William Frederick Holmes House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William Frederick Holmes House
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2008 photo of the house
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 Location in Mississippi
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| Location | 302 Third St., McComb, Mississippi |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000216 |
| Added to NRHP | March 22, 2004 |
The William Frederick Holmes House, also known as Theosa, is a beautiful old house in McComb, Mississippi. It was built in the Queen Anne style, which was popular for homes in the late 1800s. This house is so special that it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The name "Theosa" was given to the house by its current owner in the year 2000, who felt it was a perfect fit for the historic building.
Contents
The House's Early Days
Before the William Frederick Holmes House was built, another house stood on this spot. That older house was carefully moved to a different part of the property. This made space for the new, grand home.
William Frederick Holmes had this house built for his wife, Katie Jones Holmes, in 1894. They used only the best materials available at the time. Mr. Holmes bought the land in December 1893, and construction likely started soon after. The house stayed in the Holmes family until 1936.
Building with Quality Materials
The William Frederick Holmes House was built with strong, real plaster walls and ceilings. This was quite unusual for homes in the area back then. Many other houses used rough wooden boards covered with thin cloth and wallpaper.
The builders used special wood to make the house very sturdy. The main frame was made from long-leaf pine. The floors on the first and second levels were made of Heart Pine. For the outside, they used cypress wood for the siding and trim. Cypress is known for being very strong and good at resisting weather and even termites!
At the time the house was built, there was a factory in McComb that made millwork, which are decorative wooden parts for buildings. Some of the wooden details inside the house, like the wainscoting (wood paneling on the lower part of walls) in the halls and stairwell, were made there.
The Holmes Family Connection
William Frederick Holmes and his brother, "Hib," owned a store called Holmes Bros. Store. It was just a few blocks from the house. The Holmes brothers were important people in McComb when the town was first growing. This house is one of three "Holmes Homes" that are still standing in McComb today. The other two are made of brick and have a different style.
A Unique Bathroom Feature
One interesting part of the house is the bathroom on the second floor. It has a very large bathtub that was brought all the way from England! This tub is about 7 feet long, 3 feet deep, and almost 3 feet wide. It's a truly unique piece of history.
Changes Over the Years
The William Frederick Holmes House has had many different uses and owners since it was first built.
From Home to Funeral Home
For about eight years during the Great Depression (a time when many people had financial difficulties), the house was used as the Crittenden Funeral Home. It seems the property was rented out for this business. After that, the house was empty for several years.
The Crosby Family Era
In 1936, the Crosby family bought the house. In the early 1940s, they added a separate garage with three spaces and a small apartment above it. After Mr. Crosby passed away, Mrs. Crosby turned the house into a boarding house. She rented out rooms to people who needed a place to live for a longer time.
Renovations and Restoration
After the Crosby family, the house was bought by Rev. and Mrs. Jerome Bourne in 1979. They redecorated the house in their own style. They made some changes, like adding new ceiling textures and colorful wallpapers. They also updated the kitchen, removing an old "Butler's Pantry" and putting in new cabinets and flooring.
After a few years, the Bournes moved away, and the house was often empty. It started to show signs of neglect, with some windows rotting and holes in the roof.
In 1994, the current owner saw the house. Even though the yard was overgrown and the house looked neglected, the owner could see its beautiful original features inside. The outside had been covered with aluminum siding, but it was clear the house had a strong structure underneath. The current owner bought the house in October 1994 and began working to restore it and get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The William Frederick Holmes House is considered one of the largest and most important examples of Victorian Queen Anne style homes in McComb. It is also one of several notable examples in Pike County.
