At the intersection of Glade and Bluebonnet roads sits a piece of city history. Thousands pass by the concrete-block home at 1416 Glade Road every week without realizing that it is the only existing homestead in Colleyville to have a Texas historical marker.

The home is called the Bidault House, named after Athelm Bidault, a native of France, who designed and built the home. Work began on the house in 1905. Construction lasted six years as Bidault continued to operate his successful farm, which was establishing a reputation for its orchards, berry fields and vineyards.

The Bidault House was declared a historic landmark by the Texas Historical Commission in 1980.

According to Mona Gandy, Colleyville’s communication director, the best background information on the Bidault House comes from “Colleyville: 1855-1956,” a book by The Colleyville Historical Preservation Committee and the Colleyville Sesquicentennial Book Committee.

The second chapter in the book details the relatively short stay by Bidault in what was then called the Bransford area.

Bidault sold the farm in 1920 and returned to France. The house changed hands many times, ultimately being bought by Jim Moore, who was not only a grandson of Bidault but also a Colleyville City Council member.

When Moore died in 2010, his family put the house on the market. Members of the CHPC were concerned that the piece of history would be demolished to make way for a new home or commercial business, especially because of its prime location on Glade. In 2011 the city of Colleyville purchased the property for $290,000—almost $200,000 less than the listed price—with money from its Tomorrow Fund.

Beautification of the Bidault House took a step forward in June as City Council approved several improvements to the property. Updates include abatement projects for asbestos and lead paint, replacing rotted wood, and priming and painting the exterior of the house. The widow’s walk, or railed rooftop, and the original garage will be refurbished, and a second add-on attached garage will be torn down. Plans also call for a new roof.