Diedrich Rulfs is significant in the history of Nacogdoches for his distincitve architectural designs, which can be seen throughout the city. To view or print a brochure about Rulfs, please click the following link Diedrich Rulfs Brochure, for more infomation, please continue reading. To view a brochure about Rulfs produced by the city, please click the following link The Legacy of Diedrich Rulfs Brochure
Diedrich Rulfs
Diedrich Anton Wilhelm Rulfs was born in Oldenburg, Germany on March 6, 1848.[1] Rulfs married Johanne Emilie Helene Wilhelmine Boeschen on July 7, 1873, and the couple eventually had six children: Gerhard William, Carl Henry, Edward Anton, John, Mary, and Emily, who died as an infant in Germany. Rulfs trained as an architect while in Germany, and it was that skill that brought him to Nacogdoches.[2]
Family friend and fellow German, John Schmidt, invited Rulfs to come to Texas.[3] In 1879, Rulfs, his wife, three children, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law immigrated to the New Orleans. From New Orleans, the family traveled by steamboat to Jefferson where they met Schmidt and arrived in Nacogdoches in 1880.[4] The family's first home was on a farm about three and a half miles south of town off of what is now Shawnee Street. In 1884, Rulfs bought a piece of property on East Main Street and constructed a modest home and three rental properties. Rulfs's half sister, Sophia, and half brother, William, later joined the family in Nacogdoches. William was a carpenter and went into the house building business with his brother. In 1887, Diedrich became a naturalized citizen of Texas, though he does not appear in the United States Census records until 1920.[5]
Rulfs Office
For more information, view the entry for Rulfs's office in the city survey at 113 South Lanana Street
Changing the Look of Nacogdoches
Rulfs's friend, John Schmidt, was a prominent citizen in Nacogdoches and upon the completion of his home in 1895, helped to establish Rulfs's reputation by commissioning him to build and renovate several of his downtown businesses and personal residences.[6] Rulfs brought with him the architectural styles he had learned in Europe. This included the use of colorful stained glass, detailed ornamentation, creative uses of materials and styles, and the catering to the needs of the family who would live in the home.[7] Rulfs began by building in the Victorian Queen Anne style, which is characterized by asymmetrical floor plans, bay windows, gables, stained glass, and gingerbread details.[8] Over the course of his career, Rulfs's style evolved and he mixed and matched Victorian style with other styles such as Gothic, Greek Revival, Bungalow, and Prairie.[9] Rulfs was well known for working with what he was given, both in using materials creatively and in taking into consideration the location, wind currents and the placement of windows. He also and adapted existing homes into larger and better functioning designs.[10]
Roland Jones House designed by Diedrich Rulfs in 1897
Stained glass door at Rulfs Office
Though Rulfs's main business was constructing homes and businesses, he also constructed at least two churches in Nacogdoches. He was a vestryman of the Christ Episcopal Church and designed and built a new building in 1902.[11] In 1938 the church was moved from its original location and reassembled at 502 East Starr. At the request of his friend, John Schmidt, Rulfs designed and built the Zion Hill Baptist Church in 1914.[12] Schmidt had an African American employee named Charlie Clay who worked for him at the Nacogdoches Wholesale Grocery Company. As a kindness to his hard working employee, Schmidt financed the construction of the Zion Hill Baptist Church by the Rulfs brothers. Zion Hill remains the oldest African American structure in Nacogdoches.
Zion Hill Baptist Church
While not as well known or extravagant as his buildings, Rulfs also produced handcrafted furniture.[13]
Rulfs Table located at the Sterne-Hoya Museum
Rulfs's Legacy
Rulfs passed away on February 14, 1926, at the home of his daughter Mary in Shreveport.[14] His body was brought back to Nacogdoches, and the funeral service was held in his home before his interment in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Rulfs's architectural style greatly changed the appearance of Nacogdoches, especially the main square and Washington Square.[15] R.W. Haltom stated, "There is no man in Nacogdoches to whom the city is more indebted for the beauty and splendor of her scores of elegant residences ad the stateliness of her business houses than to Diedrich Rulfs."[16] These residential and business structures continue to lend character and beauty to the downtown area of Nacogdoches. It is uncertain how many of Rulfs's structures remain. However, more than fifty of his buildings are still standing in Nacogdoches and there are others are located in Lufkin, Garrison, San Augustine, Crockett, and Rusk.
Downtown Nacogdoches including some Rulfs designed structures
Diedrich Rulfs Marker located in Downtown Nacogdoches
The Rulfs plot is located in the back section of the cemetery near the cemetery office. Rulfs's gravemarker is made of marble and is a rectangular tablet mounted on a base. The stone serves as a marker for both Diedrich and his wife Johanne. Near the top of the marker is a scull and crossbones over a segmented triangle with the letters F, C, B. This is the insignia of the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization and the letters stand for "Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence." To locate Rulfs's grave in Oak Grove Cemetery, visit http://preserveamerica.sfasu.edu/OakGrove/ and enter his name into the search criteria.
Diedrich and Johanne Rulfs Headstone
Knights of Pythius symbol onthe back of Rulfs's Headstone
For more information about Diedrich Rulfs, consult Jere Jackson's soon to be released Diedrich Rulfs: Designing Modern Nacogdoches or Chris Adams's Diedrich Rulfs: Master Architect of Nacogdoches
Images
- Diedrich Rulfs, Vertical File, Biography, ROB-RZ, Diedrich Rulfs, East Texas Research Center, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Johanne Rulfs, Vertical File, Biography, ROB-RZ, Diedrich Rulfs, East Texas Research Center, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Rulfs' Office located at 113 S. Lanana Street, Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Roland Jones House located at 141 N. Church Street, Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Stained glass and carving detail of the Rulfs's office front door.
- Zion Hill Baptist Church, Photograph Collection, East Texas Research Center, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Rulfs Table located at the Sterne-Hoya House Museum, Nacogdoches, Texas http://digital.sfasu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EastTexRC/id/17 .
- Downtown Nacogdoches, "Homecoming Parade," Photograph Collection 1960-1969, East Texas Research Center, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, http://digital.sfasu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EastTexRC/id/11912 .
- Diedrich Rulfs Marker located in Downtown Nacogdoches.
- Diedrich and Johanne Rulfs Headstone at Oak Grove Cemetery, Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Knights of Pythius symbol on the back of Rulfs's Headstone.
References