Denton County Museums
Bayless-Selby House Museum

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.

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.
 

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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