Let me just start by saying Christian, our Local History and Genealogy Librarian, has truly been a godsend. Over the past few months, she’s uncovered and shared so much about our home and the families who came before us. The stories and old photographs she’s given us have only made us fall even more in love with this place. We thought we’d share a little of what Christian found so you can see why we adore this house—and how we plan to weave that history back into our home as we bring her back to life.

800 North Sixth Street—or as we call it, Tudor on Sixth—is more than just a house. It’s a living piece of Longview’s history, a monument to the Martin and Palmer families and their love for this community. With its storybook architecture and timeless charm, our home is one of the first to greet you when you enter the historic Nuggett Hill neighborhood.

Benjamin Franklin Martin arrived in Longview in 1920. He was a 26-year-old World War I veteran, fresh from France. Soon after, he went to work for Sweeney’s bottling plant, both on the line and as a route salesman. Not long after, Benjamin met Vera Lorraine Calvin. They were married on August 12, 1922, at First Baptist Church of Longview, where they remained devoted members for life.

By 1925, Thomas Sweeney decided to leave Longview for Brownsville, and Benjamin saw his chance. Local banks didn’t believe Coca-Cola was a solid business (hard to imagine now!) and turned him down. But fate had other plans. Benjamin connected with James Sanger of South Carolina, who partnered with him to purchase the Longview franchise for just over $42,000.

When the East Texas oil boom hit in 1931, Longview went wild—and so did Coke sales. The plant ran around the clock to keep up with demand. Benjamin brought in his younger brother, Malcom, to help run things, and together they kept the bottling operation afloat through those exciting, high-energy years.

That same year, Longview businessman Harry S. Turner platted Nuggett Hill as an exclusive neighborhood for the city’s growing professional class. Homes had to be masonry, cost at least $5,000, and showcase the craftsmanship of the era. On January 12, 1933, Benjamin Martin applied for permits to build his Tudor-style dream home.

Inspired by English medieval architecture, Tudor Revival was fashionable in the 1920s and ’30s, and the Martins’ home (now ours) is a beautiful example. The estimated cost back then was $6,500—quite a sum during the Depression years. By 1936, the News-Journal called Nuggett Hill “Longview’s most exclusive residential area,” a reputation that still lingers today.

The Coca-Cola Bottling Company played a major role in growing Longview’s economy. By supporting local suppliers and creating jobs, the plant helped move the city beyond agriculture and into a more industrial future. By 1934, demand had grown so much that Benjamin and James Sanger built a new “modern” Coca-Cola facility on West Tyler Street.

Designed by the same architect who drew the plans for our home—Percy Zimmerman—it was once called one of the “showplaces of Longview.” It’s inspiring to think that both our home and one of Longview’s most iconic businesses were shaped by the same hand.

While Benjamin helped shape Longview’s business landscape, Lorraine Martin was busy enriching its cultural life. A gifted violinist and pianist, she organized musicales in their Sixth Street home and served as director of the Longview Music Club’s string ensemble. She is even credited as the driving force behind the creation of the Longview Symphony Orchestra. Lorriane was quite the fundraiser and host of many gatherings and in this article among many, was named a Prominent Leader of Longview. Music ran deep in the Martins’ family life—Benjamin himself played bass horn in the Longview Municipal Band.

Benjamin served as general manager until around 1942, cementing his reputation as a respected businessman and civic leader. Over the years, the company passed through family members and trusted managers, keeping its presence strong in Longview for decades.

The Martins carefully maintained Tudor on Sixth for decades before selling it to Charles and Phyllis Palmer in 1991. Known for his green thumb, Mr. Palmer kept the gardens lush and added the koi pond we now enjoy outside the sunroom. Thanks to both families, our home has retained its character and integrity for nearly a century. This house has always been more than brick and timber—it has been a home filled with music, community, and love. And that’s exactly how we plan to keep it.

While all the homes in Nuggett Hill, including ours, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior, we are currently working with the City of Longview and the Historic Preservation Commission to obtain a local landmark designation as well—an honor we believe this home truly deserves.

The Martins weren’t just building a home here in Nuggett Hill—they were helping build Longview itself. And that’s a legacy worth raising a glass (or a bottle of Coke!) to.

Cheers to preserving history… and maybe making a little of our own.