THE LLANO WOMEN'S CULTURE CLUB and THOSE WHO CALLED IT HOME

By Winnie J. Tate-Morgan
Photo by Jerry Crabtree

Located at 210 W. Sanstone, stands one of Llano’s finest historic homes – the Women’s Culture Club, also known as the Watkins House. This fine structure was built by George M. Watkins and his second wife, Lousia (Lutie) McLean about 1916. It was later bequeathed to the Llano Women’s Culture Club in 1945 and the club has occupied it since 1953. Standing two stories in height, it has undergone recent restoration to add modern conveniences, yet maintained its original ornate style of fine craftsmanship. The old woodwork and high ceilings therein have added that special touch of elegance and old world charm to such functions as wedding showers or wedding receptions for many of Llano’s residents through the years. However, those who lived in this fine old home - considered by some to be somewhat privileged - were not without their travails and sadness. We will attempt to tell some of their story.

George MeGhee Watkins was born in San Marcos, TX in April 29, 1863. He arrived in Llano at the age of 16, traveling with his family by covered wagon, in the year 1879. He was a hard worker, helping farm the family homestead, engaging in various mining activities, speculating in the cotton market and in 1889 founding the hardware firm that would bear his name for half a century. He would also go on to become a 32nd degree Free Mason. In 1891 George married Miss Kitty Benedict. They had one son, George Benedict, born September 13, 1892. Kitty died only days later on Sept. 19, 1892. In September 1896 George would marry his second wife, Lousia (Lutie) McLean. Lutie was born Dec 25, 1865, the daughter of H. H. McLean. George and Lutie had one child, a little girl, Katherine, born in 1898. In the following year of 1899 George’s son from his first marriage (little 7 year old George Benedict Watkins), died as the result of a fall from a pecan tree. Then in 1902 the baby girl, Kathrine died from diptheria at the tender age of 4 years. It must have been after June because on June 1st of that year Lutie wrote a letter to her uncle in Georgia telling him about a church spelling bee as a fund raiser and that "...George held the baby while I participated."

Lutie McLean Watkins was very much a Christian lady. She was an accomplished pianist and blessed with a beautiful voice. She died in 1921 and is buried in Llano City Cemetery along with her family. Since Lutie had been such an active member in the church - particularly in the music - and George had been a Methodist since he was 12 years old; in 1926 George M. Watkins donated almost the entire cost of the present Methodist Church building in Llano. It was named Lutie Watkins Memorial Methodist Church.

In June of 1926, when George was 63 years old, he married for the 3rd and final time to Mary Mabel Shelley Phillips, the widow of Robert Lee Phillips. Mary Mabel Shelley was born in Blanco County to Peter Marion Shelley on February 14, 1884. She was a twin. She married Robert Lee Phillips on Feb 11, 1903. They had two sons: Wendel Lee Phillips born 1904, and J. R. Phillips born 1908. Robert Lee Phillips was killed in a train accident on August 10, 1920. He was accompanying his rail shipment of cattle when the train began to derail. In the dark of night he successfully leaped from the derailing train, only to fall to his death in a gorge below as he could not discern it in the blackness of the night. He was 45 years old.

Mabel was, by all accounts, an attractive woman and as a 46 year old widow had her share of eligible suitors. Reportedly, at least one married man of Marble Falls was enamored of her, though she did not return his sentiments. She selected George M. Watkins, one of Llano’s most prominent citizens, as her next husband. No children were born to this union, leaving George with no living progeny. George and Mabel lived together 19 years before his death. George M. Watkins died in 1945. Mabel survived him by 7 years and continued to live in the Watkins Home that he and second wife Lutie had built, until her death Dec 21, 1952 at 68 years of age.

Amidst the intertwining of the older family lines from Llano County we’d like to mention that Sarah Ethel Shelley, the twin sister of Mary Mabel Shelley Phillips Watkins married Martin Elmo Tate, son of James William (Jim) Tate and Cynthia Ann Hardin. She died 1969 at age 85 in Fairfax, OK. There is a bit more linking Mabel Watkins to the Tate family: Robert Lee Phillips, Mabel's first husband was the son of Susan Alice Tate and John Rufus (Code) Phillips. Susan Alice Tate Phillips was the sister of James William (Jim) Tate. Cynthia Ann Hardin Tate was the daughter Lurena Phillips Hardin and the cousin of Robert Lee Phillips.

However, as for the old Watkins House itself – this fine old building is now called home by the 40 members of Women’s Culture Club of Llano. The club meets once a month, September thru May. Their agenda consists of business meetings and culturally significant discussions. In addition to membership dues, the Club has several fund-raising events: a spring Lasagna Luncheon, a fall Tour of Homes, sales of knitted blankets (throws) with Llano County landmarks included, and also small Courthouse ornaments. The Club also annually awards a small scholarship to a local high school student. (Thanks Jerry C. for these current facts.)

Now designated as a Texas Historical Landmark, this fine old structure still stands as a tribute to the Watkins past, while serving present and future needs of the Llano community. We believe that George and Lutie Watkins would indeed be proud of the way their home has been maintained by the Women’s Culture Club of Llano.

Sources:
<http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=eleanor&id=I02227>

<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dmorgan/chapter8.html>

<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~blumbarton/index.html>

Llano County Family Album, LCC#89-051107, Llano County Historical Society, Inc. 1989, Taylor Publishing Co

Tate Family History Collection of Winnie J. Tate-Morgan

NOTE from Llano County Coordinator: Winnie Tate-Morgan and her ancestors are long time residents of Llano County. She is an avid historian and researcher of Llano County history.

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