It's a shell of itself-a microcosm of the city's past, present and future. Symbolic of Port Arthur's greater predicament, the once-elegant home is now barely getting by, desperate for a facelift to preserve its history, though at a cost its owners could have difficulty bearing.
City leaders planned to ask architects to compile a list of repairs the 6,000-square-foot home needs after 110 years. The assessment was to cost $70,000; repairs could approach $1 million.
Then came a sobering moment for Rose Hill Manor supporters: City leaders realized they have no idea what to do with the historic building where Southeast Texans have regularly held weddings, baby showers and parties for more than half a century.
Port Arthur City Council members, already struggling with major budget challengers, are unsure how much money, if any, to put into Rose Hill Manor.
One councilman says to "remodel it, or tear it down."
Because Rose Hill is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it can't be demolished. It would have to sit there and rot until it's beyond repair.
Some say that should be out of the question.
"I just don't understand why the city doesn't care about such a historical home," said Lezlie Armentor, a member of the volunteer group tasked with keeping up the building's interior. "They've totally dropped the ball and neglected Rose Hill Manor."
City leaders last week acknowledged they lack a vision for Rose Hill, which was built in 1906 for former mayor Rome Hatch Woodworth. The estate was donated to Port Arthur
in 1947.
For decades, the home doubled as a museum and special venue, hosting hundreds of milestone events.
The property's front view shows ships on the Neches River and the bridge to Pleasure Island.
Carolyn Martinez held her wedding reception there in 1957, shortly after Rose Hill was refurbished.
"It was just such a beautiful place," said Martinez, who recently stepped down from the volunteer group. "The grounds were lovely and it was sort of a crown jewel of that area of Port Arthur."
Still, Martinez says the building has not been painted properly since the late 1990s.
It took several months to fix a problem that resulted in a leak from Rose Hill's roof, down the wall and into its basement.
Mushrooms grew on carpet in the foyer and dining room wall.
"It's a slap in the face," Armentor said. "It sends the message, 'Don't ever leave anything to the city of Port Arthur.'"
Council members' reluctance to spend $70,000 on architectural drawings is both a cause and result of uncertainty about Rose Hill's future.
And without the drawings, no one can determine specifically what needs to be done, City Manager Brian McDougal said.
The Texas Historical Commission would have to review the sketches before Port Arthur could receive grant funding, which council members are relying on if Rose Hill is to survive.
"I really think we need to have a deep conversation about this and be honest with ourselves," Councilman Morris Albright III said. "There's no point in spending $70,000 we could spend somewhere else if our heart isn't really committed to spending $1.5 million on Rose Hill."
The Beaumont-based LaBiche Architectural Group did an $11,000 assessment two years ago, but it still left the city without floor plan drawings or details on the building.
Workers will have to hand-measure every dimension for the historical commission's evaluation, something architects normally bypass for non-historic buildings.
A paint assessment alone would be close to $9,000.
Repairing Port Arthur's streets is a greater priority for city leaders, Councilman Keith Richard said.
Also, the city would need a plan to market its historic buildings and figure how to make them self-sustaining.
The cost has become intimidating because the city has gone so many years without any long-term investment, taking a piecemeal approach instead, according to project manager Dohn LaBiche.
"That always costs you more money," LaBiche said. "It is very important for council to decide what the path is with that building so that you can either do it the right way, or spend the money elsewhere."
April Crooks-Dean was married at Rose Hill earlier this month, nearly 60 years after Martinez.
Even Crooks-Dean, a Deweyville native who now lives in Silsbee, admires the history at Rose Hill.
She settled on the location for her wedding because of its view and "vintage" feel.
Despite all the work Rose Hill needs, Crooks-Dean describes her wedding as "perfect."
Supporters say Rose Hill could still help make more memories there if city leadership takes a stand.
The property's sentimental value to Martinez extends beyond the wedding in '57. Her niece celebrated a 25th wedding anniversary there in the mid-1990s, and her mother held a 100th birthday party at Rose Hill in 2010.
Martinez would be devastated if the building is torn down, but she understands the current situation.
"If you're going to maintain the history of an area, it means an investment of time and money," Martinez said. "The longer it's neglected, the more expensive it is to repair.
"There comes a point when it gets beyond reason to spend the money necessary to bring it back up to standards."