305 Mounts Street- Robert Mounts House

Robert Nobel Mounts (1863-1922) and Nannie Lee (Christal) Mounts (1870-1942) constructed this house as the same time his mother’s house was being built in 1898. Robert Mounts was important in furthering the ranching industry in Texas. As a young man, he worked at the 15,000+ acre Gregg Ranch northwest of Denton. After the death of Gregg Ranch owner William Gregg in 1889, Mounts managed the ranch for many years. In 1899, Robert and Nannie Mounts moved to Hereford, Texas, where he owned a vast ranch consisting of 84,000+ acres. This Queen Anne Victorian house is a reverse copy of the Mattie Mounts house. Robert Mounts’ home was built on the same floor plan as his mother’s, the Mounts-Wright House, at 402 Mounts Street. Robert worked at the Gregg Ranch. Gregg Street is named for William Gregg. Haynes Street is named for Mattie Mounts’ father, the Rev. John Haynes. Alice Street is named for Alice Mounts, and Sena Street and Aileen Street are named for Sena and Aileen Mounts, Robert’s sisters.

The Central Presbyterian Church purchased the house as a manse in 1919, and it was the parsonage for its ministers until 1943. The house hosted numerous weddings that took place in the front parlor, with each bride descending the staircase. The north wing was an early addition to the house, added to accommodate the office space needed when it was used by the Central Presbyterian Church as minister’s manse from 1919-1943.