By Hannah Barricks
Photos courtesy of Visit Grapevine
Grapevine Heritage Foundation made moves this summer, relocating the historic Charles Edwin and Georgia Winfrey House, built in 1908, continuing the city’s decades-long commitment to preservation.
On the morning of June 24, the home traveled slowly but surely down Historic Main Street, making its way from Shady Brook Drive to its new permanent home at Settlement to City Museums’ Ted R. Ware Plaza. Beginning at 9 a.m., the move took approximately three hours as residents lined the route to watch a piece of Grapevine’s story in motion.
The Winfrey House, originally constructed on East Franklin Street, has already seen more than one address in its 117-year history. Over 20 years ago, it was relocated to Shady Brook Drive by the City of Grapevine. The June 24 move marks the latest effort to preserve the property, ensuring that the home’s history — and the family’s legacy — remain visible to the community.
The house once belonged to Charles Edwin Winfrey, a longtime employee of Tarrant County, and his wife, Georgia, a lifelong resident and civic leader. Their family lineage traces back to several of Grapevine’s earliest and most influential settlers, including the Starrs, Lucases and Willhoites. These families were instrumental in shaping the city, serving as business owners, community leaders and elected officials.
Recognized for its ties to notable residents and its embodiment of the city’s cultural fabric, the Winfrey House qualifies for landmark status. More than just a building, it symbolizes Grapevine’s civic spirit and family-centered history.
Its new location at Settlement to City Museums completes a collection of historic structures that already includes the Donald Schoolhouse, the Keeling House Museum and the Grapevine Cotton Ginner’s Museum. Together, these buildings trace the city’s journey from a pioneer settlement to a thriving municipality.
Once installed at Ted R. Ware Plaza, the Winfrey House will become more than a static exhibit. Its broad front porch will serve as a gathering space for children’s programs, educational activities and performing arts events, offering a living connection between Grapevine’s past and present.
Funding for the relocation was made possible through proceeds from Grapevine’s annual festivals, including Main Street Fest and GrapeFest, as well as support from the Grapevine Heritage Foundation.
As the Winfrey House settles into its new foundation, it brings with it more than a century of stories — of family, civic duty and the ties that bind generations together. For Grapevine, the relocation is both a nod to the past and an investment in the future, connecting the community to the families who shaped the city.
“Preserving the Winfrey House ensures future generations can connect with the stories that built our community,” city officials said in a statement. With its new chapter beginning, the Winfrey House stands ready to welcome visitors, students and neighbors — just as it has for more than 100 years.