DUANE
Duane's take
The marker's the source, and here's how I tell it. Picture Parker County, Texas, 1889 — and a piece of France about to land right in the middle of it. Now, this story starts a little earlier, back in the 1870s, when French interests came into the region riding the railroad.
That led, eventually, to the formation of the Franco Texan Land Company, and through that company, a number of Frenchmen made their way to Texas. One of them would leave behind something that still stands today. But we'll get there.
First, a little setup. A Parker County resident named Alfred Hammond — known also as Alfred Hammond de Voisins — got word from his stepfather back in France. The advice was to arrange for the arrival of a particular Frenchman: Marie Clément Paul, Comte de Bresson, born in 1867.
Hammond took that advice seriously. He purchased 175.7 acres and went ahead and built a stable on the site, because the Comte had already made up his mind — he was coming to Texas to sell thoroughbred horses. The Comte arrived in October 1889, and Hammond sold him the land.
Now, that stable Hammond built for him — it is something. Most likely constructed by French stonemasons, because its features resemble those of stables back in France. Eighty-seven feet long, seventeen feet wide, a forty-six degree pitched roof, south-facing.
Six stalls inside, each one accessible by its own south-facing door, each with a small north-facing window to let in the light. A central staircase leads up to a hay loft that runs the full length of the building. The internal walls between the stalls are nine inches thick.
Parker County once had several stables built in this style. They're gone now. This one remains.
The Comte wasted no time getting into the business. He took his sorrel blooded mare, Ribaude, and his stallion, Scotland Glory II, to the 1889 State Fair in Dallas. That's a man who came to compete.
But here's the thing about this story — it moves fast and it ends quiet. The thoroughbred business was brief. Newspaper advertisements ceased in early 1890.
The Comte appointed a man named Paul Chaptine as his agent, and he returned to France in 1890. He sold his Parker County land in February 1896. The horses, the fair, the whole venture — came and went before most people had time to notice.
What's left is that stone stable, one of the few examples of historic French country architecture anywhere in the region, standing in a county where French settlers were always few and far between. The Comte may have gone home, but his stonemasons built to last.
What the marker says
In the 1870s, French interests entered the region through the railroad, eventually forming the Franco Texan Land Company. Through this company, a number of Frenchmen arrived in Texas, including Marie Cl��ment Paul, Comte de Bresson (b. 1867). In 1889, Parker County resident Alfred Hammond (de Voisins), on the advice of his stepfather in France, arranged for the arrival of the Comte de Bresson, including purchasing 175.7 acres. On the site, Hammond constructed a stable since the Comte had determined to engage in selling thoroughbred horses. The Comte arrived in October 1889 and Hammond sold the land to him. The stable was most likely constructed by French stonemasons, as its features resemble those of stables in France. Parker County once boasted several now-lost stables of this style. This south-facing structure measures 87 feet by 17 feet with a 46 degree pitched roof. It features six stables, with a central staircase leading to a hay loft spanning the length of the building. Each stable is accessible by a south-facing door and has a small, north-facing window for light. Internal walls between the stables are nine inches thick. The Comte de Bresson took his sorrel blooded mare, ribaude, and his stallion, Scotland Glory II, to the 1889 State Fair in Dallas. His thoroughbred business was brief, however, and newspaper advertisements ceased in early 1890. De Bresson appointed Paul Chaptine as his agent and returned to France in 1890. The Comte de Bresson sold his Parker County land in February 1896. Due to the small number of French settlers in Texas, this stable remains one of the few examples of historic French country architecture in the area. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 2023