Old Church

Early communities were bound together by the formations of churches of all denominations. In 1845, Isaac B. Webb founded the first church in Dallas County, less than two miles from the Historical Park. The church in the Historical Park represents the typical North Texas church during the end of the nineteenth century. It was built during the 1890s in Renner, Texas and was relocated to the Historical Park in 1985. Early churches were commonly referred to as meeting houses because of their multiple uses, such as church services, town meetings, and school and social events. A common practice of these churches was to employ circuit-riding ministers who would ride a circuit of several churches, sometimes not preaching in the same church for weeks at a time. This church has been restored and is used for weddings and meetings. 

Queen Anne Victorian Cottage

The Queen Anne style of architecture is easily recognized with crossed gables, turrets, or cupolas, wrap around porches and porticos.  It is identified as a cottage by its smaller size.  During the Victorian period, in Texas roughly 1870-1905, the architecture tended to be ornate.  The use of multiple textures and patterns was meant to break the monotony of sameness and create a feeling of expanded height and size.  This house, build around 1885, was originally located in Gainesville, and was relocated to the Historical Park in 1992 and restoration completed in 1996.

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