Historic Houston Street Victorian Cottage
Jefferson, Marion County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Situated near ferry that brought riches to early Jefferson. First known owners (1851): John M. and Nancy Dollehite. A distinguished occupant: Mrs. Ernestine Sterne, 1872-1875 Jefferson postmaster. Restored by Mrs. Katherine R. Wise, owner since 1946. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This Victorian cottage stands near the ferry crossing that helped make Jefferson a booming inland river port in the mid-1800s. Its first known owners, John M. and Nancy Dollehite, took possession in 1851, and among its distinguished residents was Ernestine Sterne, who served as Jefferson's postmaster from 1872 to 1875. Katherine R. Wise, its owner since 1946, restored the home to its earlier grace.
Why it matters
The cottage ties everyday domestic life to Jefferson's heyday as a steamboat-and-ferry gateway, and preserves the memory of a woman who held public office in the 1870s.
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Related people
- · John M. Dollehite
- · Nancy Dollehite
- · Ernestine Sterne
- · Katherine R. Wise
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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