Built in 1910 for hardware merchant Edward K. Lewis and his wife Cayloma (Ponton) Lewis, this Greek Revival residence sits at 605 Saint Louis Street and is a textbook example of classical detailing applied to an early twentieth century bungalow form. Period photos and captions describe it as a Greek Revival bungalow with a symmetrical front, classical porch supports, and balanced fenestration.
People and context
Edward K. Lewis (b. Apr. 10, 1869, Gonzales; d. July 2, 1926) was a partner in the Boothe & Lewis hardware concern, which operated a prominent store facing the town square in the 1890s and early 1900s. Local historical notes record that Boothe & Lewis opened in a purpose built downtown building in 1896 and traded there for decades, anchoring the area’s retail hardware trade. Cayloma Ponton (b. Nov. 18, 1873; d. Nov. 27, 1962) came from a long established local family; her grandfather Andrew Ponton was the last alcalde of Gonzales in 1835 and a civil leader during the opening moments of the Texas Revolution. After Edward’s death in 1926, Cayloma later lived in San Antonio. Both are buried in Gonzales Masonic Cemetery.
House history
Lewis acquired the lots in 1909 and completed the dwelling in 1910, when Greek Revival fronted houses remained a favored way for successful merchants to signal stability and order. The property has long been grouped with other turn of the century residences for its intact classical street presence. Address documentation and captioned images place the house specifically at 605 Saint Louis Street.