Former Home of E. B. Nichols Destroyed by Fire

Photo: Bay Area Entertainer On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Nicholstone House, the former home of E. B. Nichols, the first High Priest of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, was destroyed by fire. It is believed that the house was struck by lightning during the storms that passed over the Houston area that day. At the time of the fire it was considered the oldest existing house in Dickinson.

Nicholstone was built by Companion Nichols in 1857 as a summer home. Located on Dickinson Bayou, it is said that Companion Nichols consulted with the local Native American population at the time to determine the highest point along the bayou. The location proved advantageous, as Nicholstone was untouched by the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Upon Companion Nichol's death in 1872, his estate was divided among his seven sons. One of those sons, Fred McCraven Nichols, bought the home and surrounding property from his brothers in 1890. Originally a single-story frame structure with a central hall, the house was remodeled by Fred Nichols in 1895 to include a second story with a balcony and Victorian design elements including fretwork and a cupola.

The home and property have remained in the Nichols family for over 165 years and is presently owned by Cora Schelling Wright, the great-great-granddaughter of Companion Nichols. In recent years, the Queen Anne Victorian-style residence had been added to the Galveston Historical Foundations "Heritage at Risk" list.