THOMAS AND MATTIE BROWN HOUSE
[Wylie]
Historical marker, 1992.
THOMAS AND
MATTIE BROWN HOUSE
WILLIAM THOMAS BROWN (1848-1907), A NATIVE OF
ILLINOIS,
MARRIED MARTHA (MATTIE) J. HOUSEWRIGHT IN 1871. THEY
MOVED TO WYLIE SHORTLY AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT ON
A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED RAILROAD LINE FROM PARIS TO DAL-
LAS BUILT BY THE GULF, COLORADO, AND SANTA FE RAILROAD
COMPANY IN 1886. THOMAS AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER JOHN
H. BURNS PURCHASED OVER 31 ACRES, WHICH INCLUDED THIS
SITE, FROM NANCY AND JAMES VAUGHN RUSSELL IN 1887.
THE BROWNS SECURED THIS HOME SITE IN 1888 AND RE-
PLACED THEIR ORIGINAL RESIDENCE WITH THIS ORNATE QUEEN
ANNE STYLE STRUCTURE IN 1905. THE HOUSE, WITH SIX ROOMS
DOWNSTAIRS AND ONE LARGE ROOM UPSTAIRS, EXHIBITS AN
UNUSUAL VARIETY OF MATERIALS, ELABORATE ROOFSCAPE AND
ASYMMETRICAL PLAN TYPICAL OF THE VICTORIAN ERA. THE
GABLES OF THE FOUR DORMERS ARE COVERED WITH ORIGINAL
FISHSCALE SHINGLES. PROMINENT FEATURES INCLUDE A WRAP-
AROUND PORCH WITH SLENDER PAIRED DORIC COLUMNS, DENTIL
FRIEZE, PALLADIAN WINDOWS AND POLYGONAL BAYS WITH
CUTAWAY CORNERS ON THEIR SIDE ELEVATIONS.
ALTHOUGH THOMAS BROWN DIED JUST TWO YEARS AFTER
THE HOUSE WAS BUILD, MRS. MATTIE BROWN CONTINUED TO
LIVE HERE UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1922. THE HOUSE WAS THEN
INHERITED BY THE BROWNS’ ADOPTED DAUGHTER, TENNIE LEE
(RATTAREE) CREEL AND REMAINED IN HER FAMILY UNTIL 1931.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Thomas and Mattie Brown House,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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