LINK-LEE HOUSE
3800 Montrose Blvd.
Architect(s): Saguinet, Staats and Barnes
Date: 1911

National Register Designation (Pending)

The 1912 Link-Lee House is a large, modified rectangular plan, three-story with basement, Neoclassical structure exhibiting Arts and Crafts influences. The home's most prominent architectural features include a monumental portico with elaborate terra cotta and stone detailing of the entablature, columns, and soffit. The house, sited on an entire city block atop a landscaped berm, occupies the southwest corner of the intersection of West Alabama Avenue and Montrose Boulevard in Houston, Texas and was the first house and showplace for the early twentieth century residential subdivision, the Montrose Place Addition, a development of Mr. John W. Link's Houston Land Corporation. The foundation and basement were constructed of reinforced concrete while the load bearing masonry structure is clad with a light cream-colored vitrified brick. The building's central, hipped roof is green, glazed ceramic tile. The Link-Lee House was built facing east, addressing Montrose Boulevard the main thoroughfare of the subdivision. The home ís frontality, formality and symmetry dominates this principal facade. The focus of this main or east faÁade is a large portico, supported by eight colossal square columns, which projects out above and beyond the double gallery, full width porches. The formal axiality of the interior reflects Neoclassical designs tenets while the Arts and Crafts movement is evidenced in the fine woodwork, build-in cabinets and decorative glasswork. A two-story carriage house, connected to the main house via a pergola, echoes the house in materials and workmanship. The Link-Lee House and carriage house retains a high degree of architectural and historic integrity.

The house is now the main building for the University of St. Thomas, a small co-educational Catholic University in the Montrose neighborhood of inner Houston. Located at a busy intersection of what once was a prominent residential neighborhood, the Link-Lee house is the last stand out - all of the other houses once located on the adjacent three corners of this intersection have fallen to commercial development. This southwest corner, because of its continual usage, retains its neighborhood feel through the expansive large green lawns that surround the home on both the east and south elevations and the extensive landscaping consisting of mature oaks and magnolia trees, as well as numerous hedges around the perimeter of the house and younger plantings and a rose garden on the site. Approached from Montrose Boulevard, a wide sidewalk leads up to the front door separating into two smaller sidewalks, following the landscaped perimeter of the house, then reunite under the pergola which leads back to the main house to the east or to the carriage house further west. Originally only the house together with its pergola and carriage house occupied the entire one block site. In 1947-1948 a low, one story classroom building was added to the western portion of the property fronting Yoakum Boulevard (see photo 1 and 2). In the 1980ís the original buildingís circular drive, accessing the property from both West Alabama and Montrose Boulevard, was replaced to accommodate a parking lot surrounded by a low brick and cast iron fence along the perimeter of the property near the city sidewalk along West Alabama and Montrose Boulevard. Vines have been allowed to grow and cover the brickwork and the fence is not intrusive to the site.

The load bearing masonry house, with a steel beam and column constructed third floor, sits upon a reinforced concrete foundation and raised basement which housed the service equipment for the entire house. A limestone water table encircles the house, which is clad with a light cream-colored vitrified brick. The central three-story block of the home is covered with a hipped, glazed, green ceramic tile roof. Subsequent flat roofs for the porches, bay windows and the portico project out from the central massing creating upper floor terraces. Although classical in its form, a central modified rectangular or cruciform plan, the home diverts from strict classicism with these exaggerated porches and the eastern portico. The full width porches of the east facade enhance the horizontality of the house while the central monumental portico projects in a perpendicular plane. These two dominant yet opposing planes of the exaggerated porches and eastern portico reflect Frank Lloyd Wright influences and his theories of architecture to break out of the box.

