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Writer's pictureRobin Cole-Jett

The DeMorse Home in Clarksville


Old House

Clarksville (Red River County, Texas) is an old town with some old homes, and one of the republic/state's oldest, continuously used courthouses. It's also the home of one of the republic/state's oldest newspapers, the Northern Standard, which began publication in 1842. Its founder was Charles D. Morse, whose name became "Charles Demorse (or, Charles de Morse)" as he didn't bother correcting people's misspellings.


When he moved to Clarksville in 1842, he bought a two-room log cabin from Isaac Smathers, which had been built in 1833. Over the decades, De Morse hired carpenters and used slave labor to expand the house into a larger home. Descendants continued to live there until the 1970s. At one point, the home was acquired by the Red River County Historical Society and continues to be restored as funds become available.


The black & white photos posted were taken by the Texas Historical Commission in the 1980s (they are not labeled in the Portal to Texas History). The color photos of the Charles DeMorse Home in Clarksville were taken by me last year. I peaked through the windows and walked around a balmy July evening. Worth the trip, even if you can't go inside.


Bay window and dormer
Three dormers above a small porch
Decorative chimney next to dormer
Tree stump foundation
Cross section of notched logs
Walpaper and wooden walls and brick chimney

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