Published Monday, June 29, 2009 6:05 AM
Bryan's oldest home for show
By ERIKA JARAMILLO
erika.jaramillo@theeagle.com
Paul and Dorothy Van Riper stand in the dining room of the Cavitt House, where they live on East 30th Street in Bryan.
A view of one of the many rooms in the Cavitt House.
A view of the Cavitt House, the oldest house in Bryan. Tours of the house will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Paul and Dorothy Van Riper's massive home on East 30th Street in Bryan is filled with antiques and collectibles.
Art deco from the 1920s and a William and Mary highboy from the 1700s line the terra cotta walls. Furniture made with turn-of-the-century oak graces the rooms, and a circa-1820 Eli Terry clock sits above one of the home's five fireplaces.
With 45 windows, eight bedrooms and a Southern-style detached kitchen, the home is the oldest and one of the largest in Bryan.
The Van Ripers will open their 1.5-acre property to the public Saturday as part of Heritage Park's annual Fourth of July festivities.
Known as the Cavitt House, the home was built in 1878 for $5,000 by William Cavitt, a Brazos County lawyer, banker and longtime member of the Texas A&M board of directors. Members of the Cavitt family lived in the home until the last of Cavitt's six children died in 1978.
At the time, Dorothy Van Riper said, the property occupied a full city block -- the extensive gardens and private tennis courts have since been demolished. That property is what is now Heritage Park.
The Brazos County Citizens for Historical Preservation bought the Victorian Italianate Villa from the Cavitt estate in 1981 and sold it to Peter McIntyre. He sold it to the Van Ripers in 1986.
Paul Van Riper, 92, and his wife Dorothy, 86, restored the home and reinforced the brick foundation. For the most part, Dorothy Van Riper said, the house is in its original state.
"What's so special about this house is its age, its beauty and its symmetry," said Dorothy Van Riper, a former Texas A&M English professor. "It's a square. Geometric. I don't know, but it's very comfortable. We both enjoy this one better than the other one."
The "other one" is the house across the street, known as the Wilson House. The Van Ripers restored the Queen Anne-style home in 1970 and lived there for
16 years before moving into the Cavitt House.
Tours of the Cavitt House will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. They are free and open to the public.
Van Riper said she is more than happy to share her historical home on such an important day as the Fourth of July and said she has fond memories of Heritage Park's holiday parades.
"My favorite part of this celebration is not the fancy orchestra or whatever, but the kids," she said. "They decorate their carts, their bikes. Mommas and daddies decorate the babies' carriage -- it's just precious."
Comments
[comment]
12 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 1:58 PM
Comment Title: Van Riper House
I had Paul Van Riper as a professor at Texas A&M. He is one of the sweetest, nicest men I have ever met, and I'm not surprised at all that he would do something so nice for the community. He has a long record of public service to this nation and community. Being so active at his age is admirable as well!
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Posted by:
OnlyANobody On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 11:26 AM
Comment Title: How nice
What a lovely home, and lovely gesture on the part of the Van Ripers. I must say though, Jamie, Susan - you are daring come into Bryan to see it?!
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Posted by:
Lily - Bryan, TX On:
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 7:53 AM
Comment Title: I tried to "report abuse" on a few of the comments and received an error saying "page no longer exists"
I cannot believe you "The Eagle" as a supposed reputable newspaper allow pointless comments like these. If your argument would be "right to free speech" your right to free speech is null and void when it is on an anonymous forum. These are kind, elderly people that have opened their hearts and you allow this. I will never spend money this newspaper!
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Posted by:
Sabrina On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:22 PM
Comment Title: 360 Degree Turn
It always amazes me how something so nice and giving can always be turned around to be so negative. These people do not have to open up their homes (hearts) to the public, but want to share with the community. We have those who talk about things like kids touching everything...changing babies on the table....grow up. Also if Jamie and his/her family are coming I would cancel the entire event.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 6:08 AM
Comment Title:
It is always interesting to learn about the past and see somewhat how they lived. Thanks for offering the free sight seeing tour.
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Posted by:
Susan CSTX On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 7:24 PM
Comment Title:
These pictures bring back some memories of great grandma. I think I'll bring the family and take the tour.
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Posted by:
Rocky Patel Brazos County. On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 7:05 PM
Comment Title:
Product of Bryan and BISD 30 years ago CS was very small dot on a map. This would be a Bryan Resident.
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Posted by:
Jamie@CS On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 2:50 PM
Comment Title:
A lovely house! My family and I can't wait to take the tour.
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Posted by:
CS resident On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 2:45 PM
Comment Title:
The Cavitt house is on E 30th. Nonetheless, quit bashing Bryan.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 1:30 PM
Comment Title:
Do not go down Cavitt road today. This brings back good memories about Bryan 35 years ago before become a lawless ghetto full of poverty in many areas.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 8:36 AM
Comment Title:
Beautiful! What a treasure! Thank you for sharing.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 7:45 AM
Comment Title:
Good folks, what a blessing to Bryan to have those so kind to share.
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