On Tuesday, June 24, a historic home in Grapevine went on the move: The Charles Edwin and Georgia Winfrey House, which was built in 1908, was relocated from its previous address on Shady Brook Drive to new digs.
According to a release, the house was placed on a trailer and transported along Dove Loop Road and Historic Main Street to its new home at Settlement to City Museums, a collection of 19th-century structures at Ted R. Ware Plaza, 619 S. Church St., home to the International Sister Cities Friendship Hall property, where it joins new neighbors such as the Donald Schoolhouse, Keeling House Museum, and Grapevine Cotton Ginner’s Museum.
The house was once home to Charles Edwin Winfrey, a longtime Tarrant County employee, and his wife Georgia, a lifelong resident and member of several civic organizations.
Winfrey House at its prior locationCourtesy
The Winfreys had family connections with some of Grapevine’s earliest settlers and most influential families, including the Starrs, Lucases, and Willhoites—business owners, community leaders, and elected officials who helped shape the city.
Recognized for its connection to those notable residents and its embodiment of local heritage, the Winfrey House qualifies for landmark status and remains a symbol of Grapevine’s history.
This was not the first time it was relocated. It was originally on 205 E. Franklin St., but was relocated by the city to Shady Brook Drive more than 20 years ago. Their goal is to preserve a structure with ties to Grapevine’s cultural and civic legacy.
In its new home, its historic front porch will serve as a unique addition to Ted R. Ware Plaza, providing a space for children’s programs, educational activities, and performing arts events.
This relocation is made possible by funds raised at Grapevine’s annual festivals, including Main Street Fest and GrapeFest and through the Grapevine Heritage Foundation.
