The Buildings of Chestnut Square
Explore our historic spaces online, or book a tour to see them in person!
1854 Faires House
Known as the Oldest House in McKinney, the Greek Revival Faires residence was built on Tennessee Street. Mr. Faires, a blacksmith by trade, came to Texas from Tennessee. The “dog trot” style house boasts the original front door made by Mr. Faires himself. When the home was moved to Chestnut Square, 2 civil war era bullets were bullets were discovered lodged in the foundation posts.
1863 “Two Bit” Taylor Inn
The Armsted Taylor house was purchased for $340 in 1868. Located on Chestnut Street near the “Jockey Lot”, drummers (salesmen) were given a bed for the night, a hot breakfast and had their clothes laundered for 25 Cents (2 bits). The Taylor’s adult daughter Jennie had her own separate quarters, where she lived and conducted her sewing business.
1870 Dulaney Cottage
The Cottage, home to Dr. Joseph and Lucy Ann Field Dulaney, originally sat on the corner of Chestnut and Anthony Streets. Dr. Dulaney was a Civil War surgeon who practiced medicine in McKinney and in Tennessee, his home state. Dr. Dulaney left Lucy with 3 small children when he died of pneumonia in 1877, one of whom also died of pneumonia, in 1883.
1870 Johnson House
Captain John Johnson bought this Victorian home with Italianate trims in 1878, where he and Polly raised 13 children. Captain Johnson served as a State Senator and legislator. His great nephew and McKinneyite Bobby Younger was a WWII hero whose plane was shot down in 1944. A room in the house displays a tribute to Bobby’s service. In 2015 a crash site was discovered, and Bobby’s remains were identified along with most of his crew. On June 27, 2018 they were laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery and memorialized at McKinney’s Veterans Park.
1908 Foote Baptist Church
A turn of the century white clapboard chapel, the church was moved to Chestnut Square from Prosper, TX, a community near the current Virginia Parkway and Stonebridge Drive intersection, in 1994. The transport began at 4:30 in the morning and took 14 hours to accomplish. The Chapel boasts the original bell in the bell tower, and holds 150 guests for a wedding, memorial, or church service.
1916 Dulaney House
Built by John Field for his widowed sister Lucy Field Dulaney and her 2 children, this stately Prairie style home was built at the corner of Chestnut and Anthony Street, after the “cottage” was moved to the less prestigious lot next door. The widowed Mr. Field planned to live with Lucy, his niece and nephew, however he died just a month before the house was complete.
1918 Brimer Anderson Grocery (Dixie’s Store)
Originally on Lee Street near Howell and Graves Streets, Mr. Brimer served local farmers by filling their orders while they did other business in town. His store was also known as a place to catch up on local news (gossip). When his daughter Dixie took over the store, she treated children with good report cards and paddled the ones who acted up! The store is the home of Doc & Clyde’s Ice Cream Freezer Museum, the largest collection in the world (Guinness Book of World Records).
1920 Bevel House
An Arts and Crafts bungalow, the house features wide porches and typical architectural detailing. The Bevel family lived in the house until 1975, then a 2007 fire rendered the home uninhabitable by the owners at the time. It was then purchased by the Guild, and completely preserved and renovated for use as a reception and event space.
J.B. Wilmeth One Room Schoolhouse
A reproduction of the 1892 one room schoolhouse, the building features separate front doors for girls and boys. Children typically went to school twice a day, breaking to go home for farm chores. The Wilmeths operated the first free school in McKinney, first in their home and then in the schoolhouse until 1922.
