The Berkeley home at 301 East Avenue E was built in 1910 by Doctor Benjamin F. Berkeley. Dr. Berkeley came to Alpine in 1898, and was the first County Health Officer for Brewster County in 1900. Originally from Kentucky, Dr. Berkeley received his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in San Francisco. In 1903, he married Miss Clara Louise Dugat of Alpine.

 

Dr. Berkeley was an industrious man, involved in promoting Alpine in every way he could. In 1906, he helped organize the Alpine State Bank, where he became President in 1911. In 1907, he was one of the organizers of the Commercial Club, forerunner to the Chamber of Commerce. He was involved with a movement called "Dry Land Farming" and was the President of the group. In 1909, he sponsored a Dry Land Farming Congress in Alpine with over 600 delegates from over 30 Texas Counties and several other states.

 

As President of the Commercial Club, Dr. Berkeley was instrumental in getting the Summer Normal School and Sul Ross established in Alpine.  Alpine incorporated in 1917, and he was the first Mayor. Elected to the Texas Senate, he served from 1924 to 1932, fighting efforts to have Sul Ross moved to another more populous location. He was an organizer of
the Alpine Rotary, a Mason and a Shriner.  As a member of the West Texas Historical and Scientific Society, he did much to assist the Big Bend Memorial Museum.

 

Dr. Berkeley and his family lived in the home until his death in 1962. Dr. Robert Bow bought the house and his family lived there until 1974, when it was sold and converted to a Savings and Loan office.

 

In 1991, Gene Hendryx bought the home for himself and his wife Nancy.  Forrest Hendryx did the renovations to put the building back into a home. Starting as a small vernacular Texas Cottage, the home was faced with stone. There are three fireplaces, once used for heating the home. 

 

The wrought iron fence and gates surrounding the home are historic in their own way. In 1889, the fence was erected to keep stray animals off the grass at the County Courthouse. The fence was later removed and surrounded the cemetery. The fence was taken down from the cemetery and would have been destroyed but Gene Hendryx bought it and put it around the radio station and other property and the rest was stored.  After purchasing the home, he had the fence renovated and restored and placed around the home.