LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) – An East Texas man may have one of the area’s most historic collections. Ken Oden restores historical homes and buildings.
It’s an effort to preserve them exactly how they were originally seen.
His newest project is over 120 years old.
“This looks like a guy who bought a perfectly good house and then tore it up. Which is so far, exactly what has happened,” Oden said.
Some people golf and some play cards — but for Ken Oden — his hobby is a gamble in its own right.
“That is the challenge of historic preservation. It ain’t a coat of paint,” Oden said.
He collects century-old buildings and restores them.
“This has been a natural process for me. And it’s sorta taken over my life,” Oden said.
After beginning with a couple projects in Central Texas — 15 years ago, he set his sights on Longview’s Teague House.
“It was quite a project,” Oden said. “Probably the largest project I’ve ever attempted. The Teague family had a thriving community here before Longview. They ran the first school, ran the first post office. This was the first stagecoach stop before there was a railroad.”
The over 150-year-old home is filled with original furniture from Ken’s grandparent’s home and authentic period pieces.
“You don’t fancy it up like you’re trying to make it for Better Homes and Gardens,” Oden said. “The purpose is looking back and bringing it forward.”
Even the paint for the home’s original trim was restored. The exact shade of blue now coating chairs and flower pots on the property as well.
And through a Facebook Market place scroll, Ken acquired the old Longview railroad junction.
“I had a soft spot in my heart for anything related to the railroad history of East Texas,” Oden said. “My grandfather worked 38 years for the railroad, my dad 35 years for the railroad, I worked for the railroad…my brothers and cousins –everybody! The railroad was a big part of this community. It was certainly a big part of our lives.”
That tradition and same train stop now apart of a new generation…
“My granddaughters think the depot is their playhouse. I do too,” Oden said.
His newest addition is 128 years old. The Finch-Blount House.
“The history of this community is very much wrapped up into these three families and those like them,” Oden said of the Teague, Finch and Blount families.
It arrived in three parts, the roof having to be removed for transit.
“There was no way to get it under any of the railroad underpasses. It was just too tall,” Oden said.
He said nostalgia for his upbringing and childhood is what spurs the preservation on.
“Wanting to pay some kind of tribute to that, the Teague house became a vehicle for that. I love it all,” Oden said.
Currently, the Teague House is used for different events, Boy Scout meetings, Ken’s law office, and even weddings.
When it comes to the plans for the Finch-Blount House — Oden said he’s open to suggestions and trusts the process to lead him to the purpose.
Restoring the Finch-Blount home roof will be crucial to maintaining the property’s historical marker title, so that is a main focus of Oden’s newest project.
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