W. D. and Essie Gafford House
Lipan, Hood County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Constructed about 1916 for the family of William Doyle and Essie (Vandergriff) Gafford, this house is a good example of Craftsman bungalow design, popular in American architecture in the early 1900s. The Gaffords owned the general store in the Lipan community from 1911 until about 1929, in addition to farming and ranching enterprises on their Hood County property. W. D. Gafford (1894-1961) later operated city produce in Mineral Wells and established the local livestock auction. This historic farmhouse remained in the Gafford family throughout the 20th century. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2001
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built around 1916 for William Doyle and Essie Gafford, this house is a well-preserved example of the Craftsman bungalow style popular in early-twentieth-century America. The Gaffords ran the general store in the Lipan community for nearly two decades while farming and ranching, and W. D. Gafford later established a produce business and the local livestock auction in Mineral Wells. The home stayed in the family throughout the century.
Why it matters
The house reflects how national architectural fashions reached small Texas towns and how a single enterprising family anchored a rural community's commerce.
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Related people
- · William Doyle Gafford
- · Essie Gafford
Themes & tags
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