Wylie in Collin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
E.A. and Lydia Housewright House
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 30, 2026
1. E.A. and Lydia Housewright House Marker
In January 1901, Sadie (Cook) (1882-1976) and Bolivar Columbus (B.C.) Barrier (1874-1934) purchased a one-acre lot on N. Ballard Avenue from James V. Russell. B.C. had moved to establish the First National Bank of Wylie and, at 26, was among the youngest bank presidents in the state. The couple quickly built this Queen Anne cottage house, probably using a mail-order construction plan designed by George F. Barber. The asymmetrical one-and-a-half-story house is topped with a hip-and-gable roof and finished in fish-scale wood shingles. The L-shaped porch features doric columns and the original front door.
The Barriers only lived in Wylie a short time and sold the house in October 1903 to E.A. (1844-1905) and Lydia (1850-1911) Housewright. The family had previously lived in a smaller residence a few blocks away, with several of their adult children living in houses nearby. E.A. Housewright came from a prominent family whose father, Jichonias (1811-1894), owned gristmills and cotton gins. E.A., his second son, operated a livery stable in Wylie and helped form the Wylie Cemetery Company. He also was a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Wylie, and a county bondsman. After E.A. and Lydia's deaths, the house remained in the family. William McDonald, Lydia's nephew, purchased the house and lived there until 1923. McDonald is credited with bringing electricity to Wylie.
In 1930, Helena Borchardt Silvis purchased the property. Under her ownership, the property was reduced to its current size of one-half acre. When she died in 1954, Mae (1894-1982) and Carl (1892-1963) Hicks purchased the house and remained until 1974. They began repairs and restorations of the property. As one of the earliest surviving residences in the community, the house embodies early Wylie history.
Erected 2023 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23938.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1901.
Location. 33° 1.088′ N, 96° 32.338′ W. Marker is in Wylie, Texas, in Collin County. It is on North Ballard Avenue north of W Brown Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 N Ballard Ave, Wylie
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Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gallagher House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas and Mattie Brown House (about 600 feet away); Brown Cottage (about 700 feet away); First Baptist Church of Wylie (approx. ¼ mile away); Wylie (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wylie Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); William and Charlotte Stone House "Stonehaven" (approx. 1.4 miles away); Wylie Methodist Church (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wylie.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 30, 2026
2. E.A. and Lydia Housewright House
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 30, 2026
3. E.A. and Lydia Housewright House and marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 33 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
