The Figures House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Figures House, out there in Marion County. Now settle in, because this little cottage has seen more chapters than most novels twice its size. It was built back in the 1850s, a Greek revival cottage, the kind that was typical of East Texas at the time, all clean lines and modest dignity.

The man who built it was Bartholomew Figures, and the marker tells us he had been a local innkeeper before this. So the man knew something about keeping a roof over people's heads. He just made this one a little more permanent.

His son, James C. Figures, would go on to own the place too, though he was one of many short-term owners, and the marker is careful to note that. This house did not hold onto people easily in those early years.

Then came Mrs. Mary Eglentine Whitfield. Born in 1852, and she would live all the way to 1941.

A dressmaker by trade. She owned and occupied that structure from 1883 to 1928, and you do the arithmetic in your head if you want, but that is a good long while for one woman and one house to keep company together. After her, the place passed to the family of J.

H. Benefield, who held it as owner-landlords from 1936 all the way to 1970. Then in 1970, it was sold to Mrs.

Tommie Wurtsbaugh Glick, an artist, who has restored it. An innkeeper's cottage, stitched together by a dressmaker's decades, passed through the hands of landlords and finally given over to an artist to bring back to life. That little East Texas Greek revival cottage has been in good hands more than once, and it looks like it's in good hands again.

What the marker says

A typical East Texas Greek revival cottage, built in 1850s by Bartholomew Figures, who had been a local innkeeper. His son, James C. Figures, was later one of the many short-term owners. Mrs. Mary Eglentine Whitfield (1852-1941), a dressmaker, owned and occupied the structure, 1883-1928. Members of J. H. Benefield's family were owner-landlords, 1936-70. In 1970, it was sold to Mrs. Tommie Wurtsbaugh Glick, an artist, who has restored it. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1973