Howard House

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Howard House was built in 1848, making it one of the oldest buildings in the city of Palestine. The home is also a rare example in East Texas of a "cottage" designed in the Greek Revival style. The house is further historically significant in that much of it is still original, which makes it unique in the community as well as in the rest of Texas. Its most notable feature is the pedimented portico with Doric columns and double-entry doors. The house was built by prominent Texas Supreme Court justice Reuben A. Reeves but is named after its second owner, Colonel George R. Howard, an army officer and local and state politician. For many years, the Howard House served as a museum, and the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The home is also a Texas Historic Landmark.

Images

Howard House was built in 1848 and is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture.

Backstory and Context

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Reuben A. Reeves built the house just two years after Anderson County was established. He would go on to serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the New Mexico Territory. It seems George R. Howard was born in Tennessee or at least spent a large part of his life there before moving to Palestine. He served in the Tennessee State Militia, earning the rank of colonel, and then as county clerk for Perry County.

He decided to settle in Palestine in 1850 after visiting two years earlier. He opened a mercantile business and married his wife, Cornelia (they had children but how many is unknown). During the Civil War he served as an officer for the Confederacy. He opened another store, this time with partners, after the war but eventually opened his own once again a few years later. His eldest son joined him in the business as well. In addition to his business interests, Howard served in the state legislature and as county clerk, county treasurer, and mayor. He passed away in 1900. The house remained in the Howard family until 1963. They made the majority of the major alterations to the house. It opened as a museum in 1964.

Sources

Neyland, James & Goodrow, Ray. "Howard House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 14, 1993. https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/40970981/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/93000072.pdf.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HowardHouse3.JPG

Additional Information

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Howard House