Haden House

Late 19th Century Victorian taste equated beauty and elegance with ornament so it is not surprising that prominent Ladonia merchant J.B. Haden built his imposing mansion in the Eastlake style, one that would have appropriately reflected his high community standing in 1894. Constructed by local craftsmen Martin and Krause, whose German background can be seen in the finely executed exterior and interior woodwork, the Haden House is as impressive now as it must have seemed then, and is an important contribution to Fannin County's rich architectural heritage. Still containing most of the Haden family's original and exquisite furnishings, the fine Eastlake Victorian house continues to be used as a family residence. J.B. Haden was born in Missouri in 1859, moved to Ladonia in 1869, and began his successful business career as a clerk in 1880. Within two years: he had opened his own general store, which quickly proved profitable, and had married Elizabeth Holderness. The couple subsequently had four sons; Will, Charlie, Joe and Maurice.

A local biographical sketch made of Haden in 1889 characterized him as a good Baptist, an excellent businessman, and extremely charitable to the needy, all qualities that made him an outstanding Ladonia citizen. He was, in addition, a literary individual, writing a local news column for many years that chronicled life in Ladonia, copies of which can still be found in the library of the Haden House. He built his magnificent residence in 1894. Concerning its construction, there is an interesting piece of family lore regarding some local espionage. While it was being built, the plans and blueprints for the house were locked up each evening, until one day they were dis-covered missing. They reappeared three days later, the mystery solved when after several months had passed, and not far away a house was being erected along suspiciously similar lines.

J.B. Haden died in 1953, three years after his wife's death, and their son Maurice continued to occupy the house until 1963, then putting it on the market. It was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cook of Dallas, who recognized the value of both its exterior beauty as well as the quality of its fine furnishings. Although some exterior and interior renovation work was done by the couple, the Haden House was left almost exactly the same as when it was occupied by the Hadens, a tradition its present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Van Daugherty have continued.

Both its architectural design, almost a visual catalog of East- lake structural and ornamental elements, and its richly decorated interior, a veritable museum of Victorian furnishings, appointments, and art objects, qualify the Haden as a showplace, a designation it deserved when J.B. Haden first built it in 1894 and a distinction it continues to hold today.