Howard-Dickinson House

The Howard-Dickinson House was built in 1855[1] and is located at 501 South Main in Henderson, Texas.[2] This house was the first brick home built in Rusk County, Texas[3] and is in the Italianate architecture style.[4] In 1968, the Howard-Dickinson House was presented a Texas Historical Medallion and was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark.[4]

Howard-Dickinson House, Henderson, TX

James Logan Howard and Dave P. Howard, two brothers from Virginia, built the home and lived there for 50 years. Dave Howard, his wife Martha, their 9 children, and Dave’s bachelor brother Logan Howard lived in the house. At that time, the Howard brothers were well-known brick makers and carpenters in Henderson. They manufactured the bricks at the back of the house, and many of the houses still standing in Henderson were built from these[5]

Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, was a frequent visitor to the house. He was a cousin to Martha Howard. Houston’s campaign trunk is displayed in the house.[6]

Mrs. Katie Dickinson purchased the home in 1905 and the Dickinson family lived there for about 50 years.[6] During this time, they added the two-story wing located in the rear of the home. This section of the home was used in the 1930’s as a boarding house for workers during the East Texas Oil Boom.[4]

By the 1960’s the house was in need of repair and was given by the then owner, businessman Homer Bryce, to the Rusk County Heritage Association, a group formed to save the house.[4] In 1967, after much fund-raising and restoration work, the house was restored and opened to the public as a living museum and meeting place for special events.[4] Ghost tours are also given in the home.