A historic 1918 North Texas home is being put up on the auction block
PLANO, Texas — One of Plano's hidden gems, the historic Harrington home, is coming up for auction.
Built by one of the city's founding families in 1918, the home and its nearly four-acre property along Alma Drive are up for auction, marking a pivotal moment in local history.
Candace Fountoulakis, a local preservation advocate, is excited about the upcoming open house this Sunday.
"Oh yes, I wouldn't miss it. Who knows if it will still be here in a year or so?" she said.
While many are drawn to the home's historical value, its future remains uncertain. The property does not have an official historical designation, though many believe it qualifies.
The home was first constructed in 1916 by Fred Harrington. An old newspaper clipping shows the cost to build the home was $10,000.
The Harrington property is the last piece of what was once a 200-acre farm, now surrounded by Plano's rapid development. The Dallas-based real-estate auction firm Williams and Williams is managing the sale, and sees opportunity in its potential.
"This is a prime development opportunity for someone," says Fontana Fitzwilson, Executive VP of Commercial Sales for Williams and Williams Real Estate Auction. "The land is worth a lot of money and the homestead has historical value," she said.
Fitzwilson tells WFAA there is interest in the property by corporate entities, developers, non-profits, and groups looking to preserve it. There are two homes on the 3.88 acre property: the original home and a much smaller 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home that was relocated there in the early 2000s.
"It would be much better to reuse and repurpose it rather than let it just go away," said Fountoulakis.
Despite the emotional weight of parting with a family heirloom, the Harrington descendant behind the sale believes it's time to pass the dream to someone else.
An open house is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 15 and the online auction will run from September 23rd to the 25th. Bidders must create a free account at auctionnetwork.com in order to register to bid.
