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Carriage House

Built and attributed to the work of Beaumont architect Henry Conrad Mauer in 1907, the carriage house included service quarters for domestic employees, a garage area for carriages and later automobiles, stalls and a hay loft for farm animals, and a large gymnasium.

The McFaddin family’s wealth enabled them to staff the house, grounds, and garage with a variety of domestic employees that included butlers, maids, chauffeurs, yardmen, and laundresses, many of whom worked for the family for decades. 

Photographs of McFaddin-Ward House domestic employees

Tom, chauffeur, and Albertine Parker, seasonal employee (1), Brunie Payne, laundress (2);
Cecilia Smith, maid and daughter of Brunie Payne (3).

The American Association of Museums lists the McFaddin-Ward Carriage House as one of the best preserved carriage houses in the country.

When the carriage house was built in 1907-08, the latest technology and building materials were used in the 8,151 square-foot building. The upgrades included interphones connecting to the main house, electricity and plumbing, and art glass windows. A high-end feature includes door hardware from the Allith Mfg. Co. of Chicago, IL, which had exhibited at the St. Louis Great Exposition in 1901.

On display at the carriage house are the domestic employees’ living quarters, garage, hayloft, stables, and second-story gymnasium. Visitors can view displays about the McFaddins’ ranching interests, family businesses, and automobiles.

In 2005, the carriage house was damaged by Hurricane Rita and restored over a two-year period.  It has been reroofed, repainted, and restored. Restoration work required retiling the slate roof, inspecting the extensive woodwork, replacing damaged boards, installing new gutters and flashing, repairing the building’s cupola and fresh paint inside and out. The replacement roof slates originated from the same Bangor, PA, quarry which furnished the roof slates in 1907.

VISITING THE MCFADDIN-WARD CARRIAGE HOUSE

Admission to the McFaddin-Ward House includes a tour at the carriage house. The building is open on weekends Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Touring the carriage house is free with the last self-guided tour leaving thirty minutes before closing.  Museum tours of the main house on Saturday fees are $3 per person and Sundays are free to the public.

Visitors should start the tours at the visitor center, 1906 Calder Avenue and Third Street. The carriage house is a two-block walk from the visitor center. The carriage house address is 1906 North Street and is near the intersection of North Street and Fourth Street. The carriage house is a self-guided tour and requires a stop at the attendant’s office, in the east door of the building, to pick up the tour information.

Teachers and Group Managers:

The building is opened for school tours, seventh-grade Texas history tours, and other pre-arranged special occasions during the week, and can be arranged by contacting the visitor center (409) 832-2134.