Randlett House
a.k.a. Randlett/Ratcliff House
401 S. Centre St., Lancaster, TXLocated in the small community of Lancaster, the Randlett house provides a good illustration of vernacular Queen Anne architecture. When the two-story, balloon frame house was completed in 1896 for a local merchant, Sam Randlett, it was among Lancaster's finest homes. At one time, the town exhibited many fine Victorian homes, but the Randlett house remains one of only four good examples of Victorian houses.
Although little is known of his early years, Sam Randlett was reputed to be a sea captain prior to his settling in Lancaster in 1887. Upon his arrival in the Texas town, Randlett established a modest hardware business. His store prospered, and in 1889 he married Addie White, the eldest daughter of one of Lancaster's wealthiest citizens Mrs. Lou F. White.
In the mid-1890s, Randlett contracted with S. D. Andrews, a local builder, to construct a house. Situated on a 23-acre tract of land which Addie had inherited from her deceased father, the spacious house was planned to accommodate a large family and reflect Randlett's social status within the community. The structure was designed in the Queen Anne style which was very popular in Lancaster at that time.
In June of 1896, the house was completed, and Randlett, his wife and three children proudly moved into the wood frame house with its dominating tower. However, their happiness was short-lived when Addie died in November of that year from an asthma attack. Stricken with grief, Randlett moved to Dallas. He returned to Lancaster in 1899 and married Mary Randall a well-known artist in the area. Sam and Mary Randlett had 5 children and lived in the house until their deaths in 1945 and 1952, respectively.
In 1944 Sam was in poor health and sold the house to his youngest daughter, Alice Grace Randlett. Upon her retirement from a department store in the 60s, Miss Randlett leased the house to various tenants. In 1975 Tim and Connie Ratcliff bought the structure from her. Although it was neglected for many years, the house is currently being restored to its original appearance by its present owners.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.