Explore the Chateau

A Wonderful Story behind the History of Chateau Bellevue's Stained Glass

If you have ever had the opportunity to visit Chateau Bellevue, you probably noticed the stunning pieces of stained glass throughout the castle. Originally built in 1874 by Harvey and Catherine North, it was purchased in 1892 by former Texas Speaker of the House Major Ira Evans who completely refurbished it with the help of noted Texas architect, Alfred Giles. Included in that project were many of the spectacular stained glass pieces that exist today.

Fast forward to 1929, when the Chateau was purchased by the Austin Woman's Club (a fabulous story in and of itself). Over the course of the years, the history of these beautiful pieces were lost and remained that way until 2011. 

On September 6, 2011, our docent, Marijean Tritle had the privilege of giving a tour of the Chateau to Joe Flanagan of Deerfield, NH. While showing him the stained glass transoms in our Evans Dining room, Marijean mentioned how diligently we had searched over the years to learn the history of our stained glass pieces, but to no avail. Then Joe proceded to explain the reason for his visit to the Chateau.

He said that he had been researching his family's geneology and he'd learned that his great grandfather had had a glass company in Chicago, Illinois. He had recently found a brochure from the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The brochure described the various glass treatments that could be ordered from Flanagan & Biedenweg Glass Manufacturers. 

Included in the brochure were several testimonials from satisfied customers which Joe thought would be of interest to the Austin Woman's Club:

Austin, Texas, April 5, 1893

Messrs. Flanagan and Biedenweg, Chicago, Illinois

Gentlemen - The glass recently ordered from your firm for my residence here is very satisfactory, both as to design and execution. I am especially pleased with the skylight, which I consider the handsomest thing of the kind that I have ever seen.

Yours truly, (signed) Ira H. Evans