The panoramic photo (above) was taken on Tuesday, August 02, 2016, from the north side of Hardees parking lot, aimed at the properties on the north side of Evans Loop. The house formerly sat where the “Now Open” sign is. Photo by Shelli Poole.
The image (above) is 2028 Evans Loop in Bryant as it looked before demolition. The image is taken from Google Streetview in August 2013. See photos from 2006 and 1920s era below, as well as demolition pics.
This is one of those stories that may take a while to get all the facts, but I’m posting it as a mystery that perhaps MySaline’s readers can help solve.
The house at 2028 Evans Loop in Bryant has been demolished. I realized this after David Holiman emailed MySaline from his Texas residence, saying he heard it was gone. Holiman said his great-great-grandfather, William Andrew Evans, built the home in 1906 and the land where the new daycare stands was formerly used as his great Uncle Raymond’s garden and goat pen.
What I’m looking for is:
Was there an effort to save the old white house, and was it deemed not salvageable or was it just something that was in the way?
Yes, I realize it’s a property owner’s right to do whatever with their own property (within the law), but I want to know the story.
The picture above was taken in 2006 and permission to publish it was given by a person who wished to be anonymous.
Scroll down for photos of 2006, 1920s, and of the demolition as it happened.
The picture above was taken in the 1920s and includes members of the Evans family. Also by anonymous.
The comments below are from discussion on a local Facebook group. Click to read more discussion.
- Connie Evans Castleberry said, “I am fairly certain that this would be my grand parents, Bessie Ashley Evans, Chess O. Evans. He would be holding daughter Della Lee in his lap and daughter Mary Evelyn standing to the right. Circa 1924. Or maybe earlier.”
- David Holiman said, “It may interest you regarding my great grandmother Bessie “Ashley” Evans – her brother Conway Ashley was one of the first (if not the first) mayor of Bryant.”
- Connie Evans Castleberry added, “Conway’s granddaughter is Mary Ashley Smith in Utah.”
Saline County resident Michael Taylor happened to be in the area the day the house was demolished. He took these pictures at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2016. If you care anything about this house or about history, these are going to be difficult to look at.
(Above) The view from the daycare parking lot.
(Above) The view from Hardee’s parking lot, which is across Evans Loop (south) from this structure.
(Above) Closer to the action, the front porch is crumbling, but hangs onto its address marker, 2028.
(Above) The passing of this old treasure in the crunch of excavation machinery is a stark contrast to the vibrant signs out in front, proclaiming “Now Open” and “Birthday Parties.”