Historic Tyler on Tour, 2006
Mahon-Bell-Prestwood House
Stasha Gominak & Peter Milne House
625 S. College
Located in the Brick Streets Historic District, this Queen Anne Classical Revival home is a two story wood frame dwelling with steeply pitched intersecting front and side gables. The lot was sold about 1884 to J. W. Mahon, professor at Mahon's commercial College. He and his wife Myra hired J. W. Loggins, a local carpenter, to build a 1½ story dwelling. The Mahon's sold the property to Thomas Bell, a local physician and his wife Fannie in 1886 for $600 and $280 in notes.
In 1894 the Bells contracted with Solomon Lasseter to repair the house and enlarge it to a full two story, adding a room and a walled cellar which eventually became the garage. The Bells occupied the house until 1909 when Fannie Bell died. In 1912 Dr. Bell gave the house to his daughter, Maggie Bell Prestwood. She lived in the house many years with her husband Austin, who was a clerk in the general office of the Cotton Belt Railroad. In 1927 Pat Hairston, a local contractor, was hired to remodel the interior and make repairs including a new foundation, a new room on the 2nd floor, removal of the old kitchen, and construction of a new one.
In 1995 the home was purchased by Kim and Tim Formby who undertook an extensive renovation. Current owners Peter Milne and his wife Stasha Gominak have lived in the home for two years and are involved in making compatible additions to this lovely Queen Anne Revival style home retaining original mantles and using existing patterns to restore wood work and moldings. The original tightly grained yellow pine floors are both beautiful and representative of fine woods that are no longer available. Recent additions include the rose chandelier on the front porch and the two crystal and brass chandeliers in the entry hall which were all New Orleans finds.
Peter and Stasha particularly enjoy the deep front wrap around porch which is a perfect entertaining spot. We appreciate Peter and Stasha sharing this lovely home with us and showing how they maintained the charm of yesteryear while adding the amenities of today.
