Stained Glass Restoration Project
Thankful Hubbard Chapter Sponsors NSDAR Grant for Stained Glass Window Restoration Project at Austin Woman’s Club
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) announced in March 2011, that the organization would donate $3,000 to the Austin Woman’s Club (AWC), Stained Glass Window Restoration Project. Funding for this project was made possible through the sponsorship of Thankful Hubbard Chapter, NSDAR, in Austin, Texas.
The purpose of the grant was to repair and restore the most endangered beveled and stained glass original to the building. The AWC, North/Evans Chateau Bellevue, was built by Harvey and Catherine North in 1874. Noted Texas architect Alfred Giles designed modifications to the residence in the 1890s for prominent Texas businessman, politician and Medal of Honor winner, Ira Hobart Evans. The AWC, a 501(c)(3) organization, has owned and cared for the mansion since 1929.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution provides grant funding to support projects in local communities which promote the organization’s mission areas of historic preservation, education and patriotism. The Special Projects Grants program was started in 2010 as a way to assist communities in their efforts to preserve the past, enhance the present and invest in the future. With non-profit grants being scarce these days, the application process was competitive. The DAR receives hundreds of applications for funding each year. We are especially pleased that AWC received one of only three grants approved in the State of Texas out of a total of twenty-seven approved nationwide.
Regent Patricia Horridge sums up the long standing relationship of DAR and the Austin Woman’s Club in the following statement: “The Daughters of the American Revolution have had an ongoing relationship with Chateau Bellevue even before the Austin Woman’s Club purchased the home. Thankful Hubbard’s first chapter meeting—some 110 years ago—took place in the parlor where the chapter currently meets. Thankful Hubbard is a charter member of AWC and has patron membership status. In addition, the Capital Area Regents Council (CARC) luncheon meetings are held at the AWC. The Constitution Day Luncheon in September and George Washington Day Luncheon in February, hosted by Sons of the American Revolution, Children of the American Revolution and CARC, also are held at AWC. These luncheons are attended by DAR members and guests from the entire Austin area. Thankful Hubbard is proud of the heritage shared with the Austin Woman’s Club. We are committed to finding a way to assist AWC with the preservation of the building’s most endangered beveled and stained glass.”
Thankful Hubbard Chapter raised matching funds for this grant through the generous support of its chapter membership as well as donations from the Capital Area Regents Council and the affiliated chapters: Jacob’s Well of Wimberley; Robert Gilbert Livingston and Daniel Coleman of Georgetown; Austin Colony, Balcones and Andrew Carruthers chapters of Austin. To complete the project, Thankful Hubbard Historic Preservation Committee members designed and sold beautiful note cards of the windows to a variety of organizations throughout the area, raising a total of over $13,000 for the project.
Betty King, past-president of the Austin Woman’s Club said: “As we celebrate the 83rd year of our founding, we are especially grateful to our good friends in DAR for their support in many ways. This year the Chapter has underwritten the restoration of original stained glass windows which were installed by the Evans family in our Chateau Bellevue in l893. Because of their work the Daughters of the American Revolution have ensured that future generations will enjoy the beautiful work for many years.”
