E. A. Newsome House
McKinney, Collin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Edward A. Newsome, a financier, land owner and philanthropist, built this home in 1895 for his wife, Laura Fitzhugh, and their family. In 1966, the home was purchased by the Murphy family. The grand, two-and-a-half story Victorian home was the scene of many social activities in McKinney. The interior of the house boasts large rooms, high ceilings, ornate woodwork and a majestic stair landing. Window panes of cocoa glass, or solar glass, are displayed along the main staircase. The house changed hands over the years but remains a distinctive architectural gem in north Texas.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1895, at the height of the Victorian building boom that reshaped North Texas county seats, financier and philanthropist Edward A. Newsome raised this grand two-and-a-half-story home for his wife Laura and their family. With its high ceilings, ornate woodwork, majestic stair landing and panels of cocoa (solar) glass, the house became a center of McKinney's social life. It passed through several owners—including the Murphy family in 1966—yet survives as a distinctive architectural landmark.
Why it matters
The home reflects the confidence and craftsmanship of Gilded Age Texas, when railroad-era prosperity let small-town leaders build showpiece residences that still anchor a community's sense of place.
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Related people
- · Edward A. Newsome
- · Laura Fitzhugh Newsome
Themes & tags
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