James Waller Thomas House

THIS VERNACULAR STYLE HOUSE WAS BUILT c. 1868 BY JAMES WALLER THOMAS, AN EARLY CIVIC LEADER IN COLLIN COUNTY, FOR HIS FAMILY OF 13. ORIGINALLY A ONE-ROOM RESIDENCE, THE HOUSE HAS NOT BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY MODIFIED SINCE 1902. IT REFLECTS THE MODEST HOMES BUILT BY EARLY SETTLERS OF NORTH TEXAS WITH MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF RAIL SERVICE. ORIGINAL ELEMENTS INCLUDE THE FLOORING, BRICK CHIMNEY, AND ROUGH-HEWN TIMBER FOUNDATION AND ROOF DECKING. THIS IS ALSO THE SITE OF AN ATTEMPT ON THOMAS’ LIFE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, LIKELY DUE TO HIS ROLE AS EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE COUNTY’S FIRST NEWSPAPER WHEREIN HE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE UNION AND THE RIGHTS OF BLACK SETTLERS – OPINIONS UNPOPULAR WITH SOME DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK – 2011

James Waller Thomas House is a historical marker in McKinney, Collin County, dedicated in 2011. It is one of 193 historical markers documented in Collin County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 345 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.1955, -96.6182 near McKinney. The nearest cataloged historic site is Foote--Crouch House (historic place), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Newsome--King House, Wiley, Thomas W., House, and King, Mrs. J. C., House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016788. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.