Last week we started our tour of the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano, Texas. Today we'll get a closer look at the Farrell-Wilson house...
The Farrell-Wilson house was built in 1891 and is a beautiful example of late Victorian "shingle-end" architecture. The colorful paints closely match those that would have been used during that time. This home is a real showplace with jigsaw trim and wrap-around porch.
In the 1900's, a fenced flower bed was a sign of wealth, as the lady of the house (or her servants) had time to maintain a garden that only functioned for beauty. With the rise of the middle class and the growing interest in ladies' magazines, leisure gardening grew popular. Some key gardening features included ornamental fences, seating, front and back lawns, garden decor or urns, trellises, etc.
Cedar trees in the front yard might have been planted to celebrate special occasions such as a marriage or a baby's birth since these trees were considered lucky.
This well-preserved house has earned many coveted designations - a State of Texas Historical marker, a listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and accreditation from the prestigious American Association of Museums.
Some inviting rocking chairs rest on the porch. Next week we'll step inside the house...
A nice article highlighting the efforts to bring the Victorian garden back to its former glory (as best they could): www.ccmgatx.org/community-service/heritage-farmstead-victorian-garden.aspx
Interested in Victorian Gardens? Check out this article - www.victoriana.com/gardening/victoriangarden.html
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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