The House Becomes a Home for The Museum

In 1885, Leroy Madison Kidd, a merchant from the neighboring town moved his business to the recently established railroad town of Ruston. He bought a 300-foot square block, but then sold the property to Charles H. Harris, who started construction of a house in 1886. Either during construction or soon after, Harris sold the property and new house to Captain Milton B. Kidd, brother and business partner of the original owner of the lot.

The Robert Wesley Davis family purchased the home from Captain E. L. Kidd in 1921. Mr. Davis, along with his older brothers James, John and Virgil, founded the Davis Brothers Lumber Company, one of the largest such enterprises in Northern Louisiana. R. W. Davis was married to the former Charlotte Arabella Long of Winnfield, sister of two of Louisiana's most famous governors, Earl and Huey Long. Both political leaders visited the house on several occasions.

On December 8, 1975, as one of the oldest and most attractive houses in Ruston it was donated to the Lincoln Parish Museum and Historical Society. The stately building had been a Ruston showplace for many years. The donors, Mrs. Mary Olive Davis Green and Mrs. Charlotte Davis Parrott wanted to share with their hometown the mansion that was identified with their family for over a half a century.

The property was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

The vintage furnishings have been donated by area residents. The Victorian furniture in the parlor was given by the family of Col. Tom Standifer, who lived down the street in what is known as the James House. The chandelier is a gift from Agnes Robinson Grafton of Bernice in memory of her parents, the Poole Robinsons, and a dining-room chandelier comes from the Floyd James family.

Beautiful murals depicting early Lincoln Parish scenes and a marvelously detailed dollhouse with electric lights are on display in honor of the late Mary Moffett and her students from Louisiana Tech.

Various display cases contain a multitude of treasured items including vintage women's clothing and paintings by various local artists. The paintings were contributed by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Faulk, Sr., founders and former publishers of the Ruston Daily Leader.