810 Congress Street- Mattie Morrison House

Mrs. Mattie Morrison (1876-1968) was a widow when she had this small craftsman home built for herself and her daughter Opal Rae. Mattie McGaha was born in Winfield, Alabama and her family moved to Texas by 1892. She married Charles Morrison in Grayson County in December 1895, and they bought a farm near Valley View, Texas. Charley died in March 1910 and Mattie moved to Denton County with children Paul, Effrey, and Opal. The 1923 city phone book reports Mattie working as a housekeeper, with Opal Ray attending the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Women’s University). In 1926 Opal got married, and the following year, Mattie sold the home to William Taliaferro, and moved to Portland, Oregon near her parents. She consistently returned to Denton to tend to her farm.