The east or main faÁade faces Montrose Boulevard, a major inner city north-south thoroughfare that was once a tree-lined divided esplanade. The house is sited back from the street on this large corner lot. Conforming to Neoclassical tenets, the cruciform shaped house is symmetrical and its formal axiality and frontality are enhanced by the exaggerated eastern monumental portico which extends beyond the two-story, full width porches of this elevation. The wide sidewalk approaching the house from Montrose Boulevard has a series of steps about mid-way to the house. This sidewalk then separates into two smaller sidewalks that encircle the house to the north and south just before a second set of steps leading to the front porch which are flanked by brick stoops with limestone caps (see photo 3). The central paired wooden entry doors and 3/4 side lights with Frank Lloyd Wright inspired stained glass are surrounded with an engaged, flat arched, elaborately decorated terra-cotta portico with stylized fluted columns with brackets supporting a highly decorative limestone entablature (see photo 4). The door framing is surrounded with marble panels. A secondary single, glass paneled door, located along the recessed wall of thenorthern porch, allows access to the house from the porte cochere. The upper porch gallery is exposed and detailed with a metal balustrade and square brick corner posts clad in terra-cotta with inset panels and decorative scrolls on each side below a limestone cap. Two identical recessed side porches, to the north and south, are constructed and detailed in a similar manner. All of the windows on the first and second floors of this facade are 1/1 wooden sash with limestone sills except those of the 1922 enclosed southern first floor porch addition, which included metal windows. The eight, colossal, square columns of the monumental portico, accented with a terra-cotta and blue ceramic tile cartouche on each face, are clad in terra-cotta and support a full entablature which continues around the house. The architrave is decorated with a geometric patterning of ceramic polychromed tiles that are inspired again by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. The terra-cotta frieze alternates between hanging pendants and paired modillion blocks with achanthus detailing flanking a scallop motif. In the soffit are rosettes that alternate between the hanging pendants. Above, along the cornice is a band of polychromed tiles inset into terra-cotta crown molding (see photo 5). The green, clay tile roof is visible above this terra-cotta band. A corbelled, brick parapet wall extends a foot further above the roofing tiles enclosing the third floor roof terrace. The two chimneys on this house are clad in the same brick as the exterior and are decorated with inset panels and corbelled tops.

The north faÁade continues the lines of the elaborately decorative entablature and the front porch which extends its detailing to include the northern projecting porte cochere supported by square, battered brick columns with decorative terra-cotta capitals (see photo 6). A short flight of steps leads up onto the first floor side porch from the porte cochere. The porch balustrade is brick with arched openings and the square brick support posts are capped with a limestone cap. The projecting porte cochere creates a second floor terrace enclosed with a metal balustrade and square brick corner posts with limestone caps as on the east elevation. To the west of this porte cochere the projecting northern wing culminates with a curved, two-story bay window containing 1/1 wood windows on the upper floor and casement windows at the basement level (see photo 7). Immediately west of the curved projecting northern wing, at the first floor level, a projecting box bay window with transom and sidelights is detailed with a lower inset wooden panel and a green, clay tile roof. The remaining windows of this facade are identical 1/1 wooden sash with limestone sills. The west elevation contains the central double rear entrance doors, with inset glass panels, which is approached by a short flight of stairs. To the left of these doors the building projects forward while to the right a single story rounded projected bay contains a triple set of 1/1 wooden sash windows. Above the central doors the second floor level is highlighted with a large stained glass window that fills the landing of the homeís wide central staircase. On the upper floors the windows are paired 1/1 wooden sash, while the lower floor contains single 1/1 wooden sash (see photo 8). A covered sidewalk composed of brick columns with concrete caps supporting heavy wood timber framing is currently covered with a green clay tile roof and interconnects the main house with the two story carriage house to the west (see photo 9 and photo 10). A photograph from 1948 indicates that originally the pergola was not covered (see photo 11). Clad with the same cream-colored brick and with 6/1 wooden sash windows the simple carriage house resembles in color and materials the quality of the main house. At some point (date unknown) a small single story shed addition was added to the west elevation of the carriage house.

A two story rectangular bay projects forward on the south elevation containing dissimilar windows on the upper and lower floors. The a second floor terrace, located on the east side of this elevation, is encircled by a metal balustrade with and square brick corner posts matching those on the east and north elevations. The first floor porch was enclosed in 1922 and its windows are metal (see photo12).

