James Claude Wright House - Texas Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

Marker erected by the Texas Historical Commission

Texas Historical Commission Atlas data:
Index Entry: Wright, James Claude, House
Address: 202 W. Oak St.
City: Weatherford
County: Parker
Year Marker Erected: 2012
Designations: Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Marker Size: 27" x 42" with post

The marker dedication ceremony was held December 5, 2013, in freezing rain and sleet. Jim Wright, son of James Claude Wright, was in attendance. The Parker County Historical Commission originally applied for the marker under Jim Wright's name, but since he wasn't dead yet, they had to refile under his father's name. Source: Weatherford Democrat (visit link)

Jim Wright (James Claude Wright, Jr.) attended college at Weatherford College, and lived in this house during that time. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force in 1941, and served until the end of WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, he made his home in Weatherford. He was elected a Representative to the Texas House of Representatives and served from 1947 to 1949. He was mayor of Weatherford from 1950 to 1954. in 1954 he was elected to U.S. Congress from Texas's 12th congressional district, which includes Fort Worth and Weatherford. He was reelected 14 times. He was elected House Majority Leader in 1976. In 1986 he was elected Speaker of the House. He was in office until June 30, 1989. Source: Wikipedia (visit link)

Marker Number: 17354 Marker Text: On September 20, 1898, Robert P. Lowe and his wife purchased the property at this site. The commonly held belief is that the house was built by Robert Lowe, who retired from Mobile and Ohio Railroad in 1894 and settled his family in Weatherford. He built the home sometime between 1897 and 1899 during construction of the building that would house his hardware business. Due to a fire that destroyed the Parker County Courthouse in 1874 early records of the home are non-existent. The earliest Sanborn map is for 1885 that depicts a home at the current location and the 1894 map depicts the same home which strongly suggests that a pre-existing structure was expanded or remodeled in the 1890s. The Wright House represents the Queen Anne style, but with minimal modifications. In 1905, the back porch was enclosed to create a bathroom, closets were added in the bedrooms and the kitchen was remodeled. The original transoms are still in place as is the stained-glass transom panel over the front door. After the death of Robert Lowe in 1920 and his wife Evalina in 1924, the house was eventually sold to Nannie Hauser in 1927. James Claude and Marie Wright purchased the home from Hauser in 1940. James Wright started a business selling street signs to small towns and established National Trade Days to help promote small businesses. The descendants of James Wright occupied the home until 1972. In 2009, the city of Weatherford purchased the home to prevent demolition and convert the space to city offices. This historic home’s architecture and ties to the Lowe and Wright family enhance Weatherford’s historic fabric. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2012 Marker is property of the State of Texas

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