Porter House (Paris, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Porter House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 407 South Dunlap Street, Paris, Henry County, Tennessee |
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| Built | About 1850 |
| Architect | Not Known |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001789 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
The Porter House is a special old home located in Paris, Tennessee. You can find it at 407 South Dunlap Street. This house is in Henry County, which is part of Tennessee.
It was built around 1850 by a man named Thomas Crawford. Later, in 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important buildings across the country. The house is most famous because James Davis Porter, who was once the Governor of Tennessee, lived there. He lived in the house from 1887 until he passed away in 1912.
Contents
History of the Porter House
Building a Home in Paris
In 1848, a rich businessman named Thomas Crawford bought 14 acres of land in Paris, Tennessee. He paid $500 for it. It's believed that he started building the first part of the Porter House on this land around 1850.
At just 26 years old, Thomas Crawford was already very successful. Records from 1850 show he was the second richest person in Henry County. His property was worth about $15,500 back then. His first two children were born in this house.
New Owners Over Time
Thomas Crawford sold the house in 1855 to Mary G. Swayne for $6,500. Mary and her husband, John Swayne, owned the property for a few years. In 1859, they sold it to John H. Dunlap for $8,500.
John Dunlap was a well-known lawyer in Paris. He owned a lot of land. In 1874, he transferred the property to his wife, Marietta Dunlap. John Henry Dunlap passed away later that year.
Governor Porter's Residence
On February 21, 1887, Marietta Dunlap gave the house to her son-in-law, James Davis Porter. He had been the Governor of Tennessee. Governor Porter lived in the house until he died in 1912.
After Governor Porter passed away, his wife, Susan Dunlap Porter, sold the house to Joel Porter. The house then passed through other family members. In 1936, it went to Joel's wife, Lona W. Porter. Later, in 1955, it was given to their daughters, Margaret Porter and Mrs. Julia Woolfork.
What We Know About the House
In 1972, a group called the Historic American Buildings Survey studied the house. At that time, Miss Margaret Porter was the owner. The survey found some interesting things about the house's construction.
They noticed that the brick patterns were different in places. Also, the floor heights varied. These clues suggest that the house was built in two main parts at different times. There's also another small building on the property. Its original use isn't fully known, but people think it might have been a kitchen or a place for servants.
