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Bob Bowman's East Texas

A story of two homes

by Bob Bowman
Bob Bowman
Two historic buildings in East Texas made news recently. One story was sad; the other joyous.

At Hemphill, one of the grandest homes in East Texas, the Pratt home, burned, leaving almost nothing but ashes.

In 1908, as Sallie Pratt’s house was being completed near downtown Hemphill, she prayed a “hedge” around the structure and asked God to safeguard her home from man’s destruction--much in the Biblical fashion of Job 1:10.

Sallie’s home was built for her by her husband, George Edward Pratt, who had followed in his father’s footsteps in the general mercantile business.

The home was furnished with quality furniture shipped to Hemphill. Sally’s bed was so elegant that it was reportedly used in a scene from the film, “Gone With the Wind.”

Sallie’s religious faith earned her a reputation as a healer and her skills were sought by people throughout East Texas.

The home was restored a number of years ago and an anonymous donor, who said “something moved me to give,” gave nearly $100,000 for the restoration. The Pratt home was moved from its original site several years ago.. The move, some people claim, broke Sallie’s Biblical “hedge,” leaving it unprotected from man’s destruction.

But at Marshall, the Starr Family Home, a Texas historic site, which had fallen on hard times, was restored to its original glory.

A remarkable example of 19th century architecture and family heritage, the home, known as Maplecroft, housed four generations of the Starr family.

The Starr family played an important role in Texas history from the formative years of the Republic of Texas through the state’s growth through the late 1800s.

Dr. James Harper Starr was president of the Board of Land Commissioners, and secretary of state for the Republic. Starr County was named for him.

Dr. Starr bought 52 acres on the edge of Marshall in 1870, establishing the site as the family’s home.

The restoration work began after a number of factors, including weathering, wear and tear by the inhabitants and visitors, and foundation shifts contributed to the house’s deterioration.


Bob Bowman's East Texas
December 12, 2010Column.
A weekly column syndicated in 109 East Texas newspapers
Related Topics:
Texas Homes | Texas People | East Texas | Texas Town List | Texas |
(Bob Bowman of Lufkin is the author of almost 50 books about East Texas. He can be reached at bob-bowman.com)
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The Forgotten Towns of East Texas, Vol. I
By Bob and Doris Bowman
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