J. C. Bright House

This house was built in 1911 by banker and pharmacist Josiah Clyde Bright and his wife Effie Wells Bright. Their first home, located at 808 Saint Vincent Street, was sold in 1910 to accommodate their growing family. Clyde, born on February 12, 1876, was the son of W J and Nora Mitchell Bright. Nora was the daughter of Eli Mitchell, one of the early settlers of DeWitt’s Colony, an area settled by Stephen F. Austin’s colonists. Clyde and Effie were married on May 11, 1898. Effie, born on February 17, 1877, in the area, was the daughter of James Bailey and Josephine Henry Wells.

Effie passed away on March 19, 1920, from the flu and is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in the Wells family plot. On September 10, 1921, Clyde married Margaret Clark “Maggie” Sellers, born on February 15, 1891, in the area. Maggie was the daughter of Jackson Robert Sellers, a Georgian, and Endura Belle Bissett Sellers, a local resident. Clyde and Maggie had one daughter, Margaret Clyde Bright Spacek.

Family members recall that this house was originally built in the middle of the block but was moved to the corner to make space for a house for one of the daughters. The home features a lovely staircase leading to a central landing and large upstairs bedrooms. Originally, the house had a porte-cochère on the east side, allowing vehicles to enter and exit the premises easily. Large interior pillars were part of the design but were removed by Mrs. M S Spooner in the 1930s.

Clyde passed away on December 27, 1943, and Maggie on May 8, 1964. They are both buried in the Masonic Cemetery.

The home showcases a beautiful staircase, large upstairs bedrooms, and architectural features such as a porte-cochère (a covered entrance large enough for vehicles to pass through) and interior pillars that were later removed. The house was moved to its corner location to accommodate additional family housing.