Florence Ranch Homestead – Mesquite, Texas
The Florence Ranch Homestead is an outstanding example of late 19th century rural Texas architecture and early pioneer ranching. David W. and Julia Savannah (Beaty) Florence built the first portion of this ranch house in 1871-72 after moving here from Van Zandt County. Elaborate wood trim decorates the gallery of the simple frame structure.
History
David Florence married Julia Savannah Beaty on December 29, 1866, in Van Zandt County. Beginning in 1871 Florence bought land in eastern Dallas County. He made an initial purchase of 207 ½ acres from the estate of Caroline Lyons in the William Little Survey in January 1871 for $2,075. Florence began the construction of their farmhouse while Julia planted from seeds a bois d’arc hedgerow around the homestead. A few of these trees have survived into the twenty-first century. The homestead was complete by September 6, 1872, when their daughter Martha was born.
Regarded as one of the most successful stock farmers in Dallas County, Florence increased his Mesquite farm to 730 acres by 1892. At this time 300 acres were in cultivation, and the rest of the acreage was used for prairie hay production and pasture. To diversify his holdings, Florence and his son John Hicks Florence patented 1,280 acres in Taylor County in 1890. In 1894 they purchased 1,000 acres near Cedar Hill in Dallas County.
Florence dedicated part of his property for a school which in 1946 was incorporated into the Grand Prairie School District. The school and surrounding community were known as Florence Hill. The last remaining part of the ranch owned by a Florence granddaughter was taken by eminent domain for the construction of Joe Pool Lake in the late 1970s.
In 1987 the Florence Ranch Home and surrounding four acres were given to the city of Mesquite by heirs Florence Florence Schulz and Julia Schulz Morris. The house was restored to its 1890 time frame, and the complex became Mesquite’s first historical park. In 2017 Florence Ranch Homestead was under the care and auspices of Historic Mesquite, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of and education about Mesquite history. The home is furnished with original Florence items, including furniture, household goods, portraits, photos, and other memorabilia. Tours of the park are offered on a regular basis, and school tours offer children a glimpse into the history of their Mesquite community.
Architecture
The Florence Ranch home was probably conceived from carpenter’s handbooks instead of architectural renderings. Family, friends, and local help actually constructed the home. The original structure is a fine example of late 19th century rural Texas architecture, with its central chimney, a story and a half clapboard home with shed rooms across the back, and a gallery across the front.
The house faces due west and was originally painted white. The porch floors were painted gray and the ceilings were sky blue. The screen doors were green. At one time a large wooden barn was set behind the house, along with the necessary privy. A picket fence surrounded the yard that had been swept clean.
An early addition to the house was two rooms added at right angles to the rear of the house. This addition was connected to the main structure by a dog trot. These two rooms served as a new dining room and kitchen, the latter having an inside well, which was quite a luxury for a farm wife.