Howard Payne University’s Board of Trustees has announced a decision to sell the Harrison House, which dates back to 1895, with the purpose of relocating the structure in favor of new student housing.

HPU President Dr. Cory Hines said Wednesday morning of the decision, “In 2020 the university approved a master plan that took a look at our campus footprint to make decisions on how to best meet the needs of our current and future students. During the construction of the Newbury Family Welcome Center, the administrative team that was located in the Harrison House was moved into a facility on campus, therefore vacating the Harrison House. Knowing that we have a desire to provide additional upper level housing to our students and also realizing the Harrison House property is right across the street from our campus, we felt it was in the best interest of our students that we re-purpose that land to provide them housing options close to campus. The hope is we can find someone who could purchase and move the home to a space where it could be restored to its original glory and we would take that land and re-purpose it to provide some housing options for our students.”

Hines further stated that HPU currently has, “97 percent occupancy for the apartments we have on campus with a little less than two months to go before the fall semester begins. Every new transfer student or any student that wants to move out of the dorms is limited on their options, and we want to provide more options for our students.”

A group of local citizens have voiced their opposition to HPU’s plan and gathered for a Save the Harrison House rally in front of the structure, located at 803 Center Avenue, Tuesday evening.

Among the speakers at the event were business owners Don Morelock, Matt McCrane and Liz McCrane.

Morelock, owner of Morelock Properties, said, “A decision that’s good for Howard Payne may not always be good for Brownwood, but a decision that’s good for Brownwood will always be good for Howard Payne. We have a small voice but together our voice becomes powerful. There are people of great influence in this community that want this house to stay. Our purpose really and actually, what we’re doing right now is to empower those people to take up the challenge and find a solution that is a win-win for both Brownwood and Howard Payne.”

Liz McCrane owns Harper House, another historic home near the HPU campus that was renovated and turned into an AirBnB and event venue.

“Coming from a pioneer family and being born and raised in Brownwood, there’s a love and pride I have for this town maybe some will never have or understand,” she said. “Too many homes and buildings have slipped through the cracks over the years, but today we say ‘no more.’ Harrison House deserves to be preserved and protected in its rightful place as one of the few remaining historic homes in downtown Brownwood.”

Matt McCrane, who is an owner of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Shaw’s Marketplace as well as other properties downtown, said, “Sometimes the present clashes with the past, and this home has stood the test of time since 1895. If we lose this I’m truly not sure what direction we’re headed in as a community. This is an important time in our town’s history. For me it’s a turning point to embrace historical preservation for many generations to enjoy. If we lose this home, where does it stop? I realize we cannot save everything, I truly do. But when you destroy history, it’s gone forever.”

Regarding the feedback HPU has received from those against the plan to relocate Harrison House, Hines said, “This was a difficult decision for our leadership team and our board because we knew that properties have special meanings for individuals and that’s why we’ve taken so much time to consider the property and the best way to meet the needs of our students.”

Hines added plans are in place to pay tribute to the Harrison House in the future.

“As it relates to honoring the history of the home, we’ve talked about naming the housing we add Harrison Place and putting a plaque on the structure that tells the story of what was there previously,” Hines said. “We could also put something on the sidewalk like they do at state parks, perhaps an engraved rock, all to celebrate the history of the structure that was previously.”

Asked if there was any scenario in which Howard Payne did not sell Harrison House for the purpose of relocation, Hines said, “It’s difficult to say words like never, but the goal is to find a buyer to re-purpose and have it go back to its original intent as a home, and Howard Payne to be able to put units for students there. At this point the solutions we have explored are related to moving Harrison House off site. That’s the goal and our hope with the property.”