Phelan, John Henry, Sr., 1877-1957

Abstract John Henry Phelan made his fortune with the Spindletop oil discovery before setting about to build the most spectacular house in Beaumont. The house was designed by Atlanta architect, Owen James Trainor Southwell, a childhood friend of Phelan. The $500,000 mansion designed was a nine-bay, two story house of limestone brick with a gabled, tile roof and sat on 28 acres of property. The estate was given to the Sisters of Charity in January of 1957 and served as a convent house. Today the city...