History, Stories & Archives

Record#

Building Name

The Ottwork House

Address

2404 FM 517 E, Dickinson, Texas

Date

Prior to 1936

Property Owner

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Otilla Collonge

Event

Prior to 1936 there is not much recorded history other than the pre-war cottage style house was built by a Mr. Joseph Collonge.  This was a typical wood style cottage with front porch with two brick pillars and a semi-enclosed back porch with wood and screen built on the corner of the Lot Number One (1) in Block Number Two (2) lying and being situated in Week’s Addition to the town of Dickinson, Galveston County, Texas as known and designated and described on the map or plat of said Addition, of record in the deed records of Galveston County, Texas, in Book No. 297 and on Page 127.

Date

April 3, 1936

Property Owner

Mr. Phillip Ottwork

Event

The Ottwork family immigrated from Odessa Russia and were of German descent.  They came by ship and landed at the port in Galveston, Texas.  The family settled in Dickinson and made an agreement to purchase said property from Mrs. Otilla Collonge, widow and residuary beneficiary under the will of the estate of Jos. Collonge, deceased.  As an interesting aside and indicative of the “Historical Times”, one of the covenants and restrictions of the conveyance of the property stated “that said Lot or Lots shall not be sold, rented or otherwise disposed of to any person of African descent.”   The debt on this purchase was paid off on November 16, 1943 when it became the sole property of Phillip Ottwork where he remained until his demise.  Mr. Ottwork operated a mule-powered road grader for the County of Galveston and later had a mechanized one.  Mr. Ottwork worked for the grocery store across the street from his property known over the years as Gerlands and Zeigler’s and it seemed everyone in Dickinson knew him or who he was.

Date

November 18, 1993

Property Owner

Phyllis Ann Mitchiner

Event

A Deed of Gift was executed by Father Elmer Quienders, as the Independent Executor of the Estate of Philip A. Ottwork, Deeased, “for and in consideration of the natural love and affection I bear for Phyllis Ann Mitchiner have granted, given and conveyed the parcel of land and property described above.”  Mrs. Mitchiner was a beloved niece of Mr. Ottwork and grew up with and was responsible for his daughter and her cousin Nina, who was mentally challenged.  Mrs. Mitchiner had to move the house back several feet for the widening of FM 517.  The brick pillars in the front of the house were broken at that time.  However the huge oak tree  which has been there since the beginning of time, is still standing in the back yard and has been the source of much tree climbing and swinging over the years.

Date

2007

Property Owner

Kathyrn Lanan

Event

Phyllis Mitchiner sold the property and house to Kathyrn Lanan who is a lawyer and has converted the house to include her law office.