Renfro-Clark Home in Burleson, TX

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Renfro-Clark Home - 128 North Clark Street - Burleson, Texas.

This house is located about 200 feet from the street. It was built in 1894

by Mrs. H.C. Renfro, who was the widow of Henry C. Renfro, and their

only daughter, Mrs. Margaret Annette Baker Clark.

Taken from "Burleson – The First One Hundred Years", Dallas,

Taylor Publishing, 1981. By Mrs. Royce Baker (Wynetta Baker)

The Renfro-Clark Home on North Clark Street in Burleson is located about 200 feet

from the street. It was built in 1894 by Mrs. H.C. Renfro, who was the widow of

Henry C. Renfro, and their only daughter, Mrs. Margaret Annette Baker Clark.

When the MKT Railroad wanted to come south from Fort Worth, a Mr. Dodge, who

represented the railroad, asked Mr. Renfro if he would sell the land to the railroad.

Mr. Renfro was not in favor of selling all the land to the railroad, preferring to sell them

only every other lot. However, he finally agreed to selling all the lots if he could name

the town. The deal was confirmed and he was given permission to name the townsite

Burleson after his very good friend, Dr. Rufus C. Burleson, a pioneer preacher, President

of Waco College (1861-86) and Baylor University (1851-61; 1886-97). Prior to that time,

Mr. Renfro had named his only son James Burleson Renfro after his friend. Mr. Renfro

lived south of town at that time and he never lived in the town of Burleson. After he died in

1885, his widow, Mary R. Renfro, and his daughter decided to move into town. So it was

then they built the house presently at 128 N. Clark Street. The house took approximately

six months to complete. It was copied after a house that was located between Burleson

and Alvarado. At the time the house was built, it was one of approximately six houses on

the east side of the MKT Railroad. It was the first house to be built in the M.A. Clark Addition.

The builder of the house was a Mr. Pribble, who was a master carpenter. The structure of

the house is late Victorian. The house is topped by a cupola and originally it had two back

porches that have been enclosed. The ceilings of the house were high and some have been

lowered. The wood used in the house came from Dallas and was carried to Burleson by

wagon. The nails used were square. Most of the lumber contained no knots. Since it was

first built, it has been in the same family and four generations have lived in the house.

First, there was the widow of Mr. H.C. Renfro, her daughter, Mrs. M.A. Clark, and her

grandchildren, James Renfro and Mary Pearl Baker. Mary Pearl married Hugh Clark

and raised 8 children (one of whom died in infancy). James Renfro Baker still lived in

Burleson, Texas. The street in front of the house was named for James Clark, who was

the husband of Margaret Annette Clark. He was Pearl Clark’s stepfather and he was

no relation to her husband. The main street through Burleson, TX was named

Renfro Street after H.C. Renfro.

 

 

 

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