The Old Pate House

Construction on The Old Pate House was begun in 1917 and completed in 1918. Able pate had purchased the lot in 1917 from Charles Fore with the intention of building a house for his fiancé. It is a Craftsman Bungalow plan with many custom details from Mr. Pate. Large maple crown moldings and Colorado river stone are just two examples. The site was part of a larger section of land that had been a textile mill owned by Fred Connally.  A small building at the back of the lot still remains from that mill. Mr. Pate's wife died in 1978 in a Hunt county hospital where she had evidently succumbed to a long illness. Mr. Pate followed her in 1982. The original plans to the house are intact and show that very little was done from the time of completion of construction to 1985 when the Aringtons purchased the home and began to update it. The house was originally constructed with a coal furnace in a small 15 x 15 basement. There were electric lights in each room but only two socket type electrical outlets located the living room. The house did have a single bathroom. The kitchen had a wood stove and a ice box.  

The Pate Updates
(1918-1982)

Gas was added sometime probably in the 30s. Gas space heaters in the rooms replaced the coal furnace as the source for heat. The old  furnace still sits in the basement with unused coal chunks in it. A gas stove in the kitchen replaced the wood one. The hot water heater in the basement was replaced with a gas copper tank (although some have suggested this was actually converted to gas and was  the original.). The Aringtons removed the copper water heater and was evidently sold. Other electrical outlets were also added throughout the years Mr. Pate lived there. 

The Arington Updates 
(1985-2000)

In 1985 the Aringtons purchased the home from a realtor that had obtained it from the Pate estate. The house had set vacant for several years. They completely updated all the wiring and installed central heat and air. They enclosed the front porch and converted a breakfast room into a second bathroom. They were very careful where possible to stay with the period in there construction. Leaving the stone columns visible in the converted front porch and bringing in a claw foot tub and dresser style sink to the bathroom addition. 

The kitchen was complete updated, a bay window added and the sink moved under it. 

They also added a tropical room with a spa off the back porch and dug to coy ponds in the back yard. 

Major repair was needed to the northwest corner of the house due to a settling caused by drainage to an original brick flowerbox that trapped run off from the roof and allowed it to erode the ground underneath the foundation on that corner. The flowerbox was removed the house was lifted and repairs were made. The Aringtons chose to cover much of the cracked and flaking plaster walls with a tasteful white paneling as a cost efficient way to  preserve the look of the interior and protect the original walls for later replastering.

The McFadden Updates
(2000-Present)

numerous and ongoing!