The House
With unlimited access to rich tribal lands and growing markets for beef
and produce in the territory, the Murrays prospered. To house their eight
children and to reflect their new status, they began work on a large stone
house. The principal building material was obtained from a nearby quarry,
and the mason was John Coyle, a Scotsman. Lumber was hauled from Gainesville,
Texas, and walls and partitions in the downstairs level were eighteen inches
thick and solid rock. The original building was a two-story square design,
with full basement and attic. A wooden veranda extended across the front
facade. When finished, it was the largest and most ornate home in the
western Chickasaw Nation, containing 15 rooms, 2 baths and 4 fireplaces.
Email: mlmansion1879@yahoo.com
