The Saigling House

Restored historic house is the new home for ArtCentre of Plano

You may have been browsing a garage sale or thrift shop when you suddenly spied in the furthest corner an object of interest, something that had seen better times and needed some restoration to bring it to life again. You may have purchased it. With some loving care, that newly refurbished treasure may have become a source of pride in your home.

That is much like what the City of Plano is doing with the Saigling House at 902 E. 16th St. For decades, the once stately home stood in obscurity, nestled behind rows and rows of overgrown foliage. Not one to let a treasure slip away, the City of Plano took steps a few years ago to purchase the home and renew it, bringing back its vibrance for Plano residents to enjoy.

The Saigling House is located at the northwest corner of Haggard Park, across the street from the Cox Building, a former Plano high school // 1946 aerial photo courtesy Clint Haggard

The restoration of the home will be complete by late January 2017, and according to Suzy Jones, executive director of the ArtCentre of Plano, the ArtCentre is excited to make the Saigling House its permanent home.

As downtown Plano is experiencing a rebirth as an arts district with art galleries, shopping and entertainment, the Saigling House stands to be the crown jewel of downtown upon completion.

“Frank Turner, who was deputy city manager at the time, took on this project as a personal passion,” Suzy said.

Architects and workers have restored the Saigling House to resemble its original appearance, as evidenced by the 1928 photo from the Plano Star Courier (top left); a 1948 photo from the Plano Garden Club shows that the front porch was completely removed at some point // 2015 and 2016 photos show the process of restoring the front porch // photos Jennifer Shertzer
The architects’ rendering of the Saigling House front exterior // photo courtesy Plano Parks and Recreation

The Saigling House, built in 1906, will provide a new home for the ArtCentre of Plano, as well as an elegant and comfortable site for weddings, receptions and corporate events. The rear lawn opens up to a view of Haggard Park, which was donated by Celestine Pillot Saigling, the original owner of the Saigling House, so patrons can have an outdoor event with a vista of the vibrant downtown Plano park. The house and the park both fall under the auspices of the Plano Parks and Recreation Department.

Celestine and her husband, C.F. Saigling, began construction of their home in 1906, but C.F. died before its completion. Saigling Elementary in Plano is named for him, a prominent property owner who operated one of the first lumberyards, sawmills and flour mills in Plano.

C.F. served in the Plano City Council in 1884-85, the first official PISD school board in 1903, the Fire Department Hose Co. and the board of directors of Farmers and Merchants National Bank. A member of First Christian Church, C.F. was credited with building the first sidewalk in Plano at present-day K Avenue and 15th St. and reportedly owned one of the first automobiles in Plano, a Buick.

Before and after photos of a main room at the northwest corner of the home // photo Jennifer Shertzer

Celestine, whose French family settled in the Houston area in 1837, lived in one of the first houses in Houston to have an attached kitchen with running water, closets and gas lighting. Sam Houston, the president of the Republic of Texas, would stay at their home when passing through the area. The Pillot House has been restored and is located in Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston.

The Saigling House in Plano was one of the first brick houses in the city and was the first with a basement. During renovation, workers discovered that hand-made nails were used in the upstairs flooring. An uncommon tile porch on the side of the house also provided something unheard of in Plano.

“I lived down the street, and Ann Carpenter, a life-long friend, took tap dancing lessons with me on that tile porch when we were kids. Dr. [O.T.] Mitchell owned the house then,” recalled Plano resident Sue Rush Tankersley. Dr. Mitchell bought the home from Celestine’s estate in 1935 for $6,000, and it sold three times after that before the city made its purchase.

This floral fireplace tile is original to the Saigling House

Two granddaughters of Celestine, Hazel and Ouida Saigling, lived with her on school days during high school so they could walk across the street to school, according to Susan Todd, a great-granddaughter who resides in the Smoot House across 16th St. from the home. The roads were too difficult to maneuver in bad weather when they would drive from the family farm, which is located today near the intersection of Coit Road and Highway 190.

