M.S. and Cora Alice Perry House cont.
Mordello Stephen Perry (M.S.) was born in
1872 at Peach Point Plantation in Brazoria
County. He was also the grand-nephew of
Stephen F. Austin. Cora Alice Perry, his wife,
was born in 1883 in Colorado County, Texas
and they had four children. The Perry Family
acquired 3 adjoining lots in 1906 for $900.00
where they began to build their home. The
family moved into the house unfinished in
November 1917 and completed work one
year later.
were kept by M.S. in the loft of the barn and
there were gardens with citrus trees on the
southeast part of the property. Shortly after
the death of her husband Mrs. Perry moved
to Big Springs Ranch with her children. She
sold the house in 1943.
The house’s layered boards are built with
one vertical and one horizontal. Using seven
nails where normally four were sufficient,
the house was stuccoed with metal lathe and
concrete. The roof was cedar shingles.
From 1943-1970, the home was owned
by three different people and rented out to
various tenants. First, as a boarding house
and later divided into four apartments.
In 1971 the house was purchased by
Eddie and Jessica Jecmenek. It was in
dire need of repair and major renovation.
The chimneys and widow’s walk on the
roof had been completely destroyed by
a tropical storm.
George Schultz was the builder and the
Perrys were the designers. No architect or
contractor was used in either the design or
the construction. The downstairs rooms all
opened to each other which were designed
for entertaining. A hot water tank was
built into the wall next to the fireplace in
the library. This supplie