Brinkley Davis House
The Brinkley Davis House is a pioneer home that was constructed circa 1850 by one of the first land grant recipients and one of the county’s first settlers, Brinkley Davis. It has unique architectural features as compared to the log cabins built in the area during that time. The framework was constructed from local hand-hewn logs that were put together by pegged mortise and tenon joints. However, the exterior of the home is covered with clapboard siding. The dimensional lumber used on the exterior came from a barge that the family sailed from Indiana down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Galveston. At Galveston, the barge was dismantled, and the lumber hauled to present-day Limestone County where it was used in the construction of the home. In 2014, the Limestone CHC was successful in getting the home recognized by Preservation Texas as one of Texas’ Most Endangered Historical Sites. The home has one porch missing, another that has recently collapsed, and one fireplace missing. One end of the structure is unstable and in danger of collapsing. Currently, the house is located in the middle of a cow pasture in the southern part of the county. The CHC hopes to see the home preserved.
CHC Members first visited the Brinkley Davis home in June, 2013.
Preservation Texas recognized the Brinkley Davis home as one of Texas' Most Endangered Historic Sites. The announcement was made on the steps of the Texas Capitol on May 20, 2014.
On June 10, 2014, CHC members cleared the vegetation from around the Brinkley Davis home.
In order to document the structure, members of Preservation Texas visited the Brinkley Davis home on June 11, 2014 to take photographs and detailed measurements.
Texas A&M's Dr. Brent Fortenberry and the students in his Recording Historic Buildings course visited the Brinkley Davis House on September 9, 2018. Dr. Fortenberry is using the structure to teach his students about mid-19th century architecture and construction. Over the course of three visits, the class will also thoroughly study the structure and will document it by creating measured drawings that meet the Historic American Buildings Survey standards. These will be archived in the Library of Congress.
The Brinkley Davis House on September 9, 2018. It has deteriorated greatly in the last 2-3 years.
Dr. Fortenberry's students are shown getting a general overview of the structure.
Students getting instructions for taking photos and for making observations.
Dr. Fortenberry is talking to students about the construction methods used on the structure.
Billy and Serenia Bates are shown abserving Dr. Fortenberry's class. Mr. Bates was born in the house.
Dr. Fortenberry is shown discussing the house's structural elements, including the dry-stacked chimmeny.
Next Meeting
County Courtroom
Limestone County Courthouse
Groesbeck, TX
January 7, 2025
6:00 p.m.
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