Susan Todd remembers her mother, Ouida, recalling stories of the children, dressed in their finest clothing, sitting quietly in the hallway, waiting for the adults to finish their Christmas dinner so the children could receive their meal. This was customary of the time.

The City of Plano is restoring the home for approximately $3 million with funds from Park bonds, TIF funds and other available resources. The ArtCentre of Plano is charitably kicking in some $300,000 for the project to help establish its permanent home.

“We were looking for a new place. Our board of directors is giving it 100 percent,” Suzy added. “For the first time, the ArtCentre is not paying rent. People will come to see the house and stumble upon the ArtCentre.”

Before and after photos of the 1st floor front door and porch that face 16th Street

The downstairs area will be available for gallery space and events, and the upstairs space will provide facilities for classes and offices. Naming rights on rooms are being given in exchange for donations.

“The City has had the ArtCentre of Plano in the center of the renovation,” she added, “even with location of plugs, fans and such.”

Suzy said a series of grand openings is being planned in 2017 for specific groups such as city council members, school board members, teachers and specialized groups.

Typically, 9-11 art expeditions are presented by ArtCentre of Plano each year, including at least two from the advanced placement art classes at the three senior high schools. The first exhibit in March will be the artwork of Jean Newman, a local artist who was the founder of Plano Profile magazine.

“The City,” Suzy emphasized, “is bringing life back to this house.”


Contributing writer’s comment: I am the great-grandson of Celestine Saigling, the original owner of the Saigling House, which is currently being restored by the City of Plano. On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the City and all of those involved for including us in this restoration and making us proud of our Plano heritage derived from the founding mothers and fathers of Plano.

Editor’s note: Special thanks to history buffs John Brooks, Candace Fountoulakis and Cheryl Smith for help in locating historic photos.

More photos of the ArtCentre of Plano restoration // click to enlarge:

ArtCentre of Plano > [codepeople-post-map]
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5 Comments

  1. says: Candace Fountoulakis

    Awesome work Rick. Really enjoyed the historical detail in this remarkable recounting of a truly priceless part of Plano’s past. I look forward to touring the completed renovation and hearing about the restoration of the details within the structure. Part of the fence on the west side of the yard was removed after an automobile crashed into it a few years ago, bending it beyond repair. I salvaged the piece from a dumpster and now it serves as a corner signpost within the quiet acreage of Young Cemetery, circa 1847.

    1. says: Rafael

      I bought the old house in TX. Old houses need a lot of work with for reconstruction. I had a lot of problem with opening some important rooms. Thanks, guys from “DML Locksmith service” made fast help. It’s their website – https://www.dmllocksmith.com/. If you make reconstruction old house and have similar problems use this service.

  2. says: Larry Plumlee

    As a boy in the late 1940’s and 1950’s, this house was the residence of Fred Myers, the mayor of Plano, his wife Lee Myers, and their children Martin Myers and his younger sister Ann Myers. My next door neighbor, Sue Rush and I loved to roller skate, which doubled my speed of locomotion, and the best place to skate was on the very smooth sidewalks in the front yard of the Myer’s home. They not only were dyed a dark purple color, but a special smooth concrete was used so that we skaters felt we were skating on air. I skated all over Plano, but never found smoother concrete than at the Myers’ house. Ann Myers usually skated with us, which she loved because we were a couple of years older than Ann, and her mother Lee was my mother’s best friend and both mothers were members of the Thursday Study Club led by my senior English teacher Mary Alice Skaggs, who taught the all the juniors and seniors English at Plano School across K St. from the Myer’s home. In the winter, many Planonians went to the indoor roller skating rink in Vickery, across Greenville Ave. from the Presbyterian Orphanage. This rink had a very smooth, varnished floor, and there was no roller skating rink nearer to Plano.

  3. says: Valine Clark

    Hello Mr. Saigling!
    I am reading about the family in my grandfather’s book. I am the granddaughter of Joseph Clark who was the husband of Celeste Saigling. Valine and Camille were my aunts. Love to know about the family history!

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