Plano's Oldest Home Saved By Descendants Of Early Owner

PLANO, TX — The Plano City Council Monday approved funding to assist in the relocation of Plano's oldest home, the Collinwood House, after receiving a proposal to acquire the home by the Haggard family.

The 150-year-old house will be relocated to the future site of Windhaven Meadows Park — along with its chicken coop, pole barn and wooden fencing. The move is expected to take place within 90 days.

In May, a request for proposals was issued and one was submitted by Haggard Enterprises, LTD, to move and restore the house. The family intends to preserve the house and incorporate it into future development just east of the Dallas North Tollway north of the original location, according to the proposal. All costs over $250,000 will be paid by Haggard Enterprises.

A City committee that was formed in June 2017 selected Quimby McCoy Preservation Architecture to assist in determining the future of the home, which is not included in the new park’s master plan. The firm estimated it would cost $250,000 to carefully deconstruct the house. The committee recommended making the $250,000 available to proposers that might be interested in relocating and restoring the house instead of deconstructing the house.

The building was the subject of a May 6 bond referendum to renovate the structure and turn it into a historic destination, but the measure did not receive the majority of votes. The Haggard family is interested in saving the house since a key patriarch, Clinton Shepard Haggard, lived in the house in the late 1800s. All of his children were born in this house, many of which had significant influence on the success of the Haggard family today, and the development of the City of Plano.

“We are very happy to know that the Haggard family wants to include the Collinwood House as part of its future development contrasting Plano’s past with the City it is today ” Plano Parks and Recreation Director Robin Reeves said. We think this will be a wonderful way to preserve the Collinwood House and entrust it’s care to a family that has been a part of Plano for the last 150 years. We couldn’t have asked for a better option for this home’s future and we look forward to assisting the Haggards in getting it to its new location.”

Report compiled from information in a City of Plano press release.
Image: Screenshot via YouTube