Whitaker-McClendon House
Posted by: 
TeamBPL
N 32° 20.600 W 095° 18.560
15S E 282662 N 3580836
Historic home located southwest of downtown Tyler
Waymark Code: WMKH5T
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/14/2014
Views: 7
This historic home, also known as The McClendon House or The Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House, is located at 806 West Houston Street in Tyler, TX. The Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House, built in 1878, received designation as a Tyler Historic Landmark in 1984. Judge M. H. Bonner, a Texas State Supreme Court Associate Justice, bought a parcel of land from the estate of his former law partner, Texas’ first governor, J. Pinckney Henderson. When Judge Bonner’s oldest daughter, Mattie married attorney Harrison Whitaker, the newlyweds were gifted two acres on which they built their home in 1878. The Whitakers shopped in New York for fireplace mantles, light fixtures, wallpaper and much of their furniture. They selected an East Lake Bracketed architectural design for construction of their two-story nine room home. The house became a central point for Tyler society as the Whitakers presided over dinners and parties, all celebrated in grand Victorian style. Sadly, Mattie suffered an untimely death and five years later the house was sold to Mattie’s younger sister, Annie and her husband, Sidney McClendon. The McClendon’s had nine children, the youngest of which, Sarah, embodied the values of her parents and grandparents as she became a noted Washington, D. C. news journalist whose career spanned the terms of 12 presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush.
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown
Architectural Style: Classical Revival, Italianate, Stick/Eastlake
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1875-1899
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use
Street address:
806 West Houston Street
Tyler, TX USA
75701
County / Borough / Parish: Smith
Year listed: 1982
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture
Periods of significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924
Historic function: Domestic, Single Dwelling
Current function: Vacant/Not in use
Privately owned?: yes
Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 4:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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