Built by Judge James G. Thompson in the early 1840s on the south bank of the Red River at Preston Road.  In 1942 it was bought by Ms. Nellie Chambers and moved east of Denison to save it from the advancing waters of the newly formed Lake Texoma.  Upon her death her heirs donated the home to the Village. It was moved to its present location and restored in 1986.


The Denison Herald
Sunday, June 4, 1989
section C

Paw Paw Hill: A haven for area history
Nellie Chambers saved houses
by Ken Chambers, Herald staff writer

Historian credit Nellie Blankenship Chambers with saving 2 essential pieces of Grayson County history.   But both the James G. Thompson home and Glen Eden were almost lost again during a recent battle over her estate.
In 1942 she purchased the James G. Thompson home on Preston Bend and dismantled it.  One account has it that she was almost caught by the rising waters of new Lake Texoma before she could get the last marked load off the site.
Five years later she rebuilt and restored the log house Paw Paw Hill.
The house was built in 1830 by James G. Thompson, who would later become the first Chief Justice (County Judge) of Grayson County.  A carpenter and cabinet maker, built the log frame house, with the help of his family and possibly slaves, using white oak logs in the early 1840s on the south bank of the Red River at Preston Road.  Thompson locked hand-hewn white oak logs together with dowel pins to build the durable structure.  The interior was furnished in solid walnut.  A wide hall in the center of the house leads to a back porch with small rooms on each end. One room served as a kitchen and the other, Judge Thompson's office and post office. The hall gives the home the impression of a dog trot.  It is noted that perhaps transients along the Thompson Ferry Road might have slept in the post office room without being taken into the family quarters. Three fireplaces were made out of solid limestone which was said to have been polished to a marble-like finish.  Though dilapidated much of the craftsmanship in the 2-story, 1,500 square foot structure is still evident.  It was awarded a state historical marker in 1968, but the marker was stolen a few months ago.
Sentiment ran strongly in favor of moving and restoring historic Glen Eden on Preston Bend long before Mrs. Chambers purchased the house.  Federal Judge Randolph Bryant of Sherman purchased the building during work on Lake Texoma and began dismantling it with the help of County Judge Jake Loy.
But they are believed to have abandoned their plans when a crew sent to demolish the old Preston Bridge used wood from the house in a bonfire at their camp.
Mrs. Chambers gathered the remains, added new pieces, and assembled the top and bottom stories separately on Paw Paw Hill.
In its heyday, Glen Eden was considered a "Southern mansion" and fitting shelter for Sophia Porter, one of the most colorful figures in Grayson County history.  Best known as "The Paul Revere of Preston Bend" for her legendary journey to warn rebel soldiers of the approaching Union army, Sophia's hospitality and friendship with Sam Houston assured her place in history.
A judge's ruling Wednesday ends a battle over the estate that began when Mrs. Chambers died in 1986 and makes it possible to preserve that history.  County Court-at-law Judge Richard Pennell ruled to allow the house to be donated to the Grayson County Frontier Village at Loy Lake Park.
"This is wonderful," said Frontier Village Executive Director Vickie Hempkins.  "I think that some of our homes (at Frontier Village) but these are 2 of our finer homes."
Hempkins hopes that about $7,000 can be raised from charitable trusts and existing funds to move the homes to the 17-acre compound.  Frontier Village currently has 7 restored homes on its grounds.

Kelsey, Mary Wilson and Mavis Parrott Kelsey. JAMES GEORGE THOMPSON, 1803 -1879: CHEROKEE TRADER, TEXIAN, SECESSIONIST. College Station TX: Texas A & M University Press, 1988. First Edition. ISBN: 0961330813. Quarto. (x), 578 pages. Red cloth with gilt lettering to front cover, black & gilt lettering spine label; as issued without dust jacket. Numerous black & white illustrations; Bibliography and Index. Hardcover. New.