2007 Tour Homes:

Alley - Carlson House

The Alley-Carlson House was built in 1849 by Daniel Nelson Alley, one of the cofounders of the City of Jefferson, Texas. Its first occupants likely were Augustus Bosworthy, a steamboat captain, and his brother, Henry. In 1861, the house was given as a wedding present to Alley's son, Daniel, Jr., a young cavalry officer, and Mary Hannah (Rembert) Alley. The D.N. Alley family occupied the home continuously until 1991, when it was given to the Jefferson Historical Society. The house was the site of the founding of the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club, and is now owned by Herbert and Elizabeth Treger. It is one of the oldest houses in Jefferson, and has been designated as both a National and a Texas Historical Landmark. Many original furnishings belonging to the Alley family remain in the house today. The home is located at 501 E. Walker Street.

J. H. Benefield, Sr. House

The J.H. Benefield Sr. House, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark circa 1895, is a two-story Victorian residence with Queen Anne influence. Many social affairs were held in the drawing room when Jefferson was a leading port in Texas. The original owner of the property was Lucy A. Alley, and in 1871 she sold it to J.P. Harvey for $500 in gold coins. In 1907, a local lawyer and brother of famous novelist Barry Benefield, J.H. Benefield and wife, Justa Glass Benefield, purchased the property. Their daughter, Frances Benefield Roberts, lived in the home until the late 1900s. Frank and Donna Lang purchased the house in 2006 and have taken great efforts to restore the appeal of the Victorian era with period paints and wallpapers. The home is located at 1009 S. Line Street.

Keasler - Blair Haus

Built in the 1930s, this Arts and Crafts style house has been reconstructed by Harold and Meriam Blair to represent a pre-Civil War Jefferson style German home. In the mid1800s, early Jefferson settlers made inventive and thrifty use of material they had on hand.  The Blair's reverence for wood, pottery and hand-crafted furniture continues the tradition of these early settlers. Early American indulgence in color is evoked by furnishings and paint treatments and highlights include extensive stenciling on wooden walls, ceilings and floors. Handmade rugs and historic textiles bring beauty, warmth and color to the home, reminiscent of a time when luxuries were scarce. It is the spirit of early German settlers and their legacy which sets this home apart. The home is located at 601 E. Walker Street.

Scarlett O'Hardy's

Scarlett O'Hardy's is a neo-Greek Revival home which stands in stately fashion at the corner of Taylor and Main streets overlooking historic Christ Episcopal Church and Lions Park. Owned by Bobbie Hardy, the home is a reflection of efforts by her and Randy, her late husband, to re-create memories of the Old South with modern amenities. It reflects antebellum architecture with an emphasis on the style found in the famous houses of Natchez. The home features 12-foot ceilings, fine architectural details, pine flooring, antique light fixtures, and memories from Mrs. Hardy's family-owned store in Hillsboro. Antiques and family collections abound and include Christmas cookie jars and a one-of-a kind cypress knee Nativity. The home is located at 410 Taylor Street.