EAGLE LAKE — The charming brick bungalow at 111 E. State St., owned by Ann and Morgan Jones, occupies a prominent corner at E. State and Stockbridge in Eagle Lake. This beautiful home is selected to be part of the Community Garden Guild’s Christmas Tour of Homes 2025, highlighting its unique character and festive spirit.
The Jones’ acquired the house in 2019, envisioning it as their retirement home once their military commitments concluded. Ann completed her distinguished 24-year Navy career in 2024 and moved in with her three children in August of the previous year. She now helps out at Junkology, her mother’s antique store located on Main Street in downtown Eagle Lake. Morgan continues his service in the Navy. Ann’s mother, Lucy Capps, previous- ly lived in the residence until 2024, when the Jones family returned to Texas. Lucy now resides in the carriage house situated behind the main home.
The home was constructed in 1917 for Frank Stephens, a well-known local businessman, for $12,000. Contractor R.M. Eggers oversaw its construction. Bath fixtures, imported from Europe, added another $1,300 to the total. As reported by The Eagle Lake Headlight, the house was lauded as “not only will be the prettiest and most costly home in the city, but one of the strongest and most securely built.”
Ann, having recently retired from the Navy, is lovingly restoring the Craftsman-style bungalow to its original glory. She is committed to preserving as many of the original fixtures and finishes as pos sible. The residence features crown moldings, baseboards, and trim, all of which retain their original stain, except the breakfast room, which has been painted white.
A standout feature in the home is the extra-long master bathtub, original to the house and fondly referred to as “the boat” by the Jones children. The classic subway tile surrounding the tub is also original, adding to the home’s historic charm. Ann’s appreciation for antiques and mid-century modern glassware, a passion inherited from her mother, is showcased throughout the house. She has a fondness for turquoise glassware, with subtle accents visible in various rooms of the home.
Christmas holds a special place in the hearts of the Jones family, which is reflected in their traditional holiday décor. Collections of ceramic Christmas trees and Christmas carolers, cherished by Ann, her mother, and grandmother, are displayed atop the glass cabinets that separate the foyer from the sitting room, lending a festive touch to the home’s inviting atmosphere.
Two Christmas trees will be featured. One is crafted from rebar by the late Lynn Rucka and is displayed on the front porch, its decorations changing with the seasons—the other stands in the living room, adorned with the family’s treasured ornament collection. The dining room table will be set with Spode Christmas china, inherited from Ann’s mother and grandmother.
The Community Garden Guild invites you to explore this historic 108-year-old home as a part of its Christmas Homes Tour on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from any garden guild member or at each home on tour. Prices include treats from the Tea Room, at the Balas Home at 616 Melody Lane, where you can shop for Christmas with homemade goods for purchase.