The original plan of the home did not include a foyer, but instead allowed access directly into the large, twenty by forty foot, living room containing two large stone mantle pieces at either end. The main rooms of the home were arranged to either side of a 15-foot wide stair case hall. Photographs from 1947 indicate that the interior finishes of the living room had birch wainscoting and the presence of a paneled wood beam ceiling (see photo 13). To the right and rear of the living room was a 20 by 27-foot dining room created by the curved projecting northern bay. Behind the dining room there was a 12 by 14-foot breakfast and the kitchen was beyond. The side carriage entrance accessed the building through a small glazed passageway that separated the living and dining rooms on the north side of the house continued on the south side of the house separating the music room from the living room, interrupted by the homeís large central hallway (see photo 14). The library was located behind the music room and contained glass front bookcases, tapestry wallcovering and a paneled wood beamed ceiling. The second floor originally contained five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Casement windows opened from all of the bedrooms onto the large porches and terraces. The third floor contained a ball room measuring twenty feet by forty feet, with stenciled wall decorations, and opened onto the third floor terrace (see photo 15).

The raised basement housed the newest modern service equipment, including a steam heat system, a fire extinguishing system consisting of two standpipes, a laundry facility and a vacuuming system for the entire house.

Purchased in 1947 by the Diocese of Galveston on behalf of the Basilian Fathers of Toronto the Link-Lee House was used as the original building for the University of St. Thomas, the first co-educational Basilian university in the United States as well as the first co-undergraduate Catholic university in Texas (Sechelkski, 9). The Link-Lee House became the first classrooms, library, and administrative offices for this newly created liberal arts university. Photographs from 1948 indicate that the first changes to the property included the construction of a one-story class room building, fronting Yoakum, located on the western portion of the property (see photo 1). Constructed of brick, the classroom buildings match in color and material the exterior of the Link-Lee House and are not obtrusive to the site (see photo 2). Later changes to the site include the reconfiguration of the original circular drive, which accessed the property from West Alabama and Montrose Boulevard (see photo 16 and 17), to allow parking for the universityís growing student population. Carved from lawn that encompassed the northwest corner of the property, the parking lot was surrounded by a low brick and iron fence, now covered with vines, that continues around the perimeter of the property along West Alabama and Montrose Boulevard. Additional photographs from 1948 of the south and southwest elevations of the house (see photo. 18-20) show that the house has remained relatively unaltered except for the addition (date unknown) of several air conditioning units which were added to several windows accommodating the need for this modern convenience.

Over time the University of St. Thomas acquired surrounding property and the Link-Lee House was converted into the universityís administrative offices. A preliminary visual survey of the Link-Lee House indicates that the historic structure is in critical need of some immediate repair. The visible signs and evidence of water damage can be seen in numerous locations throughout the building. The interior spaces have been altered over the years to accommodate the growing needs of the University. The interior configuration of rooms remains relatively unaltered, although many of the finishes have been substantially changed or removed. Several years ago extensive damage resulted from a third floor roof leak which resulted in replacement of much of the plaster walls on the second and third floors. The dining room wood floor was also replaced, due to damage, with compatible wood flooring. The wood paneling and beamed ceilings remain on the first floor. A small section of the tapestry wallcovering in the library was deliberately retained as a visible reminder of the original wall covering of the room.

Despite these alterations the Link-Lee House retains a high degree of its historic fabric as well as sufficient integrity of design, materials, craftsmanship, location, setting, feeling and association to remain recognizable to its period of significance.


STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE


The Link-Lee House is one of the most exceptional examples of Neo-Classical domestic architecture exhibiting strong Arts and Crafts influences remaining in Houston. Built in 1912 this home was the showplace for John Wiley Linkís Houston Land Corporation's newly formed suburban development, the Montrose Addition. Inspired by the St. Louis private places which incorporated landscaping and park-like settings to create the ambiance of refined country living, the Montrose Addition was the largest restricted planned suburban subdivision in Houston. Prominently sited along the tree-lined esplanade of Montrose Boulevard, the elegantly designed home, together with its two-story carriage house and pergola, relates to early 20th century European and American residential architectural influences in Texas. Altered in 1922 to its present appearance, the Link-Lee House retains a high degree of its architectural integrity manifested in its highly articulated exterior detailing, decorative glasswork, and its interior cabinetry and woodworking. The distinguished architectural firm of Sanguinet, Staats & Barnes designed the home. Recognized for its stylistic diversity as well as quality of its residential and commercial designs, the work of this firm helped to urbanize the look of many cities across Texas. The Link-Lee House demonstrations the firms ability to subtly blend the formality of an abstract Neo-Classical design with elements from the Arts and Crafts Movement representing a significant departure from the predominant residential styles of this period in Houston. Its affiliation with John Wiley Link and Thomas P. Lee, its first and second owners respectively, further enhances the significance of this home. Mr. Link, an influential lumberman, financier, politician, and outstanding businessman, has been recognized for his business endeavors as well as for the formation of the Houston Land Companyís development of the Montrose Addition, one of the largest subdivision projects ever undertaken by private capital in the south. Thomas P. Lee was a pioneer and distinguished leader in the early development of the petroleum industry. Mr. Lee has been credited with much of the early development and growth of that industry which broadly influenced the economic history of Houston as well as Texas. In June 1946 the Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the property with plans to establish a co-educational liberal arts Catholic university, the first co-educational Basilian university in the United States as well as the first co-educational undergraduate Catholic university in Texas. The University of St. Thomas was opened in 1947 and the Link-Lee House served as the Universityís first classrooms, library and administrative offices. As the University of St. Thomas acquired surrounding property, the Link-Lee House became and remained the Administration Building for the University. Later alterations to the property include the addition of two one-story classroom buildings and the reconfiguration of the original circular drive and terraced landscaping to accommodate parking and a fence. The buildingís exterior has undergone few alterations besides the addition of air conditioning units in several windows. Despite these changes the Link-Lee House retains a high degree of its integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association to remain recognizable to its period of significance. The Link-Lee House is therefore nominated under Criteria B for its association with both John Wiley Link and Thomas P. Lee, and Criteria C under Architecture at the local level of significance.

Before the turn of the century, the land to the southwest of downtown, which included the Montrose Addition, was prairie used primarily for farming. The site of this house, Block 41 of the Montrose Addition, originated from the 1836 Obedience Smith land grant of 3370-acres under headright certificate number 203. Following Smithís death, her heirs sold the land. A 23æ-acre tract of land was sold to Mr. W. R. Baker in 1868 who subsequently sold the land to Mr. F. N. Busher in 1870. The Busher family cultivated and farmed this land for 39 years. After city annexation of the land in 1903, developers slowly began purchasing parcels for residential development. On August 29, 1909 this 23æ acre tract of land was sold to the R. S. Sterling Realty Company. In September 1910 John Wiley Link moved to Houston from Orange where he had been a prominent leader in the lumber and building industry as well as mayor. In October he formed the Houston Land Corporation with a capitalization of $500,000. The new company listed John Henry Kirby, longtime friend and business associate of Mr. Link, in addition to H. B. Jackson, R. E. Brooks, W. T. Carter, B. F. Bonner, Niels Esperson, Frank Andrews, Abe Levy, C. L Neuhaus and Senator Thomas Ball, all prominent business leaders of the day. The company began accumulating properties from a variety of owners in Houstonís South End, including this 23æ-acre parcel containing Block 41. The Houston Land Corporation, with Mr. Link as president, proceeded to plan the development of Houstonís first large-scale suburban subdivision.

With the 1900 hurricane in Galveston and the discovery of oil at Spindletop just four months later, the course of Houstonís history was changed. Coupled with the expansion of the railroad industry Houston emerged in the first decade of the 20th century as a center for trade and transportation. With its population doubling between 1900 and 1910 Houstonís downtown commercial district haphazardly encroached upon the surrounding residential neighborhoods. The dawning of the 20th century also brought a change to the American family and its style of living. The expanding industrial age economy rapidly produced new modern conveniences, such as gas lighting and the automobile, intended to simplify daily lives. With these modern inventions came a nostalgia for the simpler, more amiable, pre-machine age way of life. The perceived notion that country living was superior to that of the city prevailed. The design of the modern house now needed to respond not only to functionality and new modern conveniences, but also to the desire for a closer relationship with nature. Country retreats and suburban life fulfilled these desires and with the automobile became more accessible.

