History of Miss Belle's House

A white, two-story home with black trim around the windows is one of the oldest buildings in the City of Richardson. The house, known as Miss Belle’s House, was built between 1886-1889. It originally sat on the corner of Sherman & Kaufman in downtown Richardson. Since it was constructed, the home has seen many owners and served as more than just a home over the years.

According to an article written in the Richardson Echo printed on Oct. 15, 1937, the original owner of the home, A.H. Hill, was a beloved teacher in Richardson. In 1889, he sold the house and land to a man named William Strait, who at the time, owned the adjacent lots.

13 years later, in 1902, the house was once again sold, this time to a woman named Margaret A. Robberson. She purchased the home for her 32-year-old spinster, schoolteacher daughter Miss Virginia Bell, also known as “Miss Belle.” For nearly 40 years, Miss Belle operated a private school out of the house. Since then, the home is referred to as Miss Belle’s House.

After Miss Belle’s passing, the home saw several owners from 1940-1979. It was first sold to Lester and Billye Meyer in 1941, who then sold it to Newton and Ida Lewis in 1946. Then in 1950 Bernice Vickery bought the house. She never lived in it, but instead rented it out. After remarrying, she was known as Bernice Couch. In 1979, the children of Bernice and Sterling Couch donated the house to the City of Richardson in their parent’s names.

Miss Belle's House on the Move

Miss Belle’s House has lived at three separate locations in its lifetime. It will move once more, to its final location late 2024.

Move #1 (1979)
The house was first moved in 1979 from its original address, 206 Sherman St., to Owens Spring Creek Farm, which was once located at 1401 E. Lookout Dr. During that the time, the exterior and interior of the home was renovated by the Richardson Service League, later known as the Junior League of Richardson. The house was officially opened to the public in 1981 for supervised tours. The following year, in 1982, the house received a Texas Historical Marker. The Junior League of Richardson gave tours of the home for more than 30 years until the Owens Farm was sold.

Move #2 (2021)
Miss Belle’s House was then moved to a temporary location at the City’s Fire Training and Operations Center, 1621 E. Lookout Dr., in 2021. The home is still in this location but will soon move to its final location.

Move #3 (Late 2024)
This third and final move is expected to take place late 2024. Miss Belle’s House will be moved three miles to Huffhines Park, 200 N. Plano Rd. When the home is moved, it will not be open to the public until it undergoes renovations to ensure it is safe for visitors.

Additional information and updates about the upcoming move will be provided once available.

Who was Miss Belle?

Virginia Bell, known as “Miss Belle,” was born on July 21, 1870. She was described as a small red-haired woman who was a beloved teacher in Richardson. According to an article in the Richardson Echo printed on April 12, 1940, “it has been said that the most outstanding boys and girls of Richardson received their early education from Miss Belle.”

For several years, Miss Belle was a public-school teacher in Richardson before opening her own private school in her home. This home, “Miss Belle’s House,” was purchased for her by her parents in 1902. At the time, Miss Belle was referred to as a 32-year-old spinster. Her parents bought the home because they wanted her to be taken care of with a home of her own and a school.

For nearly 40 years Miss Belle taught young children from her home. An advertisement in the Richardson Echo from Sept. 4, 1931 shows that tuition to attend was $4 per month. Other articles printed show that she took her students on field trips to the zoo and held end of the year picnics for her students.

In 1938, Miss Belle became sick with the flu. She was then later hospitalized and moved to Dallas with her sister to be cared for. On April 11, 1940, Miss Belle passed away. In an obituary printed in the Richardson Echo, she is described as someone who was “always interested in civic improvement and the beautification of the Richardson community.”

Miss Belle’s House, the oldest building in Richardson, was declared a Texas Historical Landmark and is set to be moved to a permanent location late 2024.