Description: The Dilley Building is a Two-Part Commercial Block building located at 401 W. Main Street in Palestine’s central business district. Fronting south, the 2-story brick building has a rectangular plan and load-bearing masonry walls. Architectural embellishment is characteristic of the Victorian Italianate style, as evidenced by the elaborately detailed parapet on the façade and the segmental-arched hoodmolds on the second floors of the south and east elevations. It is very strongly suspected that it was designed by the prominent architect Nicholas J. Clayton, but this has not been conclusively proven. The building was constructed in 1882 for George Edward Dilley, a prominent citizen of Palestine. The sophistication of its design and the sturdiness of its construction reflect both the type of buildings that were erected in the late 19th century Palestine, and also the wealth and prosperity enjoyed by the Dilley family. George Edward Dilley (G.E.) (1858-1932) was a prominent citizen of Palestine during the late 19th century. He came to the city in 1873 when his father, George Mansfield (G.M.) Dilley, relocated his family from Shelbyville, Illinois. His father was a highly successful railroad-building contractor who amassed a fortune constructing various railroad lines, including the important Houston & Great ...

Description: This house is one of three grand residences on the north side of Hodges Street and is among the finest local illustrations of the Queen Anne style. The corner tower with its conical roof dominates the façade, which has a 2-tiered porch with turned balustrades. The property retains its integrity to a remarkable degree and it remains a prominent local landmark. Born in Robertson County, Texas, John Randolph Hearne (1854-1930) moved to Palestine in 1876 after attending college in Virginia. An active local businessman, Hearne operated retail drug stores in both Palestine and Dallas, and helped organize (and served as president of) the Palestine National Bank. Hearne’s parents invested heavily in real estate along the Brazos River; the town of Hearne is named after the family, which donated the acreage upon which that town now stands. This house was built in 1896 on land given to Hearne as a wedding present by Colonel George R. Howard, when Hearne married Howard’s daughter Emma in 1883. Howard himself lived nearby at 1011 N. Perry. Hearne personally selected the pine and oak lumber used in the house’s construction; the red brick veneer was added in 1902. Prominent San Antonio (?) architect Luther McKlemurry ...

Description: When originally built, this house was one of three imposing Queen Anne-style residences on the north side of Hodges Street. Although the others have been left unaltered, this dwelling was changed substantially in the early 20th century when the pedimented portico was added to the front. This alteration changed the character of the property by imposing order and balance to an otherwise asymmetrical composition. In this regard, the property is similar to the Henry and Hypatia Link House at 1003 N. Link. This property was the site of the house of Judge James Perry, a lawyer and one of the area’s earliest settlers, who built his log cabin here around 1845. Prominent local businessman Adolphus Benson Hodges (1858-1913) built the extant house, known as “Elmwood”, in 1910-11; it was completed shortly before his death. The building was designed by James F. Brook. Along with his brother, Daniel, Hodges operated a chain of mercantile stores throughout Texas. In addition to their Palestine store, which was located in the still-extant building at the northwest corner of W. Oak and N. Magnolia, they had stores in Marlin, Cuero, Orange and Port Arthur. Hodges’ wife, Mollie Scarbrough Hodges, continued to live in the house ...

Description: This photo was taken of the west side of the 700 Block of S. Sycamore standing at the intersection of S. Sycamore Street and Neches Streets looking toward the north. The houses that you can see in the picture are (from left to right) 717 S. Sycamore and 713 S. Sycamore.

Description: In plan and form, this 2 ½ story frame dwelling is typical of the many large Queen Anne-style houses found in the neighborhood south of downtown. A deed states that the land was transferred on February 6, 1890, from J.T. Pells and S.R. Pells to Oscar B. Sawyers, secretary of the Palestine Loan Association. Sawyers built his home on the lot a short time later and he and his wife Carrie Jones Sawyer lived there until December 19, 1893. The story goes, a local man named Mart Lacy notified Judge Gardner and Dr. Jameson, a local doctor, requesting that they come to the Sawyers’ residence. When they arrived, they found Sawyers dead and his wife wounded. It is speculated that this was a suicide pact that failed, possibly due to financial trouble that Sawyers was apparently experiencing. The Palestine Loan Association turned its claims over to Gregg and Gardner to collect and bring suit. Mrs. Sawyers waived all right to the administration of Sawyers estate on January 24, 1894. The home was appraised at $6,000 and was bought by Percy V. Pennybacker and his wife Anna for $5,000. Pennybacker served as superintendent of the Palestine schools until his death in ...