New residential neighborhoods began developing modeled after the private places of St. Louis. Reflecting popular preferences the exclusive neighborhoods of Westmorland (1902), Courtlandt Place (1906), Avondale (1907), the Bute Addition ( ), Hyde Park (1906) and Cherryhurst (1908) were developed. Extensive landscaping with terraced lawns created park-like settings that were pivotal to the design of these exclusive residential enclaves. Riding the wave of real estate driven prosperity in Houston, the Houston Land Corporation quietly purchased land just to the west of these early neighborhoods. On October 4, 1911 the Montrose Addition was officially platted into streets and more than 1000 individual lots, most measuring 50 x 100 feet (see map ). Plans to spend over 1 million dollars on improvements to the neighborhood, before any lots were developed, were immediately announced. Deviating from the street pattern established downtown, the four main thoroughfares, Montrose, Audubon, Lovett and Yoakum Boulevards, were drawn on a true north-south grid. Edward Teas Sr., founder of Teas Nursery, transformed these four boulevards into beautifully landscaped esplanades. Early advertisements for the area boasted that the Montrose Addition contained 11 of Houstonís 26 miles of paved roads for comfortable travel by automobile. Additionally there were over 22 miles of concrete curbs and sidewalks, eight miles of sanitary sewers, seven miles of water mains and many miles of gas mains. The Montrose Line provided streetcar service between the neighborhood and downtown. With the City Beautiful movement sweeping the country, the area was commonly referred to as "Beautiful Montrose" which also became the title of the companyís sales brochure. Property became available for purchase on October 11, 1911 and within the first year sixty-five homes were completed. Over the next ten years the subdivision flourished, developing steadily and profitably.

In 1911 Mr. Link purchased the entirety of Block 41 in the center of his Montrose Addition on which to build his own home. Mr. Link commissioned the noted architectural firm of Sanguinet, Staats & Barnes, one of the busiest and best known in Texas at the beginning of the twentieth century, to design his new home using his previous home in Orange Texas as a model. Building contractor W. H. Young oversaw the construction of this home.

Between 1885-1926 Marshall R. Sanguinet was one of the most successful architects in Texas. Aftergraduating from Washington University in St. Louis, he moved to Fort Worth in 1883, following four years of training in the office of the St. Louis architect Thomas Walsh. Sanguinet was a partner in a number of architectural firms including, Sanguinet and Dawson, Haggart and Sanguinet, Sanguinet and Messer, and finally Messer, Sanguinet and Messer. The firm of Sanguinet and Staats was formed in 1903. Carl Staats was trained as a civil engineer. In 1891, at the age of twenty, he came to Texas from New York to join the office of J. Riely Gordon in San Antonio. Seven years later (1898) he joined Sanguinet in Fort Worth. Together the two were responsible for many important commercial and residential buildings in Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and Shreveport Louisiana. E. A Barnes was a civil engineer from Dallas who joined the firm in 1902 and later opened up the firms Houston office. Alfred C. Finn practiced with the firm in Houston between 1913-15. The firm later became known as Sanguinet, Staats and Gottlieb (192125) and then Hedrick & Gottlieb (1925-28). The firm ultimately joined with Wyatt C. Hedrick, their chief competitor, and became known as Wyatt C. Hedrick & Associates.

The turn of the century was a period of experimentation and reform in American residential and commercial design. For over twenty-five years the architectural firm of Sanguinet and Staats was successfully engaged in a wide variety of projects, many related to the prosperity that was generated by the oil industry across the southwest. The firm had branch offices in several cities in Texas including Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and Wichita Falls. The firmís commercial and residential designs reflected their ability to integrate contemporary influences with traditional building forms. Over the course of their distinguished careers Sanguinet and Staats gained distinction for their stylistic diversity as well as their numerous towering commercial buildings and private residences that redefined the expression of cities across the Southwest. Some of their most recognized designs have included numerous courthouses, the Dallas Public Library, twenty exchange buildings for the Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph Company, and thirty-five schools in North Texas. In Houston, the firmís most notable commercial buildings include the Old Houston Country Club (1908), the first Methodist Church (1910), the Post-Dispatch Building (1926), the Medical Arts Building (1926), and the Old Houston National Bank (1926). They also designed numerous department stores and bank buildings such as the Amicable Building in Waco (once recognized as the tallest building in Texas).

