Description: This modest, center-passage dwelling presents another good illustration of how many late 19th century homeowners applied stylistic ornamentation to a vernacular house form. This 1-story frame residence has a front-facing gable extension and porch with turned-wood columns and jigsawn brackets, all of which are suggestive of the Queen Anne style. Rear additions are not only relatively unobtrusive to the building’s original appearance, but they also reflect the property’s physical evolution and are important architectural features. John H. Reagan built this house in the 1880s for his daughter, Bettie Reagan Ferguson, and his son-in-law, Alexander Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was postmaster of Palestine from 1886-1890. The dwelling was later the home of the couple’s daughter, Bess Ferguson, who taught in the Palestine schools and was a librarian at the Palestine Public Library.

Description: This 2-story dwelling is an excellent illustration of the Georgian Revival style, an early 20th century architectural form rarely found in Palestine. This house is further distinguished by its load-bearing walls, which are a contrast to the prevailing wood-frame construction used on most domestic buildings in Palestine. Noted architect and New Jersey-native James Frith Brook (who was responsible for numerous Palestine buildings, including the Redlands Hotel), designed this house for Dr. J. Calvin Silliman in 1911. C.S. Maffitt was the contractor, but some also believe that he was the architect, instead of Mr. Brook. The story goes that the foundation for the house was installed and had to stand for several months before construction on the dwelling could begin. The outside brick walls were constructed first and then the inside studs and walls were built. The carriage house, located in back, dates back to the first owners of the lot, a Dr. Swinney, whose home was moved to allow for the building of this home. Silliman sold the house to his cousin, John H. Silliman in 1915, when he moved his family to California. A Mississippi native, J.H. Silliman was the proprietor of Silliman and Company – a Palestine business ...

Description: This house, located at 805 S. Sycamore Street, was once the home to George Edward Dilley and family, owners of the Dilley Foundry. Mr. Dilley and his father, George Mansfield Dilley established the Lone Star Iron & Brass Works, which was renamed the George M. Dilley & Son Foundry in 1873. The house was finished in late August 1880 and is located on S. Sycamore Street, which was once referred to as 'Silk Stocking Road'. Mr. Dilley was a bachelor when the house was finished, but evidentially he built it for his future bride. He was married to Mae Shepherd on February 10, 1881, and they resided in the house until her unexpected death from pneumonia on 19 January 1883, which occurred while he was out of town on business. He married Lucy Van Deursen on 10 June 1884 and they had two children, Edna May Dilley and Clarence Van Deursen Dilley. After his father’s death in 1910, George Edward changed the name of the foundry to Geo. E. Dilley and Son to include his son Clarence. Three generations of Dilley men operated the Dilley Foundry from the beginning until it closed about 1940. The house has a mansard roof ...

Description: This one-story frame residence is one of Palestine’s premier examples of an L-plan house. Like so many other L-plan houses, this property has Queen Ann-style architectural embellishments, but few other examples have such a high degree of craftsmanship and intricate woodwork. Particularly noteworthy elements include the bay window on the front and the bargeboard in the gable end. Rear additions detract somewhat from the property’s overall historic character, but their relative obscurity from the street minimizes their impact on the structure’s integrity. According to the current owner, this house was built in 1893. The earliest known owners were A.S. Grant, who lived here about 1905, and J.P. and Daisy Branch, who resided here around 1910. Mrs. Lucille K. Noblin owned the house from about 1915-1935, though it is believed she used it as a rental property. She was followed by Mrs. M.K. Helm, who owned the house from the late 1930s until about 1944. Arcala N. Herrington owned the house from 1944 through the 1970s.

Description: Historic Mount Vernon AME Church is neatly nestled on Calhoun street in what is known as Old Town Palestine. In 1873 Judge John H. Reagan deeded a piece of property located in Old Town to freedman, Fred Mills saying, “Whereas I desire that the Colored people of this vicinity shall have a place to worship and educate their children…” This piece of property was located on Mulberry and Birch Streets. Union Church was erected on this site. The Missionary Baptists and African Methodists would alternately hold services at this location. Several years later the African Methodists would withdraw from Union Church in order to construct their own church. On May 10, 1878 the young congregation purchased property from Henry Davis and erected a small frame church and called it Mt. Vernon A.M.E. Years later the congregation through the “mile of nickels” campaign raised money for a new church. In 1921 a new brick building replaced the original frame structure at 913 E. Calhoun St. This structure still serves its current members. In the 1890’s the members of Mt. Vernon A.M.E. were instrumental in the formation of Palestine’s Grant Chapel AME Church located on the corners of South and Dorrance. Mt. ...