Save The Stonehaven Frank Lloyd Wright Style House from DOOM
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Your support is needed to SAVE the STONEHAVEN House. Built in 1912.
CRITICAL UPDATES REGARDING STONEHAVEN
This mission is URGENT & Important to the history of Wylie, TX.
This 114-year-old prairie house has reached a critical stage with both the City of Wylie ruling it must be removed from parkland as well as some nearby residents voicing their thoughts that perhaps it should be demolished. I spoke with the former HOA President of Stone Ranch this week, and he told me that he was the first to suggest tearing the house down, but that it was strictly out of frustration. The house, positioned at the entry of Stone Ranch, had gone neglected for years becoming more and more of an eyesore. I understand this man's frustration, because the Wylie Historical Society was always the intended caretaker of the house from the inception of the Stone Ranch development, but due to a city clerical error, the house has still not been handed over to WHS. Because WHS wasn't allowed to care for the house as intended, the lack of care for Stonehaven has become more and more evident each year.
BUT there is one sure hope of saving Stonehaven. The City is now determined that the house must be moved into Wylie's Downtown Historic District and that it must maintain its RTHL (Recorded Texas Historic Landmark) designation. That's a tall fete, but WHS has already spoken with the landmark folks, and we feel confident that we can work with Texas to get this project done as the City has instructed. We believe moving the house onto nearby historic downtown land isn't our number one choice, but it might ultimately benefit the house and the Society. A couple of members of WHS have located a lot large enough to accommodate the wide house, and feel it could be an appropriate property for Stonehaven. BUT.... Stonehaven needs your support now!
Some have had an issue with the graphic on this post. I will say, regarding the demolition graphic above, that unfortunately, there is more than one way to take down a historical legacy. It might be by sitting year after year, unattended as windows fall out and animals eat their way inside the house. It might be from storm damage and extreme heat melting the wall coverings. It might be that these things were not addressed, because a preservationist wasn't allowed to be involved in the oversight, the care and the needed repairs.
Yes, if the HOA had its way, the house might have met its demise by wrecking ball, but sadly, the Wylie Historical Society has only been an audience to the extreme conditions and lack of care effecting this amazing old home. As an organization, we have been forced into a useless, outsider status. We have been part of a long and hard fought tug-of-war with the City of Wylie, trying to prevent further decay of the once wonderful and unique home.
SEE MORE OF OUR UPDATES BELOW:
Our preservation loving organization continues to try to carrying out the original agreement made between the Stone family heirs, the City, the developer of Stone Ranch, and WHS. The agreement was for WHS to take possession of the home and preserve it as a museum. Below, I offer the ordinances regarding those agreements below.
Because WHS chose to list Stonehaven on the Texas Endangered Places List of 2025, the City is now suddenly changing directions about allowing the historical society to use the house as a museum in the Stone Ranch development as was the original agreement. They are now stating that the house must be moved off the parkland to eliminate the insurance and liability issues caused by the early-on, clerical error. The City is once again allowing an outside developer to present for a second time to council. It's pretty clear this person will tell them how much money he has behind him and what a long list of achievements he has as a preservationist, but I have not seen any evidence of his stated accomplishments. I'm unaware that this man has completed a single project by himself. Being on a committee or having a degree or big talk does not a preservation specialist make. However, the council will allow him to present, and they will consider the option of handing Stonehaven over to an outside investor who already has a recent reputation for swooping in with his money and supposed expertise and undermining another small town historical society. The passion for accurate preservation and for keeping something true to its stated purpose for the community seem to be going by the wayside.
Wylie Historical Society appeared to have some strong male leadership in its early years, but over the years that has changed. We appreciate what the men involved bring at this point, but WHS is now a mostly women run organization. Women trying to be heard. Women trying to be respected. Women being repeatedly disappointed at the lack of cooperation we've experienced in this endeavor.
WHS has been attempting to gain control of this house for 11 years. According to the City of Wylie's own ordinances 2015-11 and 2017-4: Wylie Historical Society responsibilities will be (a) Maintain the Stone Family House (b) Take ownership of the Stone Family House (c) Responsible for the security of the Stone Family House (d) Pay for the electricity for the Stone Family House. These agreements were first made city law in 2015, but shortly after this ordinance was passed by the city council, the former city manager sent word for WHS to cease working on the house and to refrain from further entering the structure due to liability and insurance issues. These issues were a direct result of a Wylie city staff error in paperwork when filing with the state for the green space in Stone Ranch development to become parkland. None of this needed to be an issue, but it became the cornerstone of the stand off. In 2015, one city councilman saw the potential for an issue of having Stonehaven placed on parkland, and he asked for the land directly below the Stonehaven house to be platted separately, and that point was agreed upon, and the lot was platted out as instructed. The problem arose from the city staff misfiling which included the entire green space an even the lot under the house into the parkland designation. This one tiny act severely complicating the future ownership of Stonehaven, and WHS has been in the trenches, trying to climb uphill ever since.
WHS has faced countless rejections in our attempts to regain access to care for and our use of Stonehaven. We have never been allowed the opportunity to even start work on the house, much less complete our mission of preserving this unique and important Frank Lloyd Wright style home. We want to own the house and save the house for the Stone family legacy and for our community.
Please offer your assistance.
This is a pivotal time.
Thank you in advance.
Exterior: Back Side (West Side)
Exterior: Front Side (East Side)
See the house on Google Maps - which sits, carved, on the front of a residential development.
After years of negotiations between W.H.S. & the City of Wylie:
-The City of Wylie has determined that the house must be moved.
-The City wants it moved to Wylie's Downtown Historic District.
-Once the structure is settled, W.H.S. will restore the home properly.
-Nearby Stone Ranch will have gained their own park
*Several W.H.S. members have decades of experience in moving and restoring homes, and two members have previously restored an endangered 1917 Four Square, Craftsman home in Wylie's historic district which now sits as a beautiful example of what skill and passion can do. With your help and WHS at the helm, Stonehaven will live on for future generations to see, enjoy, and learn from our past.
Why is this historic home special and why save the Stonehaven House?
This is one of Wylie's oldest homes, built in 1912. The builder studied the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright and took great pride in emulating that architectural style where a house works hand in hand with nature.
In 1992, Stonehaven received a Registered Texas Historical Landmark.
Interior: Sunroom (South side)
Interior: Hallway
If you want to read more about what Makes Stonehaven Different, here's a link to the full history of the home:
Interior: Dining Room (North Side)
Interior: Living Room (East Side)
Meet Wylie Historical Society's Treasurer, Alexis Tapp.
The house is described as “Dramatically unlike the romantic flourishing style of the Victorian homes of the late 19th century, this home exemplifies the dignity of form to follow function, achieving its distinction through restraint of adornment for its own sake, depending instead upon scale, integrity of design and function, harmony and beauty in detail. The integrity of plan, materials, and workmanship make it a house of architectural importance.”
Links & Sources:
-https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2015/02/15/wylies-century-old-stonehaven-house-to-be-moved-restored/
Thank you for visiting. Your generosity makes all the difference.
Please support the invaluable work of the Wylie Historical Society.
-Alexis Tapp, Wylie Historical Society, Treasurer.
#wylietx #runbywomen #parishilton #melindafrenchgates #history
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Wylie Historical Society
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