Victorian Italianate-Style Home in Historic Palestine, Texas

A. R. HOWARD HOME, a two-story, Victorian Italianate-style house located in Historic Palestine, Texas.  The stately Alfred Ryland Howard Home was built by local brick manufacturer/contractor, Daniel N. Darling, on land (in the Reagan and Word Addition) purchased from the Texas and American Statesman, John Henniger Reagan (a surveyor, a lawyer, a politician, originally from Tennessee).  It has been noted that the land was purchased by Howard’s first wife, Georgiana Grainger Howard (from Houston, Texas), “out of her own separate money”. Howard, Pennsylvania-born, and his wife, together, raised their three boys (Alfred, George, David) until her untimely passing in 1896.

Howard later married Katie Black and together they enlarged and remodeled the home in 1899. The 1899 changes included the addition of a cupola (later removed and the current owner recently replaced it) and a 2-story veranda on the south (Park Street side); the veranda was enclosed by glass in 1985 (by the Converse Family).  It is believed that the renovations and remodeling included the addition of stucco (over the brick) scored to resemble stonework.  A recent owner (James Davis) added additional stucco and covered up the scoring as part of a restoration project.

Howard’s second wife, Katie, an Arkansas native, established the first “Daughters of the American Revolution” chapter in Palestine, Texas in March of 1906 at their home on Sycamore.  Mrs. Howard was, also, the Second Vice-President of the Texas division of the “United Daughters of the Confederacy” John H. Reagan Chapter, Palestine Texas in 1902.  Katie was actively involved in the suffragette movement in the early 1900s. Katie continued to be politically active after the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment.    Katie and A. R. were very social.  Old newspaper articles in The Palestine Daily Visitor describe parties,  political meetings and Social Club gatherings held at their home and even name some of the prominent attendees.  Long time Palestine residents will recognize many of the surnames mentioned in the write ups.

Mr. Howard was employed by the I&GN Railroad for over fifty years, working in a succession of jobs that culminated in his being named Secretary-Treasurer and First Vice-President in 1890. Howard, also, founded a cottonseed oil mill in Palestine. Both were active in their local church and A. R. was Senior Warden at the local Saint Philips Episcopal Church.

This house is noteworthy because of its load-bearing masonry (brick) construction and its segmental-arched openings, bracketed eaves, and low-pitched roof. The A. R. Howard Home is said to be one of two remaining Victorian-era BRICK homes (not just brick veneer)  in the city. The house is behind a brick fence with metal ornamentation.  The South Side Historic District in Palestine, Texas was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

In recent years, previous owner, Mr. Davis, added some unique, colorful and eclectic touches to the kitchen, 2 bathrooms and some of the outside areas.  Additionally, he replaced all the kitchen countertops with stainless steel. Mr. Davis did in-house catering and entertaining.

This grand structure has been meticulously restored, cared for and maintained (inside and outside) by the current owner, the lovely and talented Jayne Reeser. This is only one of the local restoration projects taken on (hands on) by Reeser who is originally from New York.

Details

Property ID
589294

4
Bedrooms

3
Bathrooms

Square Footage
3883

Lot Size
0.2858

Year Built
1880

Style
Italianate

Property Website