The Arlington Landmark Preservation Commission recognizes a recently repurposed home for its historic roots.The Thornton Inn is a downtown Arlington bed and breakfast that occupies the same building that was once home to the Thornton family.
The Thorntons were a prominent early Arlington family that migrated to Texas from Tennessee. In 1906, William Alexander Thornton built the home and today the building is still referred to affectionately as the Thornton House.
The Thornton family has a street and school in Arlington named after them.
Thornton Elementary School is named to honor Myrtle Lee Thornton who was a respected Arlington High math teacher.
Myrtle Lee lived in the home with her sister Grace until 1958.
In the 1960's, the Sigma Phi Beta fraternity bought the house and its members stayed there for four decades.
In 2005, the University of Texas at Arlington required all its fraternities and sororities be located on campus, and the property was vacated.
In 2006, the property was purchased by its current owners and renovated. They used it as a real estate office and last spring they decided to make it into a bed and breakfast.
Last week the City of Arlington recognized the house for its place in Arlington history with a plaque to be displayed on the location that recognizes the Thornton Inn's place in Arlington history.
Visit The Thortnton Inn's website for more information.
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