Garland’s oldest surviving home, the Tinsley-Lyles House, was moved to its new location at Heritage Crossing Tuesday, March 31. It joins the restored Landmark Depot Museum and vintage railcar near the corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets.
The stories of the Pace House and Tinsley-Lyles House have had happy endings after the threat of demolition and subsequently spending months on trailers behind the Granville Arts Center.
Approximately two years ago, when construction was about to begin on the new apartment complex, parking garage and city hall renovations, the City Council voted to demolish both homesbecause of the cost of restoring them. A number of preservation-minded citizens succeeded in preventing the destruction and after endless hours of work by city staff members, plans came together for the disposition of each house.
A decision was made that the Tinsley-Lyles House would be moved to Heritage Park and that the Pace House would be returned to private use. In October, 2014, the Pace House became the property of Louis and Kay Moore and was moved to Eleventh Street to become part of the city’s first historic neighborhood, the Interurban Land Company’s Travis College Hill Historic District.
To Garland’s historic preservation advocates, the decision to save these homes marks significant progress in the city’s stance on respecting and saving history.
The history of the Tinsley-Lyles House is significant not only because of the age of the structure but also because its first owner, W. A. Tinsley, gave right of way on his land to several railroad companies which later led to the formation of Garland.
Cleo Holden, member of Preservation Garla
nd, Inc. is thrilled that the Tinsley-Lyles house is safely at its new location.
“This is awesome,” Holden said. “Now it’s time to get to work restoring it.”
Former District 2 Council Member and Preservation Garland, Inc. member Annie Dickson is also happy about the relocation of the house.
“I’m really excited about the move of the house and it’s really important for Garland’s history because nowadays children are asking about their history and they need to know how the city came together,” Dickson said. The Tinsley-Lyles is going to be an icon in the city. It’s close to the library and with the railcar and museum, it fits in perfectly. It’s finally home.”
Current District 2 Council Member Anita Goebel is looking forward to school children and tourists coming to the Heritage Crossing area to see examples of Garland’s history and she is confident that it will add business activity in downtown.
The Moores, owners of the Pace House and members of Preservation Garland, Inc., have established a nonprofit organization, Friends of the Tinsley-Lyles House, which is already at work raising money for the restoration of the 1871-era home.
“This is an opportunity for citizens to be a part of restoring this treasure,” Kay Moore said. “We want to see this project through. We want people to be able to go through it and see what Garland was like and how the city’s pioneers lived.”
For information on being a part of the restoration of the house, emailfriendsoftinsleylyleshouse@yahoo.com.