It is a large two and one-half story Victorian dwelling that attracts the immediate interest of all those who recognize its Queen Anne Revival style. Other than the Daviess County courthouse, the home, historically known as the A. Taylor Ray House, is the only residence in the county to receive designation in the National Register of Historic Places.

A view from the northwest looking toward the A.T. Ray Home in at 212 West Van Buren Street, Gallatin, MO. While owned by Billy and Jane Due during the 1990s, the “Painted Lady” benefitted from an extensive enhancement program within National Register guidelines. (1996 photo)

The house was built in 1897 by Mr. and Mrs. A. Taylor Ray with a family member, George Tuggle, as architect. The Queen Anne style was an architectural smorgasbord of that era. The octagon tower, for example, is just for looks and the ornate porch is lavishly decorated with spindles, pendant brackets and Doric pillars.

Gallatin businessman A.T. Ray is best remembered for the construction of his Victorian home.  (1916 photo)

Other features include hand-blown curved glass bow windows to add light and style. Fireplaces warmed each room, 18 from the basement to the attic), many carrying out a particular theme. one is adorned with wood-carved gargoyles taken form Greek mythology, meant to protect the house from harm —  and evil demons. The staircase is a prime example of the woodworkers’ art, as is the woodwork and trim through-out.

There are stained glass windows in the entry and on the stairway and colorful ceramic tiles here and there.  In keeping with the Victorian thinking of the time, the home has a parlor and sitting room and even a stairway for servants.

The house is also known as the “Old Tuggle Place” since Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Tuggle acquired the house around 1950 following the deaths of the Rays. The two families were related.

The house is located one block south of the site of the once nationally famous McDonald Tea Room, at 212 West Van Buren.

This is the first residence of Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Ray when they moved to Gallatin, MO, in 1878.

The A.T. Ray residence in 1883, later the location of the Queen Anne Victorian home of renown.

The A.T. Ray Home is the only residence in Daviess County, MO, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an outstanding architectural example of the Queen Anne Revival style. A. Taylor Ray built the house in 1897. The date of this photo is unknown.

This photo was taken in 1985 while owned by Stewart Marolf, soon after the exterior was repainted in shades of green (Mr. Marolf succeeded Frank Thompson operating the John Deere dealership in Gallatin, MO)

 

The A.T. Ray Home is an outstanding architectural example of the Queen Anne Revival style built in 1897. (1996 photo)