Many of Sanguinet and Staats most distinguished commercial buildings and private residences have been distinguished through individual listing to the National Register of Historic Places. Their recognized commercial buildings include the first 8-story building in Texas, the Wilson Building (1902), the Knights of Pythias Hall (1901), the Flatiron Building (1907), St. Andrews Episcopal Church (1910), Mt. Gilead Baptist Church (1912), Burk Burnett Building (1914), W. T. Waggoner Building (1920) Texas Hotel (1921), the Neil P. Anderson Building (1921), Old Broadway Baptist Church ( ), and St. Mary of the Assumption Church (1923). An equal number of their private residences have also been so recognized and include the Wharton-Scott House (1906) and Marshall Sanguinet House (1894) both of Fort Worth. In Houstonís Courtlandt Place Historic District (NR listed), one of the earliest 20th century exclusive residential neighborhood adjacent to the Montrose Addition, six of the eighteen homes were designed by the firm of Sanguinet and Staats in collaboration with either Alfred C. Finn, R. D. Gottleib, or E. A. Barnes. Each of these six homes are individually listed and three (the M. J. Dorrance House, the A. S.Cleveland House, and the C. L. Neuhaus House) are also Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks.The Link-Lee House was the first home completed for the subdivision. Costing over $60,000 the Link-Lee House quickly became a showplace establishing and promoting the image of gracious living that was available in this emerging neighborhood. The abstract Neo-Classical style, by no means typical of the entire neighborhood, became the embodiment of grandeur that Mr. Link hoped might characterize the main esplanaded boulevards. Advertisements for the area contended that although ìMontrose was a well-developed area, with all modern conveniences, for all good peopleî, the price of individual lots ranged from $1250 on some streets to $7,500 on the leading boulevards with construction for the typical, more modest, homes to range between$3,000 and $8,000. Thus the Montrose subdivision was affordable for all Houstonians. (Beautiful Montrose, Houston Land Corporation Sales Brochure, 1912).

With the success of the Montrose Addition, together with his previous experience as businessman and mayor in Orange, Texas, Mr. Link was quickly acknowledged as one of Houstonís leading entrepreneurs. Prior to moving to Houston Mr. Link briefly practiced law before entering the timber and lumber business. In 1902 he purchased a lumber mill from John Henry Kirby, one of the shrewdest and most colorful lumbermen of his time, and together with friend L. Miller formed the Miller-Link Lumber Company. This company soon became one of the largest lumber companies in the state. Shortly thereafter he became president of the Texas-Louisiana Lumbermanís Association. Mr. Link is also credited with forming the first paper pulp mill in the south. Elected mayor of Orange in 1900 he was considered one of the most active and progressive businessmen of the city. During his tenure, the streets of the business section were regraded and surfaced with shell and many new buildings were constructed. Between 1903-1904 Mr. Link, through his lobbying efforts in Washington, was instrumental in securing deep water in the ports of Beaumont and Orange and established the Beaumont-Orange Channel. Convinced of Houstonís potential he moved to Houston and formed the Houston Land Corporation. He became a member of the Board of Directors for the Houston Chamber of Commerce in 1911, 1912 and again in 1915 and 1916. The success of the Houston Land Corporation as well as the Montrose Addition can be directly correlated to the business acumen of John Wiley Link. After selling his interest in the Houston Land Corporation, Mr. Link moved to Beaumont briefly to organize the Beaumont Ship Building and Dry Dock Company. He was responsible for bringing this company into world prominence. Returning to Houston in 1920 Mr. Link founded the Link Oil Company and was a partner in the Pierce Junction Oil Company. With family friend and business associate John Henry Kirby, Link also became vice-president and general manager of the Kirby Lumber Company and was president of the Lamella Trussless Roof Company (which built the main hall for the Houstonís 1928 Democratic National Convention in record time). He was president of the Link- Ford Investment Company, the Polar Wave Ice Company and the Polar Wave Ice Rink. He was also a director of the Union National Bank, the San Jacinto Trust Company and the Bankers Trust Company. John Wiley Link was the first chairman of the board of the American General Life Insurance Company that was organized in 1926. Along with Gus S. Wortham, B. F. Carruth, and R. W. Ford, John W. Link was one of the companyís four original investors. The largest stockholders in the company were John L. Wortham, Link-Ford Company, J. A. Elkins and Jesse H. Jones. This company developed into what is now one of the largest insurance and holding companies in the country. In 1929 Mr. Link left the Kirby Lumber Company to become president of the Dr. Pepper Company, and was instrumental in the re-organization and expansion of that company into one of the largest beverage companies in the South.

