John H. Corley Home
Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built 1896 by John Neilson, a former shipbuilder. Many of the building materials were shipped to Jefferson, Texas, by boat, then here by railroad. Elaborate Victorian architecture. Curly pine and cypress stairway with three landings has unusual design.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
A former shipbuilder named John Neilson raised this elaborate Victorian home in 1896, and the craft of his old trade shows in its curly pine and cypress stairway, which turns through three landings in an unusual design. Many of the building materials made a roundabout journey—shipped by boat to Jefferson, Texas, then hauled the rest of the way by rail. The result was one of Terrell's showpiece residences.
Why it matters
Grand Gilded Age homes like this one mark the confidence of Texas railroad towns, where new prosperity and long-distance shipping let builders import both fine materials and old-world craftsmanship.
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Related people
- · John Neilson
Themes & tags
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