Ace of Clubs House

Located 100 miles to the south of Mena is the city of Texarkana. Texarkana straddles the Arkansas/Texas stateline. In fact there is a road named State Line Avenue and it follows approx. 11 miles of the actual Arkansas/Texas state line. 

Our story today is about a location in Texarkana, Texas ~ the Ace of Clubs House.

According to local legend, money to build the Ace of Clubs House came from the winnings of a poker game won with the draw of the ace of clubs.  Local lumberman, entrepreneur and Confederate Veteran, James H. Draughon, built the home in 1885 in a trefoil design resembling the shape of the ace of clubs playing card.

In 1887 Mr. Draughon sold the home to William Whitaker, another prominent local businessman.  Mr. Whitaker sold the home in 1894 to Henry Moore, Sr., a local attorney and planter.  For ninety-one years, three generations of the Moore family occupied the home.

In 1985 Olivia Smith Moore , the last occupant of the house, deeded it to the Texarkana Museums System.

This unique Italianate Victorian style structure features a floor plan said to be inspired by James Draughon's lucky card.  One rectangular and three octagonal rooms are arranged around a central octagon, which serves as the rotunda of the home.  In the early 1900s, the Moore family added bath and kitchen wings.  The Moore family also replaced the original iron galleries with a Spanish Revival porch by 1920.

 Restoration of the house, which began in 1987, included returning the interior to the 1901 Edwardian appearance featuring gilt-trimmed ebonized woodwork and re-creations of original wall coverings where possible.  Exterior colors were matched as closely as possible to the 1900 vintage colors.