The Link family moved into the home in October 1912. As a successful businessman with six children, Mr. Link entertained lavishly, and his familyís parties were legendary. The third floor was designed as a ballroom with a clear dancing space of forty feet with doors opening on to the third floor terraces to accommodate their numerous guests. In 1916, after the wedding of their last daughter, the home was sold to oil and businessman Thomas P. Lee who purchased the home for $90,000, the highest price paid for a home in Houston to that date.

Born in West Virginia Thomas P. Lee began working in the oil fields of West Virginia when he was only sixteen years old. In 1903 he moved to Sour Lake Texas and began working for the newly formed Texas Company. Associated with the Texas Company for ten years between 1903 and 1913, he was actively involved in this companyís growth and development. In 1913, together with J. S. Cullinan, Will C. Hogg, James L. Autry and E. F. Woodward, T. P. Lee formed and became president of the Farmers Petroleum Company. In 1916, the same year he purchased the house from the Links, Mr. Lee and his associates formed the American Republics Corporation. For over forty years Mr. Lee was associated with the petroleum industry and engaged in almost every aspect of that prospering industry. In 1926 he was considered one of the industryís leaders and experts. Throughout his career he was also affiliated with the Fidelity Trust Company in Houston and Citizens National Bank in Sour Lake. During his presidency of the Petroleum Building Company he built a twenty-one story office building as the companyís headquarters which was located at the corner of Austin Street and Texas Avenue in downtown Houston.

The Lee family, consisting of six daughters, soon found their home in Montrose too small. In 1922 Mr. Lee commissioned noted architect Alfred Finn to design an addition to the northwest corner of the house. Finn's design included enclosing an existing first floor sleeping porch and constructing a second story above the existing first floor kitchen. The home remained in the Lee family until 1946 when Mrs. Lee sold the house and property to the Catholic Diocese of Galveston on behalf of the Basilian Fathers of Toronto to establish the first co-educational Basilian university in the United States as well as the first co-educational undergraduate Catholic university in Texas, the University of St. Thomas. The Universityís charter was granted on April 28, 1947 and the university opened its doors on September 22, 1947 with fifty-seven students enrolled. Since 1947 the home has been continuously used as the Administration Building for the University of St. Thomas.

The Link-Lee House not only marked an era of beautiful residential building in Houston but also established Montrose as a fashionable residential neighborhood for the city. As the work of prestigious architects, the homeís architectural design, exquisite craftsmanship, and detailing represents an intact example of the non-historical kind of architectural design that was developing and a unique deviation from the prevalent residential architectural styles of the period. Soon after completion the Link-Lee House gained recognition as a landmark in southwest Houston, and remains today as an important architectural and cultural resource for our city, conveying a strong sense of time and place. The building stands boldly among its neighbors as a reflection of the early twentieth century building aesthetics and architectural tastes and styles. As one of the few remaining original residences of this magnitude along Montrose Boulevard the Link-Lee House retains a high degree of its integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and associations to remain architecturally and culturally significant. The home remains a visible statement of an important segment of Houstonís early 20th century development.