The Hamilton-Soules House
The Hamilton-Soules House
in Star was designated a
After moving to
Around 1900, Thomas
Edgar Hamilton built the house to accommodate his growing family. The structure represents a late Victorian
transitional style and has long been a focal point for social and community
activities and events for the Star community.
Ed Hamilton worked in
a nearby family cotton gin and as a bookkeeper.
He later became a banker, helping found the Star State Bank, which was
located across the street from the Hamilton-Soules House. The cement slab, on which the bank stood,
still survives.
Mr. Hamilton was also
a school board member and was active in bringing an electric plant to the town.
A largely
self-educated man, he loved to read, as evidenced by his very extensive
library. Mr.
Nettie Hamilton, was
a loving wife, mother, and devoted Christian. Family members recall her
kneading bread in the kitchen while humming her favorite hymn “Precious
Memories.” “Miss Nett” was very
conscious of her appearance, changing her three pairs of shoes – everyday
shoes, garden shoes, and Sunday shoes – as occasion demanded.
She loved to sit on
the front porch and wave at passers-by. She would often change into her
tissue-muslin dress, however, before going out.
She wanted to be at least “presentable.”
The
In the mid-1930’s,
granddaughter Dorothy Jean Soules came to stay at the house during the week
while attending school. At the time, all
of the children of Ed and Nettie, with the exception of Dorothy Jean’s mother
Maurine, still lived in the house.
Thalia, who later married John Shelton; Lucille, who later married
“Slim” Hurst; and Dumble, who later married Jane Archer, all worked at
different jobs, yet remained living in the home. Lucille often tutored her niece Dorothy Jean
and helped her to become valedictorian of her class.
In 1937, John and Maurine
Hamilton Soules moved into the family house.
In 1942, they remodeled and updated the house without changing its basic
appearance. “Miss Nettie” continued to
live there with her daughter and son-in-law until her death in 1950.
John and Maurine’s younger
daughter, Billie Gail, attended college at McMurry in Abilene, but after
graduation came back to Star, lived in the home, and taught at the school in
Star. Her fondest memories were of being
treated as an adult by her mother and father while she worked. Billie later met and married Bobby Day, and
the two of them moved to McAllen,
The descendants of
John and Maurine Soules remember sitting in the front room during the 1950’s
watching the “$64,000 Question,” “The Lawrence Welk Show,” and “Your Hit
Parade” on television.
The dining room was
and continues to be the scene of many family Christmas and Thanksgiving
dinners. It also served as a focal point
for numerous bridal and baby showers over the years as well as domino and card
parties.
One of the features
of the house is the large open front porch, common to many houses of the
era. The residents often sat on the
porch late in the afternoon to enjoy the cool south breezes and to watch car
after car pass by. Many times, a friend
or relative would stop by for a few minutes for a short “visit.”
Bobby and Billie Gail
Soules Day are the current occupants of the Hamilton-Soules House, and continue
the family tradition of opening the home periodically to the community for
important activities and events.
Weldon Lynn Edwards
2005