James Waller Thomas House

James Waller Thomas built this vernacular style house about 1868 in Collin County for his family of 13. An early civic leader in the county, Thomas first made it a one-room residence, and it has not been substantially modified since 1902. The house reflects the modest homes built by early settlers of north Texas with materials and techniques available before rail service arrived. Original elements include the flooring, brick chimney, and rough-hewn timber foundation and roof decking. The site was also the scene of an attempt on Thomas's life by an unknown person, likely because as editor and publisher of the county's first newspaper he supported the Union and the rights of Black settlers, views that were unpopular with some during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

McKinney, Texas · United States