Joseph V. Vandenberge House

301 North Vine Street

 

The Cunningham Block, as Block 56 of the Original Townsite of Victoria is known, is part of the original Four League Grant from the Republic of Texas to the Corporation of Victoria. It is bounded by Vine Street, Goodwin Avenue, Victoria and Commercial Streets. This historic block was purchased in 1847 from the Corporation of Victoria by John A. Cunningham, who was county judge at the time and later served a term as mayor.

 

One of Judge Cunningham’s daughters, Mary, married Joseph Vandenberge, a building contractor and a native of Holland. Mary was a pioneer teacher in Victoria, opening Mrs. Vandenberge’s Home School in 1875. She purchased half a lot on Vine Street from her father in 1886 and later inherited the other half.

 

In 1891 Joseph Vandenberge was given the half-lot his mother had purchased and he built a residence on it. In 1908 his mother deeded the lot to him and the old residence was replaced by the one in existence today. The house and grounds occupy all of Lot 1, Block 56.

 

The new home was designed by Jules C. Leffland, whose homes and buildings grace not only Victoria, but all of the Gulf Coast area. The Vandenberge plans are marked #1090. Leffland designed the house in his most popular style: Neoclassical Revival.

 

You can learn more about this home in Volume I of Historic Homes of Victoria, available here online through our SHOP or at the Victoria Preservation, Inc. office.