The Heritage Guild of Collin County is working on its ongoing projects at Chestnut Square Historic Village near downtown McKinney, which aims to preserve the city’s history.
The Guild is a nonprofit organization formed in 1974 by a group of women who became instrumental in forming the town’s historic districts as well as Chestnut Square.
“We are all fascinated by what came before us,” Chestnut Square Historic Village Director Jaymie Pedigo said. “We cannot plan for the future without some knowledge of the past. Carolyn Corbin, our area’s premier futurist, is committed to historic preservation efforts, a true testament to [Chestnut Square’s historical] importance.”
To kick-start historic preservation locally, two founding members of the guild mortgaged their own homes to purchase two houses on the Dulaney Estate, located in the 300 block of South Chestnut Street.
“This became the cornerstone of Chestnut Square Historic Village,” Pedigo said. “Today, the village includes 10 buildings, including six homes. Additionally, visitors will find a general store and a chapel, both of which were moved to the property, and a replica of the one-room Wilmeth Schoolhouse and the visitors center. The guild owns and maintains the 2.5-acre property, which also includes a goat pen and blacksmith shop.”
The mission of Chestnut Square is twofold: to preserve and to educate.
“We own thousands of artifacts—photographs, books, furniture, linens, and kitchen and household items,” Pedigo said. “And if that’s not enough, we host nearly 100 weddings a year, which funds a great deal of our educational programs.”
Since 2009, it has been home to the McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square, held 40 Saturdays a year.
“We are sold out of vendor space every Saturday,” Pedigo said. “Much of the success is due to the location—the charm of the property.”
Preserving history comes with financial challenges, Pedigo said.
“We could easily spend $100,000 annually on property maintenance, with no major improvements,” she said.
315 S. Chestnut St., McKinney 972-562-8790 www.chestnutsquare.org Office Hours: Tue.-Fri. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Mon., Sun Village tours: Thu., Sat. 11 a.m.
