Adventures at Oakhurst

Fulton Mansion is located in Fulton, Texas and construction began in 1874, over looking Aransas Bay. Jim and I visited the mansion and were amazed at the attention to detail. EVEN the hinges and door knobs had designs in them. The home was built by George and Harriet Fulton and was completed in 1877. It included the latest in modern plumbing, central heating and gas lighting systems. The mansion is surrounded by stately Oaks and palm trees and is a Victorian villa called Oakhurst.
George Ware Fulton was born in 1810 in Philadelphia and orphaned at the age of 16. He, then, trained as a watch maker and throughout his life patented inventions. One of his inventions was a mechanically refrigerated slaughterhouse. He, also, was a talented artist and an entrepreneur.
Harriet Gillette Smith Fulton born on October 22, 1822 was the eldest daughter of Henry Smith, Texas' first provisional governor. In 1840 Harriet met George Fulton, the new local school teacher in Brazoria, Texas and they married the same year. They moved to Baltimore, but later returned to Texas when Harriet inherited 28,000 acres. Gardening was Harriet's passion, but she also governed the mansion and supervised a small farming operation.
In 1893, at the age of 83, George died at Oakhurst. Three years after his death Harriet left Oakhurst to never return..."the charm had fled for all time". She died in 1910.
George and Harriet had 6 children---four boys and two girls. At different times, their two daughters and their families lived at Oakhurst. George and Harriet had many grandchildren and today numerous Fulton descendants live throughout the state and country.