Friday, March 29, 2024

Granbury - A Candlelight Tour

Posted

There’s a bonus event with the upcoming candlelight tour. A VIP tour has been added to Granbury - A Candlelight Tour, coming the first weekend in December.

Tickets for the VIP event are $50 and include light hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and champagne at each house. A limited number of tickets will be sold for the VIP event which takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.

The VIP ticket is good for the entire weekend. Pick up your wristband and tour book under the Plaza at 201 E. Pearl St., from 6-8 p.m.

Tickets for both the VIP event and the traditional Candlelight Tour are available online at granburycandlelighttour.com . The early bird tickets to the traditional tour are $20 online. After Nov. 20 the tickets will be $25.

Granbury - A Candlelight Tour is open to the public from 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8

Ticket sales and pick up for online sales will be under the Plaza at 201 E. Pearl St.

HISTORIC HOMES ON THE TOUR

1. The Granbury on West Pearl (The Hood County State Bank)

101 W. Pearl St.

This impressive red brick building was constructed in 1905 by John E. Brown for the Hood County State Bank. The wide, round arches of the bank building’s entryway, the windows and its pyramidal turret distinguished it as an example of the Victorian Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style.

The Texas Historical Commision has deemed this building the third most important historic building after the Hood County Courthouse and The Granbury Opera House.

After eight years, Hood County State Bank sold its building, which has housed business offices since that time. In 2008, it was purchased by Scott and Viki Young, who undertook and extensive remodel in 2010, with the assistance of local architect Brian Gaffin.

The downstairs portion of the remodel was completed and the Young’s opened their “Red on the Square” boutique. For several years, they were undecided what to do with the upstairs space of the building.

Earlier this year, their son, Kyle Young, approached them with his vision of making the space into an Airbnb. Kyle and his wife Lauren contacted the new CNBC television show, Cash Pad, which turns non-revenue producing square footage into an Airbnb.

But with the sponsorship of this show and construction going on night and day, the Young’s long unused space was converted to a beautiful “vacation rental loft” in 11 days.

2. Sellers-Morris House

503 E. Bridge St.

This 1888 Craftsman style bungalow was originally built by William Thomas Sellers. John Clyde Morris purchased the home from William Thomas Sellers in 1901 previous to marrying his daughter, Rosa Lee Sellers. They lived out the duration of their life in this home.

The home still retains a significant portion of its original character and architectural integrity. Two rooms and a bath were added in 1921 when indoor plumbing was available.

The rise of the middle class in early 1900s America inspired the floor plans of the Craftsman. Many of the tour homes are High Style, and follow the Queen Anne/ Victorian architectural influence. As norms began to change, the needs of the modern American family also changed.

The middle-class housewife of the era would not typically have domestic staff (at least not live-in ones) and would handle much of the housework on her own, as well as watching the children. These society shifts demanded a change in house function. For example, the Craftsman style introduced a kitchen as part of the main house, allowing easy access to the main floor, the dining and living rooms, as well as the outdoor area.

3. J.D. Brown House

118 W. Bluff St.

The house was built in 1907 by J.D. Brown and his wife Georgia. The architecture is considered to be Queen Anne Victorian, although built at a time when the Arts and Crafts Style had taken over. The home was designated as a Texas Historical Landmark in 1994 and a City of Granbury Landmark in 1999.

In the 1930s, the home and all of Brown’s belongings were sold on the Courthouse steps. It was purchased that day by the Carmichael family and not much later, in the 1940s, by the Bakers.

The Lock family has owned the home since the early 1980s. Very little renovations have been made, aside from an addition made to the back of the home. Carefully preserved, the Locks kept the integrity of the original footprint. You’ll find the original pine floors, woodwork, fireplace and staircase.

The home is cherished by the Lock family and provides a special gathering place for holidays and even weddings. Diane’ Loock’s granddaughter was married on the front porch on a beautiful day in May. The preservation and sentiment the home brings is truly invaluable to our community.

4. Thrash-Lander-Hiner House

201 W. Pearl St.

Granbury’s first mayor, Patrick H. Thrash, built his one story residence on this site in or around 1880. In 1899, the home was sold to George W. Landers, a downtown saloon owner. Landers then sold it to District Attorney John J. Hiner in 1903.

In 1915, John Hiner conveyed it to his brother, Hood County Sheriff Thomas H. Hiner and his wife Olivia (Ollie) Elvira Crockett Hiner. The couple lived there until Thomas’ death in 1940. Ollie, who is Davy Crockett’s granddaughter, moved to Fort Worth where she resided until her death in 1953. Ollie’s wedding dress is displayed in the historic home.

Between 1905 and 1910 the modest one story was expanded into the Free Classic Queen Anne style post-Victorian home we see today.

