Freestone County, Texas History Fairfield Recorder Nov 14, 2006 edition - Page 1A & 8-A [Page 1A] SAFE RETURNS Stewards Mill Store Antique Restored "I never thought it would be this beautiful," Mrs. Christine Watson Marsters said Thrusday, as she welcomed home a restored piece of Freestone County history, a merchantile safe owned by her grandfather, Alexander Tazewell Watson. Originally purchased by Taz Watson and his brother-in-law, W. M. Seeley around 1871, the safe was a fixture at the Stewards Mill Store, owned and operated by Mr. Watson beginning in 1892. The restoration of the 135-year old safe has been a labor of love taking 15 years and over 200 manhours of work. Bill Brewer of Brewer Safe and Lock in Waco restored the working mechanisms of the safe well as the interior wood shelving and decorative finials on the safe's double doors. He recalls the poor condition of the safe when he came to Stewards Mill to pick it up in 1991. The safe had been removed from the store office here it had say for nearly 100 years. "It just had a tarp over it. It looked like it had been 300 years on a ship - it had so much scale on it," Brewer said. Much of the inlay on the wood shelving had to be replaced, as well as the carpet lining on the shelves. Brewer purchased a 100-year old Oriental rug to cut new lining to match the original. The exterior was painted black in what Brewer calls a "hot cat's butt finish." The 4,000 pound safe, a Herring's Patent Champion, was manufactured in 1871 by Herring & Co. of New York. The award-winning company was one of the first safe manufacturers to boast not only a burglar proof safe, but one that was also fire-proof with plaster insulation added to the safe's doors. P. T. Barnum, of Barnum and Bailey Circus fame, commended the manufacturer in a letter dated July 14, 1865. "The safe you made for me some time ago was in the office...in the hottest of the fire. After twenty-four hours of trial it was found among the debris; and on opening it this day had yielded up its contents in very good order...all in a condition for immediate use, and a noble commentary on the trustworthiness of Herring's Fire Proof safes." According to Bill Brewer, the Watson safe would have cost, approximately $300 to $500 in 1871, and the ornate paintwork was [Caption to Pictures:] A GORGEOUS VICTORIAN ANTIQUE RETURNS safe and sound to the Steward Mill area after a long, 15-years of restoration. Originally purchased in 1871, this work of art was once a fixture of Steward Mill Store. Bill Brewer (right) supervised its restoration. The safe was first purchased by Alexander Tazwell Watson, grandfather to Christine Watson Marsters (left)." [Page 8A] original and done by the manufacturer. "The quality and precision amazes me," Brwer remarked on the craftsmanship evident with he safe. "It was all put together with hot rivets. The are no weld on this safe." The restored artwork is the crowning glory of hte safe and features gold- leafing and an elaborate Eastlake style motif. The outer doors feature gold- leafed panels with doves and flowers, decorative scrolls and pin striping in red, gold and turquoise. The lettering now reads "Alexander T. Watson, Herring & Co., New York, W. J. Hughes & Co, Galveston, Texas." The inner doors feature landscapes with waterfalls, a vase with tulips and a lady's fan, and other elaborate decorations reminiscent of the post-Civil War Victorian age during which the safe was made. The artwork was restored by John Oldham of Oldham Sign and Design in Waco, based on photos and sketches the artist made in 1991 before Bill Brewer began restoring the body of the safe. The safe was returned to Christine Marsters last Thrusday, and installed at the newly restored WX Ranch Camphouse in the Stewards Mill area. The WX Ranch was founded by Mrs. Marster's father and uncle - Charles Henry Watson and Edward Monroe Watson, sons of the Alexander Tazewell Watson. Along with the ranch, the brothers continued running the Stewards Mill Store after their father's death in 1918. Charles died 1937, while his brother Edward lived until 1964. The WX Ranch Camphouse has long been a favorite gathering spot for the Watson and Marsters family, and has hosted such notables as the Mercury astronauts from NASA. "It's more than I expected. It's beautiful," Christine Marsters remarked when the safe was revealed. "It looked pretty bad last time I saw it." Although the restoration took many years, she is pleased with the results. "I told the Lord I just want to leave here knowing that it's done. I had to see it through." Julianne Dodge reporting.