Freestone County, Texas History EVENING. JULY 18, 1968 FREESTONE MUSEUM Two Log Houses More Than 100 Years Old by JOHN BANTA Waco Times - Herald Staff FAIRFIELD - Freestone County Historical Museum has two log houses on the grounds behind the museum here. Each housed pioneer families of this county. One was built in 1845, the other in 1851 or 1852. They are both in excellent condition, considering how old they are. They have new roofs, and some work is still planned restoring stone chimneys, but they are open to visitors. THE FREESTONE COUNTY Museum is in a 111-year-old two-story brick buildlng that formerly was the Freestone County jail. It is a short distance from the courthouse near, downtown Fairfield. The Museum is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Admission charge is 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children. The larger of the log houses, known as the Carter house, has two big rooms separated by an open hallway or dog trot. One room has an upstairs. It was built In 1845 by David Livingston Carter who had brought his wife to Texas to settle, coming from Alabama. THEY LIVED in dugouts until slaves could build a log house. Logs used were two feet in diameter and 18 feet long. The logs were squared. up by use of a broad ax. A foot ada was used to cut lap joints in the logs where they interlocked at corners. Each room has a big fireplace. The Museum Assocation has furnished the old house with many items from pioneer days. One piece of furniture is a baby bed used by Alfred Payne Carter, son of David Livingston Carter. Alfred Payne Carter was born in the log house on Oct. 31, 1856 and lived in the same house until he died in July, 1945 at the age of 89. THE CARTER HOUSE was donated to the museum by David Livingston Carter of Kirvin, a grandson of the David.LIvIngston Carter who built the cabin in 1845. The other log house, known as the Watson house was built in 1851 or 1852 on Cottonwood Creek about five miles northwest of Farifield by Daniel Potter, an Englishman who came to Texas from Arkansas. Potter raised horses, and would round up wild horses, break them, and sell them. ONE MORNING while Potter was feeding his hogs a big band of Indians came out of the creek bottom. Potter had no place to hide, so he waited to see what would happen. They were friendly and passed on, except one old Indian with gray hair. He indicated to Potter that he wanted some corn. Potter gave him an arm full of corn, the old Indian said “Ug,” and rode on after the others. The logs for the house were cut from timber on Tehuacana Creek and slaves built the house. CORNER JOINTS where the logs interlock are fitted closely, as though by a skilled cabinet-maker. A. T. Watson bought the Potter property in 1901. The house and 190 acres of land were deeded to Edward Monroe Watson. In 1910, and he and his family lived in it until 1916. Later it was used as a tenant house for many years and eventually became a hay barn. Edward M. Watson Jr. acquired the house in settlement of the estate in 1966, and in 1967 donated the house to the museum. THE FREESTONE COUNTY Museum has many other historical items, ranging from a muzzle-loading rifle, complete with powder horn, ramrod, and other equipment, to pioneer household furnishings, pioneer clothing, and Indian artifacts. One display is of a complete set of early-day woodworking tools in excellent condition. [Caption to photo:] LIKE FINE CABINET JOINTS -- These logs were hewn and fitted at corners with joints that have lasted more than a hundred years. This is one corner of the old Watson house which was donated to the Freestone County Historical Museum. The joints are still in excellent condition and the logs are well preserver. Visitors may see the log house at the rear of the museum in Fairfield. [Photo]