Currently owned by Bradley and Jenni Burnfield, the main floor serves as the office of Bradley Burnfield, CFP Ameriprise Financial, Inc. A local attorney, Mr. Brad Boyd, maintains his office on the upper floor. Brad and Jenni have renovated the adjacent carriage house into an overnight suite, now available for bookings.

5. The Copeland Cottage

414 E. Bridge St.

This unique little stone cottage sits on property that was purchased from T.S. Henderson in 1881 by Jesse Franklin and Jacob Nutt. In 1903, the property was purchased by Neil M. Hiner we and wife, Victoria. It stayed in the Hiner family for many years.

In 1939, the original two room building was moved to the lot and was extended and covered in the rocked masonry. Pieces of newspapers, that were used in the walls for insulation, have dates of 1889 and 1890. Through the years, several updates have been done, but there are still many of the original features.

Current owner Linda Copeland, owner of The Front Porch Boutique at the time, purchased the cottage on 2000, which was surrounded by a white picket fence, as were many homes of that era. She has several significant antiques on display throughout the home, including a 1920s upright piano and a grated gas stove that was removed from an old church in Waldrip.

6. Lancaster House

216 W. Pearl St.

Uncovering the history of this house has been a labor of love for the present owners of “Sew Much Love,” Mark and Laurie Cohen.

It was first thought that the home was built in the 1930s. However, when Mark and Laurie started the renovations on the house, they were surprised to find evidence that suggested it dates back closer to the 1880s.

They found that much of the house was constructed with true 2x4 “rough-cut” boards and “hand-forged” square nails which are dated to 1890 and before. That is when they went to the Hood County Genealogical Society. With the help of Karen Nace, the mystery of the house began to unfold.

Dr. J.R. Lancaster, a family physician, and his wife, Ella, moved to Hood County between 1870 and 1880 to open his medical practice on the Granbury Square.

They first lived in Thorp Spring, but soon built this home and moved to be closer to his practice. It is believed the house was enlarged sometime during the early 1900s.

Dr. Lancaster died in 1919 and his wife in 1926, leaving the property to their son, Gus, who was also a physician in Granbury. He sold the property in 1961 to H.B. Campbell.

The Cohens bought the property in January of 2019 and after uncovering many unknown treasures in the house during renovation, they saw their dream of opening a quilt and sewing shop come to fruition in July.

7. David Lee Nutt Family Home

(The Bridge Street History Center)

301 E. Bridge St.

The Nutt House, also known as “D.L. Nutt Home” was built in 1879 in its existing location. The house remains one of the best examples of a High-Style, Greek revival home. The charm of the structure has been maintained by its inhabitants for the last 120 years.

The home was designed and built by a man whose last name was Evans. He also built the Hannaford House on Lambert Street. The house, described both as a High Style Victorian or Plantation-style home with Greek Revival details, still retains its original detail.

The house was built for David Lee Nutt who was a very successful business owner in Granbury’s early history.

Nutt was an early Hood County entrepreneur who was also involved in the development of several of Granbury’s most important institutions including churches, schools and a bridge built over the Brazos River in 1878.

The Nutt family is arguably the most significant family in Granbury and Hood County’s history.

Additionally, the woman who restored the home in 1967 was Mary Lou Watkins Nutt, who is widely regarded as the founder of the preservation movement in Gran-bury.

Today, the D.L. Nutt-Watkins House is home to the Bridge Street History Center.

8. Aster-Landers Building/Loft

111 E. Bridge St.

The first signed deed for the historic 111 E. Bridge St. building was in 1877. The property has changed hands numerous times over the years. Property owners have included Hannaford, Nutt, Sellars, Thrash, Cogdell, the First National Bank, and the Hood County News to name a few.

Early on, this structure was called the Sellars Building. The Sellars family has a deep and rich heritage to Hood County. W.T. Sellers came to Texas after serving in the Civil War. In 1882, he packed up the wagon with his wife Sarah and their five children and headed from Arkansas to Hood County.

Their first home is on Pearl Street and still stands today and is known as the Captain Morris home. After arriving in Granbury, Sellers began his mercantile business. Early on, this building was being used as a grocery store and barber shop.

In the early 1900s, the site became a meat market and restaurant. Around the 1930s, this upstairs apartment became home to a well-known photographer.

In 1964, the Hood County News began working in this building and continued until the late 1980s. After the Hood County News vacated to its new home, the building was purchased by Mack Henson and became known as the Downtown Store for over two decades.

The building is now home to Beam & Branch Realty. The newest owners, Paula and Mark McDonald purchased the building in 2018 and began its latest renovation.

After completely gutting the entire building from top to bottom, the McDonalds carefully restored this beautiful building while keeping as many original elements as possible.