The Chatam House Series by Arlene James
The Grand Old House
Artwork by Lisa Onvani
Chatam House was built in 1860 by Chandler Morgan Chatam, a wealthy cotton planter, for his bride Jeannie Belle (nee Lindsey). Situated just outside of the thriving community of Buffalo Creek, Texas, (some forty-five miles south of Dallas and sixty north of Waco) the great house sat on the edge of 800 fertile acres. The town gradually grew to encompass the now 15-acre estate. The farming acreage was sold off to finance other ventures, primarily the railroads and cotton gins, as were several other once thriving plantations in the immediate area. Only Chatam House, passed down from generation to generation, still stands in opulent splendor as a reminder of the area's once proud antebellum heritage.
The original mansion contained 22 bedrooms, but over the years the second floor has been reconfigured into four suites containing ten separate bedrooms and three bedroom/sitting room combinations, for a total of thirteen bed chambers, each with its own bath, and four separate sitting rooms. This does not include the accommodations in the second and attic floors of the detached carriage house.
The schematics below offer a rough general floor plan.
The ground floor of the great house remains essentially as it was originally designed, accounting only for the addition of modern amenities.
The second floor has seen the greatest remodeling, though great care has been taken to maintain the charm and look of the original design.
Furnishings 
Victorian Renaissance Revival Sofa Set with inlaid Marquetry
The Front Parlor of Chatam House is a sizable room with two large groupings for furniture divided by a tall, marble-topped table that routinely holds a large vase of fresh flowers, thanks to Magnolia. The Aunties prefer the Victorian Renaissance Revival Sofa Set, upholstered in gold and cream satin, similar to the one above, for entertaining guests. |
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