Property History

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Williams Thomas Sellars & Sarah Leticia Ingle Sellars built this house (composed of three rooms) in 1887. They came to Granbury through Missouri where Mr. Sellars fought alongside his wife’s brothers for the Confederacy. They had lived on various sites in Granbury (one of which was the Captain Morris House on East Pearl).

Their soon-to-be son-in-law, John Clyde Morris, bought the house from his wife’s (Rosa Lee Sellars) father in 1900 when her mother died an untimely death. They lived another 68 years in this house and raised 2 children (John and Amelia) while operating their family business known as “JR Morris and Son Hardware Company).

 An interesting history of the second owners of the home is the story of the marriage evening of the Morrises: “On June 11, 1900, John Clyde, after working a full day in the store, he (by prearrangement) picked up Rosa Lee in his buggy at her home, drove to a spot some two miles west of Granbury and shot rabbits for an hour. About sundown he drove back into town to the Methodist Parsonage where the wedding vows were said. Their wedding night was spent in this very home where, when it came time to retire, John Clyde conveniently suggested that he must go to the barn to feed the horses, while Rosa Lee swiftly seized the opportunity to put on a long gown, turned out the light, jumped into bed and pretended to be asleep when he returned from the barn. And thus commenced 42 years of happiness for the two; a marriage based on respect, love, high moral standards, mutual faithfulness and unselfishness.”

While building the house in 1887, he dug a well in the back yard – a hole 3 1⁄2 feet in diameter and 30 feet deep -- where they drew their water from a bucket; when the second part of the house was added on in 1921, the well served as a septic tank.

The very back two rooms were added some time in the 1950/1960s and redesigned by Linda Preston and her late husband Rodger in 2004. They purchased it from Shirley Hooks (she had inherited the house upon the death of Howard and Charlene Clemmons who were beloved Granbury residents; they operated a mercantile store on the Square and he acted as General Granbury, Santa Claus, and a goodwill ambassador for the community). The painting in the dining room depicting Howard Clemmons as General Granbury was painted by local artist Jeff Cocanour

The large rocks on the porch were saved from the original home and reused during the remodel. As well, the rock stairs on which you exit at the back were retrieved from under the house during renovation. In the back yard is the original carriage house along with the Granbury Bus Station dating from the 1950s which was “saved” from demolition by Linda Preston. The beautiful bar in the dining room originally came from the Andy Aston Saloon on the Granbury Square in the early 1900's. It was much later salvaged by Linda for her "Almost Heaven" store that she operated on the square for 33 years. After closing her store, she moved the bar to this home and it was a perfect fit! Linda was presented with the colorful and informative history of this home from a longtime friend and decedent of the family, Cody Martin Jr. 

The story now leads to our chapter. Our family has been a part of the Granbury community since 1993 with the purchase of our family ranch Northwest of town. Linda Preston quickly became a beloved family friend, and we spent many years enjoying and loving this home with her. We always told her that we would love to own and take care of this historic home if she chose to move. In 2021 this dream came true. Upon her relocation to New Mexico to pursue her passion of art, we were able to purchase the home. Now our chapter in this home begins. We can not wait to have this home in our family for generations to come, and we are thrilled to share the wonderful experience it has to offer with YOU!

Our family has always been drawn to old houses -- especially homes that carry the positive essence of their owners – and we feel that sharing this house with the Sellars, Morrises, Clemmons, and Prestons is PURE JOY.