Comte De Bresson Stable

Comte De Bresson Stable. . , In the 1870s, French interests entered the region through the railroad, eventually forming the Franco Texan Land Company. Through this company, a number of Frenchmen arrived in Texas, including Marie Clèment Paul, Comte de Bresson (b. 1867). In 1889, Parker County resident Alfred Hammond (de Voisins), on the advice of his stepfather in France, arranged for the arrival of the Comte de Bresson, including purchasing 175.7 acres. On the site, Hammond constructed a stable since the Comte had determined to engage in selling thoroughbred horses. The Comte arrived in October 1889 and Hammond sold the land to him. , The stable was most likely constructed by French stonemasons, as its features resemble those of stables in France. Parker County once boasted several now-lost stables of this style. This south-facing structure measures 87 feet by 17 feet with a 46 degree pitched roof. It features six stables, with a central staircase leading to a hay loft spanning the length of the building. Each stable is accessible by a south-facing door and has a small, north-facing window for light. Internal walls between the stables are nine inches thick. , The Comte de Bresson took his sorrel blooded mare, Ribaude, and his stallion, Scotland Glory II, to the 1889 State Fair in Dallas. His thoroughbred business was brief, however, and newspaper advertisements ceased in early 1890. De Bresson appointed Paul Chaptine as his agent and returned to France in 1890. The Comte de Bresson sold his Parker County land in February 1896. Due to the small number of French settlers in Texas, this stable remains one of the few examples of historic French country architecture in the area. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2023.