Thistledome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thistledome
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 118 Highway 309 South, Byhalia, Marshall County, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Part of | Byhalia Historic District (ID96000256) |
| Added to NRHP | March 7, 1996 |
Thistledome, also called the Horn-McAuley House or Chalmers/Horn House, is a very old and special house in Byhalia, Mississippi, USA. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Byhalia Historic District. This house is super unique because it's the only home built before the American Civil War (1861-1865) that is still standing in Byhalia today!
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Where is Thistledome?
Thistledome is located at 118 Highway 309 South. You can find it in Byhalia, which is a small town in the northern part of Mississippi.
The Story of Thistledome
Building the House in 1840
The house was first built in 1840. A man named Joseph Chalmers had it built. He was a lawyer who worked as the District Attorney for Marshall County. Joseph Chalmers was also the father of two important people, James Ronald Chalmers and H.H. Chalmers. Plus, he was the uncle and mentor to Jefferson Davis, who later became the president of the Confederate States during the Civil War.
When it was first built, the house had two floors and a special kind of roof called a hip-roof.
A New Owner and a Big Turn
In 1900, a man named E. B. Horn bought the house. He paid a small amount of money down in December 1899 and then paid the rest in January 1900.
When Mr. Horn bought the house, it was facing east. But his wife didn't want to live there because it faced a hog farm! So, Mr. Horn did something amazing: he actually turned the entire house to face north instead! He also changed its look to the beautiful Neoclassical style, which was popular at the time.
How Thistledome Got Its Name
Just before World War II, in 1938, the McAuley family bought the house. When Mrs. McAuley was asked how she liked her new home, she simply replied, "This will do me." Over time, this phrase, "this will do me," slowly turned into the unique name we know today: "Thistledome."
Thistledome Today
In 2012, Jill and Todd Maxwell bought the historic house. They decided to give it a new purpose and turned it into a restaurant.
Why Thistledome is Important
Thistledome is very important because it's the only house in Byhalia that was built before the American Civil War (1861-1865) and is still standing. Because of its history and unique architecture, it's considered a special part of the Byhalia Historic District. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1996. This means it's recognized as a significant historical place in the United States.
