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History
This page is
designed as a guide for a walking tour of the original portion of Plano. The tour
originates at the Interurban Building on the north side of 15th Street, approximately
one-half mile east of U.S. 75.
This map is
a copy of a 1926 map of Plano, showing the original names for the streets in brown. The
current street names are shown in color.
Click Here for Map (166K)
1. THE INTERURBAN BUILDING
901 East
15th Street
The Interurban Building served as a station
on the Texas Electric Railway that linked Denison and Dallas from 1908 to 1948. Trains ran
hourly from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. This is the only station remaining from the
Sherman-Dallas segment of the line. A museum exhibit inside presents a history of the
Interurban Line and Plano. A complete restoration of the building was finished in early
1990 by the City of Plano.
Proceed west on 15th Street to Aenue H, turn
north (right).
2. HAGGARD PARK
Emma Bishop
donated the land for Haggard Park to the City of Plano in 1928 in memory of her parents,
C.S. & N.K. Haggard. The park was expanded and improved in 1986 to supplement Texas
Sesquicentennial activities. The gazebo, fountain and trolley car are popular park
attractions.
Proceed north on Avenue H.
3. PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
This
two-story brick structure with a raised basement housed the entire Plano Independent
School District enrollment (K-12) between the 1920's and the early 1950's. Plano school
enrollment is now over 33,000 students. This location has been the site of Plano schools
since 1882. The first school burned in 1894; the second burned in 1903; the third was
replaced by this building in 1924. The school auditorium (to the south) was built as a
Works Progress Administration project in 1935-38.
Continue north on Avenue H, turn west (left
on 16th Street.)
4. THE W.J. CARPENTER HOUSE
708 East
16th Street
W.J. Carpenter was a prominent rancher when
he moved to town and this home in 1901. Few modifications have been made to the exterior
of this home.
Continue west on 16th Street.
5. THE WETZEL HOUSE
607 East
16th Street
This Victorian era home was moved to this
site in 1990 from a location on Avenue K. The home was moved by the City to save it from
demolition. The current owners, who also own the Mitchell House, intend to restore the
house to its original charm.
Return east on 16th Street.
6. THE MITCHELL HOUSE
609 East
16th Street
This modest one-story Victorian era cottage
is an excellent example of the simple frame homes common to early Plano. Current owners
use this home for private parties and receptions.
Continue east on 16th Street.
7. THE S.B. WYATT HOUSE
807 East
16th Street
This one-story Bungalow style home was built
around 1910 by one of Plano's early doctors, S.B. Wyatt. The front porch columns are
designed in a unique fashion with a stacked wood pattern. The low-pitched roofs, broad
overhanging eaves and numerous windows made this housing style particularly well adapted
to hot Texas summers in the days prior to air conditioning.
Continue east on 16th Street, turn north
(left) on Avenue H.
8. THE ALDRIDGE HOUSE
1615 Avenue
H
One of the few remaining examples of early
20th century (1907) architecture left in Plano. This four-square style home belonged to
Charles Aldridge, and important landowner, cotton buyer, school board member, and
representative of the Guaranty State Bank. He perfected a special variety of cotton that
was widely planted throughout the Southwest.
Turn west (left) on 17th Street.
9. THE MAGNOLIA HOUSE
816 East
17th Street
This simple Victorian cottage was built in
the early 1900s. It was originally located on 14th Street east of Avenue l, but moved to
this site and restored in 1993.
Return east on 17th Street.
10. THE MATHEWS HOUSE
901 East
17th Street
This home was built by J.H. Gulledge in
1888-1890 and sold to the Mathews family in 1900. The Mathews ran a general store in Plano
from 1895 to 1947. The decorative fish scale and diamond pattern shingles on the gables
were covered by roofing shingles prior to the renovation of this house in 1992.
Turn north (left) on Avenue H.
11. THE LAMM HOUSE
1709 Avenue
H
A more elaborate Victorian era cottage. The
sunburst on the front gable and above the front door are typical features of homes from
this era.
Continue north on Avenue H, turn east (right)
on 18th Street.
12. THE OLNEY DAVIS HOUSE
901 East
18th Street
This two-story Victorian style home was built
in 1890. Olney Davis was a prominent businessman, civic leader, and mayor of Plano. In
1899, he became the first president of the Board of Trustees for the Plano School System.
The elaborate front porch columns were added in a later addition. The building was
converted to office use in the mid-1980's.
Continue east on 18th Street, turn north
(left) on Avenue K.
13. THE WALL-ROBBINS HOUSE
1813 Avenue
K
The Wall-Robbins House was constructed in
1898. It is a fine example of single-story Victorian architecture. The restored interior
includes two sets of pocket doors and five fireplaces.
Return south on Avenue K.
14. THE FORMAN HOUSE
1617 Avenue
K
This property is the location of one of the
oldest homes in Plano, built circa 1867. The Forman family was one of the first to arrive
in Plano in the 1850s. They operated a local saw and gristmill.
Proceed southeast on Municipal Avenue.
15. MUNICPAL CENTER
1520 Avenue
K
Municipal Center is located on what was
originally the highest point of the city. The clock tower is visible from many points on
this tour.
Turn east (left) on connector street to
Avenue L. Turn south (right on Avenue L, then turn east (left) on 16th Street.
16. THE CARPENTER-EDWARDS HOUSE
1211 East
16th Street
This two and one-half story Queen Anne style
home was built in 1898. It was restored in the 1970's by former Mayor James Edwards and
his family.
Turn south (right) on Avenue M, and turn east
(left) on 15th Street.
17. THE CARLISLE HOUSE
1407 East
15th Street
This two-story Prairie-style home was
constructed in 1912 by Robert Abernathy. The home was the former residence of H.B.
Carlisle, a local grocer and friend of Sam Rayburn.
Continue east on 15th Street.
18. THE ROLLER HOUSE
1413 East
15th Street
This Queen Anne style home was built in 1901
by local architect and lumber dealer, A.G. McAdams. It later became the home of E.L.
Roller, one of Plano's early civic leaders. Mr. Roller added the columns to the f ront
porch.
Return west on 15th Street to the Downtown
area.
19. PLANO NATIONAL BANK/IOOF LODGE
1001 East
15th Street
This 1896 brick structure was given it sArt
Deco style facade in 1936. The building housed the first bank chartered in Plano.
20. DOWNTOWN AREA
The original
brick streets were restored by the City in 1986 as part of the Texas Sesquicentennial
celebration. The Downtown area has retained its historic flavor while attracting a unique
mix of shops. Prior to 1900, several major fires devastated the area; the last major fire
occurred in 1895.
Turn south (left) at fountain/plaza.
21. MOORE HOUSE/PLANO MASONIC
LODGE
1414 Avenue
J.
This two-story brick commercial structure was
built in 1898 and altered with a stucco covering in 1925. It was originally built as the
Moore House, a hotel catering to railroad travelers. Since then, as the Masonic Lodge it
has served as the meeting place of civic organizations.
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