I've lived near Plano my whole life and, even though I'd passed this location millions of times throughout the years, this was my first visit to the Heritage Farmstead Museum. The guided tours (by a very knowledgeable docent) start at 1:30pm and cost a little bit extra but is the only way to access the inside of the Farrell-Wilson house so it's worth it. Fidgety young children might not enjoy the inside tour (as they can't touch anything). There are picnic tables in the back and lots of animals to view.
You begin the guided tour inside the gift shop (which is rather small) where you will watch a short video on the Depression (theme might change throughout the year). Be warned - young children might get antsy.
The property sits right next to 15th street (Norman F. Whitsitt Parkway). It was and still is one of the major roadways in Plano. It was formerly called the Plano-Birdville Road. Hunter Farrell operated a gravel business and "improved" this dirt road with gravel over which horses and wagons could travel more easily than mud. The Houston & Texas Central Railroad station was located further east (you can visit the free Interurban Railway Museum for more information and see exhibits on the history of railroads in this area) along this road.
The vital part of this tour is access inside the Farrell-Wilson house built in 1891 by Hunter Farrell (of the gravel business) for his wife Mary Alice and her daughter Ammie. It once sat on 365 acres and had 3 barns and several outbuildings. They grew wheat and raised several animals. In 1928, the Farrells divorced. Mary Alice and her daughter retained ownership of the farm. Interestingly, Ammie became an award-winning sheep breeder and a member of the Purebred Sheep Breeder Association of Texas.
Ammie married Doctor Woods Lynch when she was twenty years old. They had one child, George Hunter, before divorcing in 1914.
Excellent Timeline: www.heritagefarmstead.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Timeline.pdf
Next week we'll take a closer look at the house itself...
Learn more by checking out the office site - www.heritagefarmstead.org/
Heritage Farmstead Museum Physical Address: 1900 West 15th Street, Plano, Texas 75075 Phone Number: 972-881-0140 Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-4:30pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission: $3.00 per person (ages 3 and up) + $4 for tour of house
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