The Medallion, Volume 47, Number 7-8, July-August 2010 Page: 18
19 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Starr Family Home to Shine
Even Brighter After RestorationPart of the Marshall community
for more than a century, the Starr
Family Home State Historic Site is a
remarkable example of 19th-century
architecture and family heritage.
Visitors to the home can see family
portraits, hand-carved furnishings,
and delicate collections of glassware
and china. The site's collection is
composed of original pieces from the
Starr family and is now part of the
authentic experience of viewing the
elegant lifestyle of a bygone era. Each
room of this real place is filled with
memories that evoke real stories of
Texas history.
The Starr family played an
important role in the state's history
from the formative years of the
Republic of Texas through the
state's growth in the late 1800s. Dr.
James Harper Starr was president
of the board of land commissioners
and receiver of the land dues for
Nacogdoches County, secretary of the
treasury for the Republic of Texas, a
local banker, and a prominent land
agent. Starr County was named
after him.
Dr. Starr bought 52 acres on the
edge of Marshall in 1870, establishing
this site as the family's home. He
resided there with his wife Harriet
and their granddaughters, and
provided property for his children to
create homes for their own families.
Preservation design work is
now underway at the property's
architectural centerpiece, Maplecroft,
which housed four Starr family
generations. Though the conservation
effort will require the structure to
be temporarily closed to the
public, it is vital for extending
its life and use.
A number of factors
contribute to the deterioration
of old houses including years
of weathering, wear and tear
by inhabitants and visitors,
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSIONfoundation shifts, and material
breakdown. Architectural repairs
and accessibility enhancements are
scheduled to be completed this year
with a primary focus on exterior
restoration including replacement of
rotten wood, fresh paint, complete
window restoration, and storm water
drainage system repairs.
"The beauty of historic buildings
is that they were put together by hand
with individual components that,
with proper care, can be sustained
virtually forever," said Glenn Reed,
chief architect for the Texas Historical
Commission's (THC) 20 historic
sites. "Preserving an old structure
requires an intense analysis of the
building to determine the cause of
each problem so we can stop further
deterioration. While there may be
many correct treatments, there is only
one correct diagnosis."The THC is responsible for
ensuring the preservation work is
authentic, especially when there is
a need for replacing or repairing
materials. Accurate recordings of a
building's creation and maintenance
are important for conservation
and interpretation.
The Starr Family Home has
become a community cornerstone
where a variety of events take place
such as weddings and family get-
togethers. Major activities at the
site include the annual croquet
tournament in June, the Victorian
Fair for school children in the fall, and
the holiday candlelight dinner and
tour of the house from Thanksgiving
through Christmas.
Due to the site's ongoing
preservation projects, visitors are
encouraged to call ahead to ensure
tours and events remain available. *
This article was written by Sarah Tober of the
THC's Marketing Communications Division.I SITE SPOTLIGHT I
Carr FamilyHome State istoric Sit
40 .TavsS. arhlT
903.935.3044
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Texas Historical Commission. The Medallion, Volume 47, Number 7-8, July-August 2010, periodical, July 2010; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth309002/m1/18/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Commission.