In January 1901, Sadie (Cook) (1882-1976) and Bolivar Columbus (B.C.) Barrier (1874-1934) purchased a one-acre lot on N. Ballard Avenue from James V. Russell. B.C. had moved to establish the First National Bank of Wylie and, at 26, was among the youngest bank presidents in the state. The couple quickly built this Queen Anne Cottage house, probably using a mail-order construction plan designed by George F. Barber. The asymmetrical one-and-a-half-story house is topped with a hip-and-gable roof and finished in fish-scale wood shingles. The L-shaped porch features doric columns and the original front door. The Barriers only lived in Wylie a short time and sold the house in October 1903 to E.A. (1844-1905) and Lydia (1850-1911) Housewright. The family had previously lived in a smaller residence a few blocks away, with several of their adult children living in houses nearby. E.A. Housewright came from a prominent family whose father, Jichonias (1811-1894), owned gristmills and cotton gins. E.A., his second son, operated a livery stable in Wylie and helped form the Wylie Cemetery Company. He also was a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Wylie, and a county bondsman. After E.A. and Lydia’s deaths, the house remained in the family. William McDonald, Lydia’s nephew, purchased the house and lived there until 1923. McDonald is credited with bringing electricity to Wylie. In 1930, Helena Borchardt Silvis purchased the property. Under her ownership, the property was reduced to its current size of one-half acre. When she died in 1954, Mae (1894-1982) and Carl (1892-1963) Hicks purchased the house and remained until 1974. They began repairs and restorations of the property. As one of the earliest surviving residences in the community, the house embodies early Wylie history. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK – 2023