Kell House Museum facts for kids
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The Kell House Museum, also known as The Kell House, is a special old house in Wichita Falls, Texas, United States, that has been turned into a museum. From 1909 to 1980, the house was home to the family of Frank Kell. He was a very successful businessman who made his money from railroads, flour mills, and oil. Frank Kell and his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Kemp, were important leaders who helped Wichita Falls grow a lot in the early 1900s.
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The Kell House: A Look Back in Time
Frank Kell moved to Wichita Falls in 1896 from Bosque County, Texas. Before building this famous house, his family lived in another home on Scott Street. Kell bought the land on a high spot overlooking downtown Wichita Falls, which is why the address is 900 Bluff Street. His sister-in-law was the person in charge of building this beautiful Victorian-style home. Construction started in 1908 and was finished in 1910, though the Kell family had already moved in.
The house is located just east of the Central Freeway. Frank Kell's wife, Lula Kemp Kell (who lived from 1866 to 1957), stayed in the house until she passed away. Their only daughter who never married, Willie May Kell (1888-1980), lived there until her death too.
Exploring the Kell House Museum
The Wichita County Heritage Society bought the house and turned it into a museum. It first opened its doors to the public in 1981.
When you step inside, you'll see a grand spiral staircase leading to the top floor. On the left side of the first floor is a formal parlor. The Kell family only used this room for a few very special days each year. Otherwise, it was kept closed. This parlor was decorated beautifully for Christmas, weddings, and other important events, even funerals. Frank Kell's body was placed in this parlor when he died in September 1941. Keeping the parlor closed most of the time made it feel even more special when it was opened.
One room in the house has both a small library and a pool table, showing how people used their homes back then. The kitchen was very modern for its time, with all the latest features.
Bedrooms and Family Life
Upstairs, there are five bedrooms. One of them has a red quilt on the bed. This particular room was used by the daughter who was engaged to be married. She would stay in this room until her wedding day. After she moved out, her sisters (except for Willie May, who never married) would use the room when they got engaged, staying there until their own weddings.
Three of the Kell daughters were married in the house. The first, Sadie (1886-1960), married Orville Bullington in 1911. The other two daughters chose to have their weddings at local churches. The Kell family were Presbyterians, and it's interesting that the house is right across the street from part of the First Baptist Church complex. Wedding parties were often held at the country club. Even though there was a fire in one bedroom in the 1970s, the house was quickly fixed up. In the main bedroom, there was a second bed that was used for a child when the Kells had guests staying overnight.
Keeping History Alive
In 2011, the heritage society started a big project to fix up The Kell House. This project was planned in stages over five years. The first stage made sure the building's structure was strong and stable. The second stage focused on repairing and restoring the outside of the house. The final stage will improve the inside of the building.
The Kell House still has many of the original family's furniture, art, fabrics, and old clothes. This makes it one of the most important historical and architectural buildings in Wichita Falls. You can take guided tours to learn all about the house and the Kell family's life.
