AXE HOMEPLACE BEING RAZED

Axe Homeplace Being Razed
Garland, TX
March 4, 1938

Another of the old time houses, which had been added to through the years, has been torn down recently to make way for a new residence, that of Karl Axe.

Mr. Axe came to America at the age of 19, leaving his parents in Germany, and landing at New Orleans. While residing there and engaging in the business of being a blacksmith and wheelwright, he met and married his wife. She had come to America at the age of 6 with her parents and had also landed at New Orleans. Mr. and Mrs. Axe came to Dallas with several of their 13 children in July of 1873, and he bought the land that now belongs to his grandson, Raymond Axe.

He could not get possession until November, and spent these few months in Dallas, where he bought lots and helped to build the Zion Lutheran Church. Some of our readers may remember to have read in the post few months where this church held a celebration for the pastor who had served for forty years.

A nice booklet was put out at one time, and much credit given Mr. Axe for the erection of the church. He and his family continued to attend church there, driving to Dallas in a wagon, across White Rock when there was no bridges.

The house on the land originally purchased was built according to the style of that day, two rooms with a hall between. In tearing down these rooms, to which four more had been added from time to time, the wrecking crew found that the corner posts of them were hewn out of one solid oak post some twelve inches or more through, and all studs and rafters were of cedar cut from the pole, most of them being only slightly changed in shape from the natural growth of the tree.

Raymond plans to erect a house on this site and incorporate these posts to best advantage. The floors were laid on solid oak poles, and all joints were put together with bois d'arc pegs, these having to be knocked off to tear down the house. Even the braces were morticed into the corner posts, which were neatly mitered.

There are four of the seven girls still living. Mrs. Mary Cox and Miss Maggie Axe of Garland Community; Mrs. Louise Oertel, now residing in Pennsylvania and Mrs. Lizzie Soergel of Oklahoma City. C. C. Axe is the only remaining boy of the 6, and he will be 78 on his birthday this spring.