The Glenn-Dowe house is one of Del Rio's houses that has continuously been used for a home since it was built in 1900-1901. It is particularly unusual in that is has been altered very little in structure, inside and outside, since it was built and it is still in use and in good condition. It has had just four owners during the one hundred years of it's existence.
The first owner was Mr. Daniel Glenn, a contractor, who built the house to sell, and was able to sell it upon completion. The second owner was a widow, Mrs. Bessie M. Chisum who moved to Del Rio and bought this house in October of 1901, lived there alone for six years until she married Luke C. Dowe in 1906, then she and her husband made this house their home for the next fifty years. In July, 1956, after the Dowes left Del Rio, Bessie sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Horn, who thus became the third owners of the Glenn-Dowe House. After Mr. Horn's death in 1969, Mrs. Horn became the sole owner. In 1999, the forth owner, Adrian Jesus Falcon, who operates Adrian J Falcon Gallery, a gallery of Contemporary Modern Art, in the building.
Mr. Glenn probably chose this location for building a nice house as a speculative investment because these two lots were a choice location. Garfield Avenue was one of the newest, and the widest street in Del Rio. The settlement of San Felipe del rio had first been started along the south bank of the San Felipe Creek, near the area in which Brown Plaza was later located and remains. The first homes were on the south and southeast side of the creek only, then later they spread to the north bank in the area which is now near Academy Street, Pafford Street and Hudson Drive. Then on northward toward the County Courthouse, which was completed in 1887.
The railroad was built through San Felipe Del Rio in 1882 and completed in February of 1883. This railroad was part of a southern transcontinental route, so it proved to be a great asset to San Felipe Del Rio, From the time the railroad was completed, the settlement began growing steadily and more rapidly. It became to show signs of becoming a permanent and prosperous town. By 1883 San Felipe Del Rio became large enough to have a United Post Office and the name was changed to Del Rio to avoid confusion with San Felipe de Austin.
Daniel Glenn Built his house of brick and wood, a luxury that was not easily enjoyed before the coming of the railroad, which made shipment of such supplies feasible. Before this time, nearly all the buildings here had been constructed of adobe or of rock quarried nearby. The house is and excellent example of Victorian Style of architecture. It is built of brick with porches and trim of wood.
Val Verde County Historical Commission, November 1984