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Don’t miss the 51st Annual Holiday Tour of Homes. Learn more about it here!
Hometown Heroes
Our history books share exciting stories of many heroes throughout their pages. giant leap into space exploration.
Weddings & Celebrations
By Appointment
Holiday Prairie Adventure Camp
Kids ages 7-13
Enjoy Christmas baking, music, games & crafts at Prairie Adventure Christmas Camp! Dec 17th, 18th and 19th, 9am-Noon. Located in our Wilmeth 1-room schoolhouse!
McKinney Farmers Market
Hours of Operation:
April – December 8 AM – Noon
January – March 9 AM – Noon
The market is closed November 30th and December 28th.
The mission of The Heritage Guild of Collin County is to:
Celebrate Community. Preserve History. Inspire the Future.
The Heritage Guild of Collin County achieves this mission by:
- Hosting community events that bring people together to celebrate Collin County’s heritage.
- Maintaining buildings, artifacts and grounds that show how people lived during a key period in Collin County history (1850-1940).
- Providing educational programming to demonstrate how people lived from 1850-1940.
- Supporting Collin County and McKinney in achieving a community that owns its unique history in stewardship for the future.
Our mission is funded through:
- Volunteers/Members
- Grants/Donations
- Sponsorships
- Programming
- Facility Rentals
The Heritage Guild of Collin County and Chestnut Square are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Where Collin County History Comes Alive!
Step back in time with a visit to Chestnut Square Historic Village. Sitting on 2.5 shaded acres just two blocks south of the historic downtown McKinney square, Chestnut Square provides an opportunity to step back in time and regain a sense of community. With ten structures dating from 1854 to 1930, the Village offers docent led tours, facility rentals, a wedding venue, living history demonstrations and community events like the #1 Farmers Market in Texas and the Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank-Off.
Celebrate Community
Chestnut Square holds community oriented events that bring people together to enjoy McKinney and Collin County’s heritage.
Preserving History
Chestnut Square brings history and heritage of Collin County to life in the most fun and interactive ways possible.
Inspiring The Future
Everyone can play a part in the success of Chestnut Square. Our volunteers are the heart of the Village.
The Buildings of Chestnut Square
- 1854 Faires House
- 1863 "Two Bit" Taylor Inn
- 1870 Dulaney Cottage
- 1870 Johnson House
- J.B. Wilmeth One Room Schoolhouse
- 1908 Foote Baptist Church (The Chapel at Chestnut Square)
- 1916 Dulaney House
- 1918 Brimer Anderson Grocery
- 1920 Bevel House
Known as the Oldest House in McKinney, the Greek Revival Faires residence was built on Tennessee Street. Mr. Faires, a blacksmith by trade, came to Texas from Tennessee. The “dog trot” style house boasts the original front door made by Mr. Faires himself. When the home was moved to Chestnut Square, 2 civil war era bullets were bullets were discovered lodged in the foundation posts.
The Armsted Taylor house was purchased for $340 in 1868. Located on Chestnut Street near the “Jockey Lot”, drummers (salesmen) were given a bed for the night, a hot breakfast and had their clothes laundered for 25 Cents (2 bits). The Taylor’s adult daughter Jennie had her own separate quarters, where she lived and conducted her sewing business.
(Indigenous to Chestnut Square)
The Cottage, home to Dr. Joseph and Lucy Ann Field Dulaney, originally sat on the corner of Chestnut and Anthony Streets. Dr. Dulaney was a Civil War surgeon who practiced medicine in McKinney and in Tennessee, his home state. Dr. Dulaney left Lucy with 3 small children when he died of pneumonia in 1877, one of whom also died of pneumonia, in 1883.
(Indigenous to Chestnut Square)
Captain John Johnson bought this Victorian home with Italianate trims in 1878, where he and Polly raised 13 children. Captain Johnson served as a State Senator and legislator. His great nephew and McKinneyite Bobby Younger was a WWII hero whose plane was shot down in 1944. A room in the house displays a tribute to Bobby’s service. In 2015 a crash site was discovered, and Bobby’s remains were identified along with most of his crew. On June 27, 2018 they were laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery and memorialized at McKinney’s Veterans Park.
A reproduction of the 1892 one room schoolhouse, the building features separate front doors for girls and boys. Children typically went to school twice a day, breaking to go home for farm chores. The Wilmeths operated the first free school in McKinney, first in their home and then in the schoolhouse until 1922.
A turn of the century white clapboard chapel, the church was moved to Chestnut Square from Proper, TX, a community near the current Virginia Parkway and Stonebridge Drive intersection, in 1994. The transport began at 4:30 in the morning and took 14 hours to accomplish. The Chapel boasts the original bell in the bell tower, and holds 150 guests for a wedding, memorial, or church service.
(Indigenous to Chestnut Square)
Built by John Field for his widowed sister Lucy Field Dulaney and her 2 children, this stately Prairie style home was built at the corner of Chestnut and Anthony Street, after the “cottage” was moved to the less prestigious lot next door. The widowed Mr. Field planned to live with Lucy, his niece and nephew, however he died just a month before the house was complete.
(Indigenous to Chestnut Square)
Originally on Lee Street near Howell and Graves Streets, Mr. Brimer served local farmers by filling their orders while they did other business in town. His store was also known as a place to catch up on local news (gossip). When his daughter Dixie took over the store, she treated children with good report cards and paddled the ones who acted up! The store is the home of Doc & Clyde’s Ice Cream Freezer Museum, the largest collection in the world (Guinness Book of World Records).
(Indigenous to Chestnut Square)
An Arts and Crafts bungalow, the house features wide porches and typical architectural detailing. The Bevel family lived in the house until 1975, then a 2007 fire rendered the home uninhabitable by the owners at the time. It was then purchased by the Guild, and completely preserved and renovated for use as a reception and event space.
Like stepping through a looking glass into the past
A visit to Chestnut Square is like stepping through a looking glass into the past…a bygone era when craftsmanship, hard work and simple pleasures were the bedrock of life. The grounds and buildings are beautifully maintained — no small feat, given the costs to keep it all pristine.
It’s a special place to which all parents with children today should bring them for a few hours, to give them a real sense for history of everyday life among their ancestors. You’ll love the people who make all this possible…they’re very knowledgeable of the history, and eager to impart the secrets of life in a simpler time.
A farmers market that has produce! 😊
Always fresh and the vendors are always in the same place so you know where to go if short on time. Love Brothers hummus my favorite addiction. I don’t know the farm that has the biggest tent there but they have all the produce you could think of and they still have fresh strawberries 🍓 My Saturday morning ritual and what a way to start the weekend.
Lovely wedding location
We attended a small country wedding this past weekend at the Chestnut Square Historic Village. It’s a series of small cottages used for different venues. The chapel held about 100 guests with wooden pews. The reception was held in another cottage that catered BBQ and outdoor dance area under covered patio with disc jockey. Amble parking nearby. The staff was friendly and the event was fun to attend. If I lived in this city and would like to renew our vows, I’d consider this location.
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Tues, Thurs & Friday 9am - 3pm
Village Tours: Thursday and Saturday at 11am