Bayless-Selby House Museum

<% tempinfo="" tempHoliday="" set objconn = server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") objConn.ConnectionTimeout = 15 objConn.CommandTimeout = 10 'objConn.Open "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" & "Data Source=" & Server.MapPath("/fpdb/New_t_Dept.mdb") objConn.open "DRIVER={SQL Server};SERVER=SQL3;DATABASE=PublicDB;UID=PublicDBuser;PWD=PublicDBuser" Set objRS = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset") 'Open the recordset getting a list of all items strSQL="Select * from t_Holiday" objRS.Open strSQL , ObjConn, adOpenDynamic, ,adCmdText if not objRS.EOF then tempInfo=objRS("Holiday") end if objRS.Close 'strSQL="Select H_Description from t_Holiday_List Where H_Date<='" & Date()+10 & "' and H_Date>='" & Date() & "'" strSQL="Select H_Description from t_Holiday_List Where End_Post_Date>=getDate() and Start_PostDate<=getDate()" 'response.write strSQL objRS.Open strSQL , ObjConn, adOpenDynamic, ,adCmdText do while not objRS.eof tempHoliday = tempHoliday & objRS("H_Description") & "
" objRS.moveNext() loop objRS.Close objConn.Close set objRS=Nothing set objConn=Nothing %>

<%=tempHoliday%><%=tempInfo%> <% 'Display Saturday Clossing on all museums 'if tempHoliday<>"" then 'Response.Write "The Museum will be closed December 25, 26 and 27, as well as the usual weekend closings of Sundays and Mondays." 'end if%>
 


in the
Historical Park of Denton County
(just minutes from the Downtown Square)

Location: 317 W. Mulberry Street, Denton
Museum Hours: Tuesday - Saturday
10:00 a.m. - Noon * 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Admission: Free except for Scheduled Group Tours - $1 per person
Donation includes admission to all three Denton County Museums:
Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum
Bayless-Selby House Museum
Denton County African American Museum
  Handicapped Accessible
Contact: Robyn L. Lee, Manager
(940) 349-2865 (Metro)
  Email

The Bayless-Selby House Museum is operated with significant support from
Denton County, the City of Denton, the Denton County Historical Commission, and the Historical Park Foundation of Denton County.

 

Calendar of Events for 2009-10

 (click here for the complete 2009-10 Lecture/Tour Schedule)
(click here for the complete 2009-10 The Victorian Home Schedule)
  (click here for the complete 2009 Holiday Musicals Schedule)

 

PDF Download: The Historical Park of Denton County Celebrates Holidays 

 "If these walls could talk . . ."

 Free Lecture/Tour Series
Interpretation & Comprehensive Discussion of Topics
Weekend & Week Day Schedule
(Please call, e-mail or check the website for any changes to this calendar)

 

Thursday, November 5  *  11 - 11:45

Victorian Celebrations:  Thanksgiving in Denton a Century Ago!

 

 

Thursday, November 19  *  11 - 11:45

Victorian Fashions:  Ole Man Winter

Shopping on Denton's Square for Winter Fashions

Who sold what?  Who wore what?

Sorry!  Postponed until further notice
Apologies for any inconvenience

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Victorian Home Series  *  $5 Admission

Saturday, November 14  *  1:30 - 2:45

The Victorian Woman: The Lady's Magazines

Which Magazines?  What did they offer?

How did the Victorian Lady of the House Use the Magazines

to make life more beautiful?  What else did they offer the Victorian Woman?

 

  




 

Transformation of House to Museum

In February, 1998, the City of Denton announced an auction for the house that is now the Bayless-Selby House Museum. Mildred Hawk of Denton, a member of the Denton County Historical Commission, was the successful bidder. In April, 1998, Mrs. Hawk gave the house to the Historical Commission for restoration as a museum. In June, 1998, the house was moved to its present location on site in the newly-created Historical Park of Denton County, just a glimpse away from the historic Downtown Denton. Restoration took just over three years, and the house was opened as the Bayless-Selby House Museum September 29, 2001. September 24, 2005, Denton County Historical Commission dedicated and unveiled the first of Denton County's Historic Landmarks.

Who were the Bayless and Selby families?


David Bayless Sr. and George Selby at the house during renovation.

Samuel A. Bayless and his wife, Mary, came to Denton from Monroe County, Tennessee. Samuel purchased a two-roomed farmhouse, located at what we know now as 1301 Myrtle Street, Denton, in 1884. That farmhouse is the one-story part of the museum. Samuel contracted to construct the two-story part of the house in 1898. It is in a very popular architectural design from the late 19th century known as Victorian Queen Anne-style. Samuel died in 1919, and Mrs. Bayless chose not to continue to live in the house. Instead, she arranged with a neighboring nursery man, R. L. Selby, Sr., to exchange houses with her, and she and her family moved out of the house to enable the Selby family to move in on Thanksgiving Day 1920. The Selby family retained ownership of the house until 1970. The family still owns and operates the nursery business in the Selby Greenhouses, located near the Myrtle Street address of the house. The Bayless families live in Dallas, McKinney, and Denison. Many family members who were so much a part of the transformation of the house to a museum have died, but memories live on, and the families have continued their visits several times a year, some from as far away as California, others from just a few blocks away. The families are major donors to the museum, and their visits include many hours reminiscing in the gardens to which they have contributed so much.
 

China Paints Inspired Women

In Memoriam
Lewis Marie Selby

"In the presence of a lady . . ."

 

Support for the Arts in Denton County

 





Informational material for the monthly lecture series will be on display for visitors in the Community Room.

Guestbook:  Please take a few seconds and fill out our guestbook.  We are interested in who visits our site.

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Please visit Bayless-Selby House Museum and the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum when you are in Denton.

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