Grayson County TXGenWeb

319 West Gandy Street

Photo by Mavis Bryant, ca1999

The modest Victorian two-story, brick cottage probably was built in the late 1870s but certainly existed by 1887. A simple gable-front-and-wing design, its arched two-over-two and gingerbread trimmed gables bespeak Gothic and Italianate affinities. It has a frame kitchen at the back, characteristic of early Denison brick residences.

The two little rectangular rivets to the right of the porch roof held iron tie-bars in place that stretched through the house from front to back, holding the house together. While on some houses these are decorative Texas stars or other ornaments, these are very simple and may have been parts kyped from the MKT Railroad. The sidewalk is of brickes and the house still has its antique wire fence.

The house appears to be on the Denison's birds-eye map of 1876 and 1886. It was occupied sometime between 1880 and 1887 by John W. (ca1821 - 1896) and Bessie Wiley Mason (1836 - 1913). He was born in Mantanzas, Cuba, but moved to New York around 1825. Bessie was born in Massachusetts. It was the second marriage for both. He was a tobacconist with a shop at 310 W. Main in 1876. His son, John E. Mason (1848 - 1877), bought the cigar business of William Woolacott at 219 W. Main in December. After John E. died the following year, his father, John W., continued to operate the latter business for several years under his son's name. This may have led to confusion as to the senior Mason's middle initial. Until his death nineteen years later he was referred to sometimes as John W. and sometimes as John E. Mason. For the last twelve years of his life, he was a paralytic.

Before moving to 319 W. Gandy the Masons were neighbors of B.C. Murray on Morgan street. Through the years Murray published in his newspaper many poems and at least one song authored by Bessie. Most of them were signed "B.W. Mason." The longest of them was a Christmas poem attributed to "Mrs. J.W. Mason." It appeared December 22, 1895, having been published the previous year in the New Orleans Item after it won first place in a competition that attracted 300 submissions. The poem contains many details of New England Christmases of the mid-1800s. Bessie continued to live at 319 W. Gandy at least for a couple of years following her husband's death in 1896, but by 1901 she had moved to 320 N. Mirick. At the time of her death in 1913 she was living with a niece at 1700 S. Houston, near the avenue's intersection with what is now US 69.

From 1909 to 1968, the house belonged successfully to three sisters, Lena C. Nassoy, Gertrude Nassoy Kerr, and Anna Nassoy Clark. John DeGolian Mason, owner from 1971 to 1993, painted the exterior pink and cream after a visit to Florida. Felix Munson also lived in the house.