Heritage Association of Frisco, Inc.

Smith-Muse House

July 3rd, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

Smith-Muse House – This prairie-style farm house was built by Alfred Fletcher Smith, Jr and his wife Lou Harriet McKnight Smith in 1905. Mr. Smith was a farmer and owned 300 acres near the current location of the Frisco Lakes community near the intersection of Hackberry Road and FM 423. In July of 2005, Pulte Homes of Texas began to develop Frisco Lakes and they donated the house and the funds to relocate the home to the Frisco Heritage Center. A generous donation from the Muse Educational Foundation of Dallas, Texas provided funds to assist in the restoration. The preservation of this home will honor the history of Frisco from a rural community to the modern suburb it is today. While interior renovations still need to be completed, it is a fine example of how farmers built their homes at the turn of the century.

Muse (DALLAS, TX – July 27, 2005) – Frisco Lakes by Del Webb, the Metroplex’s newest active-adult community announces the donation and relocation of the historic Smith/Muse house to Frisco’s Heritage Center on Thursday, July 28.

The history of the house, built more than a hundred years ago, and its residents parallels the transformation of Frisco from rural community to one of the area’s most sought after suburbs for retail and residential development.

The house will be carefully moved along Main Street in Frisco to Heritage Center, where the Heritage Association of Frisco will meticulously restore it to its original state and display it as an example of Frisco’s history.

“We’re very excited about this home and are thankful to Pulte Homes for helping to preserve a piece of history from the area,” said Dr. Erwin Pink, president of the Heritage Association of Frisco. “It’s going to be great for our city to have a true Prairie-style home restored in Heritage Center.”

Located near Hackberry Road and FM 423, the Smith/Muse house was a historical fixture on the Frisco landscape for generations as Frisco evolved around it.

The house was built in 1905 by the grandparents of Betty Muse. Mrs. Muse visited the farm many times as child when her aunt and uncle lived on the property, and lived in the home herself for the last six years, is nostalgic about the homestead, but is also proud that it will be preserved and on display for families to enjoy.

“I’m so glad the house is being restored,” she said. “It makes me feel good that they’re not just going to tear it down like so many others (developers) might do. They have been very good to work with and have been great with me throughout the process.”

Today the home sits where Frisco Lakes by Del Webb, a 2,400-home community will be developed. Frisco Lakes will be the area’s premiere active-adult destination that promotes a healthy, active lifestyle for adults 55 and better offering amenities that include an 18-hole golf course with clubhouse, large-scale amenity center with indoor/outdoor pools, club and activity space, world class fitness center, and a variety of sports courts.

“We’re extremely pleased and honored to help preserve a piece of Frisco’s history,” says Patrick Vedra, Director of General Operations for the Frisco Lakes by Del Webb.

“Del Webb’s heritage over the last seventy years includes building some of this country’s most recognized landmarks, including Madison Square Garden, renowned hotels in Las Vegas, and many facilities that were crucial to America’s mobilization in World War II.

That role in history makes us appreciate a key part of local history in Frisco. We want to be good stewards within the community and this is a perfect opportunity to do so.”