From The Archives

Mr. Wiley Johnson built the beautiful historic home known as "Liberty Hall" in Hubbard, Texas in 1913. Mr. Johnson was a former confederate Army lieutenant. When he returned to Hubbard after the war, he opened the town's local lumber yard, and later built "Liberty Hall" with the absolute best materials of the day. In fact, the last inspection in 2006 stated "the wood beams that anchor the house looked as if they had been built yesterday."

"Liberty Hall", a colonial-style house, sits on two oversized lots in one of the most scenic and historic areas in Hubbard. "Liberty Hall" earned its name and reputation during the prohibition days when the production, possession and consumption of alcohol were illegal. Hubbard rumor had it that "Liberty Hall" provided some of the local town folks with a convenient location to distill and consume such beverages without interference of law enforcement officials.

"Liberty Hall" also boasts a small, but proud part of our nations military past. Besides being a Civil Was veteran, Mr Johnson was also the father of three boys. One of his sons married the daughter of General Douglas MacArthur. The MacArthur's visited their son-in-law's family in Hubbard on several occasions and always stayed at "Liberty Hall".

The Johnson family also befriended Baseball Hall of Fame legend Tris Speaker. Sports illustrated voted Tris Speaker as one of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players ever and he still possesses or is one of the league leaders in several baseball record categories. Tris Speaker played baseball in the front and side yard of "liberty Hall" and became very close friends with the Johnson family. Later, when Tris Speaker played and coached in the majors, he rented the northwest bedroom of "Liberty Hall" during the off season.

In fact, today in the formal dining room of "Liberty Hall" sits an oak framed portrait of Mrs. Johnson and Tris Speaker sitting on the front steps. The rare photograph pictures Tris Speaker in his military uniform and stays with the home. Discovered in the attic was a 1926 baseball card of Tris Speaker in excellent condition which also stays with the home.

"Liberty Hall" has had only three owners in its proud and rich history. The Johnson family who built and retained the home until the 1960s, the Cox family, and the current owners, the Bain family, who purchased the home from the Cox estate in 2006 when they retired to Hubbard from the U.S. Army.

The house contains all of its beautiful and priceless original fixtures including an antique writing desk that was one of the original funishings of the house when it was first built.