Preservation Garland, Inc. hosted an auction Saturday, Nov. 5 to raise funds for restoration of the Tinsley/Lyles House which is located at Heritage Crossing near the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. The official address of the house is 399 North Seventh Street.
The presiding auctioneer Mike Gaston of Caddo Mills, Texas kept bidders entertained throughout the event as he presented a variety of items. Antique furniture, art, crystal pieces, household items, gift certificates and more had been donated for the auction.
Altrusa International of Garland members were on-hand selling baked items to benefit PGI as well as the Altrusa scholarship fund. The Noon Exchange Club was there to provide bottled water and share information about their organization.
The Tinsley/Lyles House, in desperate need of repair, was built in the late 1800s and occupied by the family of William A. Tinsley. It was built at the corner of present day Austin and First streets. It is prominent in Garland’s history as the oldest surviving home in the city but also because Tinsley gave right of way on his land to several railroad companies which later led to the fo
rmation of Garland.
R.H. Lyles purchased the home from Tinsley in 1902. More than 60 years later, Jay Jones purchased the structure from the Lyles family and donated it to the city of Garland. In 1979, the house was relocated to the former Heritage Park location behind city hall where it stood until being moved to the current Heritage Crossing location.
The Tinsley/Lyles house, along with the Pace House, another historic Garland home, had been scheduled for demolition, but the Pace House was fortunately returned to residential use and the Tinsley/Lyles House was spared and relocated.
To Garland’s historic preservation advocates, the decision to save the two historic homes indicates significant progress in the city of Garland’s policy on respecting and saving history.
Preservation Garland is a nonprofit organization. Contributors and auction customers not only assist with the restoration of a historic structure, but also gain tax deductions.