died in 1912.

Breeden-Runge Wholesale Grocery Company Building building in Texas, United States

The Breeden-Runge Wholesale Grocery Company Building at 108 N. Frederick William St. in Cuero, Texas is a brick building that was built in 1911. It served as a warehouse for the firm which was founded in 1911 with a capital stock of $85,000.

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James Riely Gordon American architect

James Riely Gordon was an architect who practiced in San Antonio until 1902 and then in New York City, where he established a national reputation. J. Riely Gordon is best known for his landmark county courthouses, in particular those in Texas. Working during the state's "Golden Age" (1883–1898) of courthouse construction, Gordon saw 18 of his designs erected from 1885 to 1901; today 12 remain.

Pickering House (Victoria, Texas)

The Pickering House, at 403 N. Glass in Victoria, Texas, was built c.1850s. In about 1911 it was remodelled to a Classical Revival design by architect Jules Leffland.

Dr. L.W. and Martha E.S. Chilton House

The Dr. L.W. and Martha E.S. Chilton House at 242 N. Chilton St. in Goliad, Texas, United States, was built in 1902. It was a work of architect Jules Leffland and of building contractor Bailey Mills. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The listing included two contributing buildings and two contributing structures.

Jules Leffland House

The Jules Leffland House at 302 E. Convent in Victoria, Texas, United States, was built in 1900. It was a home of local architect Jules Leffland. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

J. V. Vandenberge House

The J. V. Vandenberge House at 301 N. Vine in Victoria, Texas, United States was built in 1908. It was a work of architect Jules Leffland. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Old Nazareth Academy

The Old Nazareth Academy at 105 W. Church in Victoria, Texas was built in 1904. It served as a church school.

Burrough–Daniel House

The Burrough–Daniel House at 502 W. North in Victoria, Texas was built in 1892. It was designed by architect Jules Leffland in Late Victorian architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Cuero Commercial Historic District

The Cuero Commercial Historic District in Cuero, Texas is a 21-acre (8.5 ha) historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It includes multiple works of architect Jules Leffland. The listing included 59 contributing buildings.

George H. Hauschild Building building in Texas, United States

The George H. Hauschild Building at 206 N. Liberty in Victoria, Texas was built in 1914. It was designed by architect Jules Leffland and built by Eugene Tuttle.

J. T. Jecker House

The J. T. Jecker House at 104 N. Liberty in Victoria, Texas, United States, was built in 1870. It was designed by architect Jules Leffland in Late Victorian architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1987.

Mrs. J. V. Murphy House

The Mrs. J. V. Murphy House at 204 E. Santa Rosa in Victoria, Texas was built in 1899-1900. It was designed by architect Jules Leffland. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Terrell–Reuss Streets Historic District

The Terrell–Reuss Streets Historic District is a 65-acre (26 ha) historic district in Cuero, Texas. It includes works of significance from 1883 on. It includes works by Jules Leffland and other architects. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988; the listing included 63 contributing buildings.

Wharton County Courthouse Historic Commercial District

The Wharton County Courthouse Historic Commercial District is a 21-acre (8.5 ha) historic district in Wharton, Texas that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It includes works by architects Jules Leffland and Wyatt C. Hedrick and others. The NRHP listing included 46 contributing buildings and two contributing objects, as well as 31 non-contributing buildings and two non-contributing objects, on the blocks fronting on the courthouse square and on nearby blocks.

D. H. Regan House

The D. H. Regan House at 507 S. DeLeon in Victoria, Texas, United States, is an Italianate architecture home designed by architect Jules Leffland. It was built in 1880. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

John B. Ragland Mercantile Company Building

The John B. Ragland Mercantile Company Building, also known as Raglands, is a historic building at 201 E. Kleberg Ave. in Kingsville, Texas. It was designed by Jules Leffland and was built in 1909. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Proctor House (Victoria, Texas)

The Proctor House at 507 N. Glass in Victoria, Texas was built in approximately 1900. It was designed by Jules Leffland and was built in 1900. The listing included two contributing buildings.

Eugene T. Heiner American architect

Eugene Thomas Heiner was an American architect who designed numerous courthouses, county jails, and other public buildings in Texas. He was born in New York City, apprenticed in Chicago, and studied further in Germany.

H. J. Huck & Co. was a lumberyard and construction contracting company in Texas.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Anne Alcorn. "Leffland, Jules Carl". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Daniel Hardy; Marlene Heck; David Moore; Morgan Dunn O'Connor & John Ferguson (June 1985). "The Historic Resources of Victoria, Texas (Partial Inventory of Architectural and Historic Properties)". pp. 9, 19, 40, other.
  3. ↑ David Moore (July 1986). "The Historic Resources of Cuero, Texas (Partial Inventory of Architectural and Historic Properties)".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  5. ↑ Ancestry.com. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006. Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit.
  6. ↑ Tim Delaney (May 4, 2009). "Architect's works featured: Leffland's 1904 design included in Nave exhibit". The Victoria Advocate.
  7. ↑ Ross Cunningham (August 25, 2005). "Exhibit will showcase designs of Jules Leffland". The Victoria Advocate. p. 1.
  8. ↑ "Theodore Buhler House". Historic Victoria, Texas. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  9. ↑ Daniel Hardy (August 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Wharton County Courthouse". National Archives.Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help) (accessible by searching within National Archives Catalog)
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