Bayless-Selby House Museum

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Denton County Museums will be closed Saturday May 23, and Monday May 25.


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

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

 

*  June Events


 The Victorian Home Series

 JUNE EVENT RESCHEDULED
 Quilling Workshop  *  Saturday, June 20  *  1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
 Quilling Workshop  *  Reservations Required  *  $5 per person
Tools & Paper Included with admission  *  Take what you make!
Susannah Lindsay McLaughlin, Master Quiller on Site
Beginners welcome!  Intermediate artists will be shown new techniques!

 

"If these walls could talk . . ." Free lectures/tours

Interpretation & Comprehensive Discussion of Topics
Please call, e-mail or check the website for any changes to this calendar

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
JUNE EVENT RESCHEDULED FROM PREVIOUS CALENDAR DATE 

Saturday, June 6  *  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
 Readings of Dickens' The Pickwick Papers
Denton Dickens Fellowship

As you can see, Mr. Pickwick, Mrs. Bardell, and other characters from The Pickwick Papers will be reading and acting their parts for this afternoon’s delightful program 

Saturday, June 20 *  10 – noon  *  Free

Denton County Master Gardeners
Herb, Vegetable, Flower & Fruit Show
Denton County Fire Fighters Memorial Park
Adjacent to the Bayless-Selby House Museum

Bring your entries at 9 * Tour Museum Gardens 10 – noon * Free
Learn about Square Foot Gardening with Mel Bartholomew
Special Play Area for Children on Fire Fighters Memorial Park


Awards for Show at Noon

For Further Information on the Show * 940.349.2883
 

        



 

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

Piano Restoration Underway

“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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