Alley-Carlson House

Built in the mid-nineteenth century at 501 Walker Street in Jefferson, Texas, this house is a good local example of Vernacular Greek Revival architecture. It measures about forty-four by forty-eight feet and has a five-bay south facade. A tetrastyle portico with Greek Doric capitals shelters the central entrance, which has double wood doors, sidelights and a transom. The main block has two rooms flanking a central hall, with a rear ell-wing and a small board-and-batten service building connected by a covered breezeway. Daniel N. Alley, one of Jefferson's founders, moved his family into the house in 1859, and it has been the home of a family member ever since. Alley offered land for the Marion County courthouse and jail to encourage growth toward the hill and away from the wharf and business district. The house is thought to be among the four oldest in town and remains basically as first built and furnished, with antiques brought from New Orleans by steamboat. The Texas State Historical Survey Committee designated it a landmark in 1966.