Ranald McDonald House
Trinity, Trinity County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Married after 1876 to Mollie Turner (1857-1919), daughter of an early Trinity pioneer, Ranald McDonald (1846-1931) settled on his land along the Trinity River. He bought this lot in 1890 and hired John Denton Gibbs to erect this victorian structure, which stands on stone piers, McDonald kept bees, honey, buggies, and wagons. His son Alexander (d. 1944), the second owner of the house, built a power plant on this property to provide Trinity's first electrical system.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Ranald McDonald settled along the Trinity River after marrying Mollie Turner, daughter of an early Trinity pioneer, and in 1890 hired builder John Denton Gibbs to raise this Victorian house on stone piers. He kept bees, honey, buggies, and wagons here, and his son Alexander later built a power plant on the property that gave Trinity its first electrical system.
Why it matters
The home marks the moment a small Texas town crossed into the modern age, as a family's own power plant first brought electric light to Trinity.
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Related people
- · Ranald McDonald
- · Mollie Turner
- · John Denton Gibbs
- · Alexander McDonald
Themes & tags
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