Marshall Walking Tour

TOURING MARSHALL'S HISTORIC LALE TRAIL

Most of the fine homes in Marshall date from the Republic of Texas railroad's heyday. An exception is the Lancaster-Harris House on East Travis Street, now open as a restaurant and tea room, was built before the Civil War. It was the family home of East Texas architect C.G. Lancaster, who designed homes, schools and commercial buildings in Northeast Texas. He was also the working architect for the historic Harrison County Courthouse.

The Starr Family Historic Park, now operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is located at the corner of West Travis and Grove streets. The main house, Maplecroft, was built in the 1870s by shipwrights for James Franklin Starr on property owned by his father, Republic of Texas Secretary of the Treasury James Harper Starr. Part of the elder Starr's home, called Rosemont, also on the property, is now available as a bed and breakfast. The Starr-Blake Home, built by James Franklin Starr as a wedding present for daughter Ruth, is used for parties, weddings and other gatherings. It is open every evening for dinner during Wonderland of Lights Festival (Nov. 25 to Dec. 31).

*The Twyman-Solomon House, a bed and breakfast at the corner of Grove and Rusk, has been remodeled three times since it was built in 1894 by a wealthy lumberman. It greatest change came in 1920 when it was owned by Will and Grace Twyman. She was a musician and composer, and was very involved in other civic endeavors. When the women of the old Marshall Library (now the home of the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce) were looking for plans for their new home on West Rusk and Franklin, she lent them her house plans. The resemblance between the two buildings is remarkable..

The Friend Home on West Houston Street was built by Civil War veteran W.W. Heartsill for his daughter, Maud and her husband Charles Friend. Originally, it was one story with seven rooms, but later the family enlarged it and created several rooms in the attic. They did it to convert the house into a boarding house It is now a restaurant and gift shop.

Most of the fine homes in Marshall date from the Republic of Texas railroad's heyday. An exception is the Lancaster-Harris House on East Travis Street, now open as a restaurant and tea room, was built before the Civil War. It was the family home of East Texas architect C.G. Lancaster, who designed homes, schools and commercial buildings in Northeast Texas. He was also the working architect for the historic Harrison County Courthouse.
	The Starr Family Historic Park, now operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is located at the corner of West Travis and Grove streets. The main house, Maplecroft, was built in the 1870s by shipwrights for James Franklin Starr on property owned by his father, Republic of Texas Secretary of the Treasury James Harper Starr. Part of the elder Starr's home, called Rosemont, also on the property, is now available as a bed and breakfast. The Starr-Blake Home, built by James Franklin Starr as a wedding present for daughter Ruth, is used for parties, weddings and other gatherings. It is open every evening for dinner during Wonderland of Lights Festival (Nov. 25 to Dec. 31).
*The Twyman-Solomon House, a bed and breakfast at the corner of Grove and Rusk, has been remodeled three times since it was built in 1894 by a wealthy lumberman. It greatest change came in 1920 when it was owned by Will and Grace Twyman. She was a musician and composer, and was very involved in other civic endeavors. When the women of the old Marshall Library (now the home of the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce) were looking for plans for their new home on West Rusk and Franklin, she lent them her house plans. The resemblance between the two buildings is remarkable..
	The Friend Home on West Houston Street was built by Civil War veteran W.W. Heartsill for his daughter, Maud and her husband Charles Friend. Originally, it was one story with seven rooms, but later the family enlarged it and created several rooms in the attic. They did it to convert the house into a boarding house It is now a restaurant and gift shop.