Kell House Museum facts for kids
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The Kell House Museum, also called The Kell House, is a special historic home in Wichita Falls, Texas. It's now a museum where you can learn about the past. A wealthy family, the Kells, lived here from 1909 until 1980. The family's leader, Frank Kell, became rich from railroads, making flour, and oil. Frank Kell and his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Kemp, were very important in helping Wichita Falls grow in the early 1900s.
Contents
The Kell Family Home
Building a New Home
Frank Kell moved to Wichita Falls in 1896. He came from Bosque County in Central Texas. Before building this grand house, his family lived on Scott Street. Mr. Kell bought land on a bluff. This spot overlooked downtown Wichita Falls. That's why the address is 900 Bluff Street.
The Kell House is a beautiful Victorian-style home. Construction started in 1908. It was finished in 1910. Interestingly, the Kell family moved in before it was fully completed. Mr. Kell's sister-in-law was the contractor for the house.
Who Lived There?
The house is located just east of the Central Freeway. Frank Kell's wife, Lula Kemp Kell, lived in the home until she passed away in 1957. Their daughter, Willie May Kell, never married. She continued to live in the house until her death in 1980.
Visiting the Museum
Becoming a Museum
After Willie May Kell passed away, the Wichita County Heritage Society bought the property. They turned the house into a museum. The Kell House Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1981.
Inside the Historic House
When you enter the house, you'll see a spiral staircase. It leads up to the top floor. On the left side of the first floor is a formal parlor. The Kell family used this room only for very special occasions. It was usually closed off.
The parlor was fully decorated for Christmas. It was also used for weddings and other important events. Frank Kell's funeral was held here in 1941. Keeping the parlor closed most of the time made it feel extra special.
One room in the house has a small library. It also has a pool table. The kitchen was very modern for its time.
Bedrooms and Family Life
The house has five bedrooms. One bedroom has a red quilt on the bed. This room was special. It was used by the Kell daughter who was engaged to be married. She would stay in this room until her wedding day. Her sisters would then use the room when they got engaged.
Three of the Kell daughters were married in the house. Sadie, the first, married Orville Bullington in 1911. Other daughters chose to marry in local churches. The Kell family were Presbyterians. The house is across the street from part of the First Baptist Church complex. Wedding receptions were often held at the country club.
In the 1970s, a fire happened in one bedroom. But the house was quickly fixed. The master bedroom had a second bed. This was used for a child when the Kells had overnight guests.
Preserving the Kell House
In 2011, the heritage society started a big project. They wanted to renovate The Kell House. This project was planned in phases over five years. The first phase made the building's structure strong. The second phase fixed and restored the outside. The final phase improved the inside of the building.
The Kell House still has many original family furnishings. It also has decorative arts, textiles, and historic clothing. This makes it one of the most important historic buildings in Wichita Falls. You can take guided tours to explore the house.
