Western Trips takes a photo tour of homes in the 1800's from the state of Texas. One such unique setting featuring historic Texas homes is Chestnut Square Historic Village. This excellent venue features homes from McKinney Texas that span the years 1854 to 1918. Chestnut Square is a museum village. McKinney's Chestnut Square is a collection of six historic homes, a replica of a one-room school house, a chapel and store all on 2.5 acres just south of the downtown McKinney square.
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| Dulaney Cottage |
McKinney Texas
McKinney is located in Collin County Texas, about 32 miles north/northeast of downtown Dallas. The town site was founded in 1849 when a local settler, William Davis, donated 120 acres for that purpose. McKinney Texas was incorporated in 1859.
McKinney was a bustling commercial center during it's first 125 years and became the county seat. The second large commercial center in Collin County was Plano Texas, about 10 miles south. McKinney's population grew steadily over it's first several decades. In 1848 there were about thirty-five people in McKinney. In 1912 there were almost five thousand.
A big event for McKinney was in 1872 when the Houston and Texas Central Railway reached the growing town. In 1881 the MKT Railroad, known as the Katy Railroad, also had tracks into McKinney. From 1908 to 1948 the Texas Electric Railroad, running from Denison to Dallas and Waco, served McKinney. The electric railroad made transportation to the major areas south very easy to reach and helped McKinney grow even more. With the prosperity in McKinney, fine homes were built by successful pioneers and these now comprise the Chestnut Square Historic Village.
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| Dulaney House and Museum |
The Dulaney Cottage
Built in 1875 by Joseph E. Dulaney, this little Victorian cottage displays the careful detailing that builders put into the homes of newly prosperous McKinney Texas families who were just recovering from the rigors of the Civil War. The rooms have been carefully furnished with furniture from the Civil War era that is authentic for the period in which the home was built, and every piece of furniture contained in the cottage is from Collin County families.
The Dulaney House
Constructed in 1916 for Mrs. Joseph Dulaney, the home is used by the Heritage Guild for meetings, luncheons, and private parties. The home was constructed in a prairie style two story architecture with a wrap around porch. The home features a collection of furnishings and artifacts, as well as the era clothing dating from the 1860's through the 1920's. The home is marvelously furnished and is a living museum.
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| Johnson House |
The John H.Johnson House, built in the early 1870's in the "Folk Victorian" architectural style, the home was occupied continuously by the descendants of Mr. Johnson until the Heritage Guild in McKinney acquired the home for restoration in 1987. A well known political figure who had a distinguished career in the Texas Legislature and Senate, Johnson also served as Captain in the Confederate Army and authored the Texas Homestead Law. The Texas Homestead Law refers to the special protection given to the home of a family or a single adult from the owner's creditors, the right of occupancy given to a surviving spouse, minor children, and unmarried children of a deceased owner, and favorable tax treatment accorded to the owner
The Taylor House
The Taylor House was built in 1863 in a simple box type architecture. The home was purchased by Armstead J. Taylor at a public auction in 1868. The house was well located for use as an inn and accommodated passengers on the stage lines. When the H&TC Railroad came to McKinney in 1872, the drummers, arriving by train to call on local merchants, found the inn an ideal "bed and breakfast" house at 25¢ a night, and out of this the name "Two-Bit Taylor Inn" came into local use.
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| Taylor House |
Aside from the fact that visiting the collection of homes and buildings make for a wonderful weekend family trip, many events are held there during the year. Many of the activities are held on the weekends. Don't be surprised to see a blacksmith at work during one your visits. Craft shows are just one of the fun events held. Look for the popular Farmer's market held on Saturdays.
You'll find volunteer docents who are very knowledgeable about the history of each home and building.
Two additional Western Trips photo articles you'll enjoy are the Texas Electric Railway of the early 1900's and the Victorian Farm House at the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano Texas, a north Dallas suburb.
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| Along the Square in Downtown McKinney |
Historic downtown McKinney Texas is just two blocks north of the Chestnut Square historic buildings site. Be sure to add this to your north Texas trip planner. McKinney has one of the oldest authentic downtowns of any Texas city.
McKinney Main Street at the town square offers a fine collection of retail, art galleries, restaurants and office structures with the old Collin County Courthouse in the middle of town square. McKinney was designated an official Urban Main Street City by the Texas Historic Commission in 2003. The Texas Main Street program has been instrumental in helping Texas cities revitalize their downtown and neighborhood commercial districts.
If your Texas vacation plans include spending time in north Texas, a side trip to historic McKinney and the Chestnut Square Historic Village is a great addition to your road trip planner.
(Photos from author's collection)
