Wynne Family History

Originally constructed in 1833 as a honeymoon cottage, the Wynne Home was the primary residence of the Wynne family for three generations. 

Pictured on the far left is Gustavus Adair Wynne, the first resident of the Wynne Home and mastermind behind its construction and transformation. 

Along with the Gibbs family, the Wynne family established themselves early in Huntsville and was an active part of the community. 

Gustavus’ father, John Magruder Wynne, was one of the integral founders in Huntsville and Walker County. He was critically involved in the lobbying for the railroad to connect to Huntsville, ensuring the city's economic. 

Naturally, Wynne’s cotton business took off following the railroad connection. 

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   It is speculated that Gustavus Adair Wynne met his wife as a bank clerk for the Gibbs family. Samuella and Gustavus were married in 1883.

2. In 1884, Samuella Gibbs Wynne gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Mae. 

3. Six years later in 1890, Samuella Gibbs Wynne gave birth to their second child, a son named Gibbs Adair.
   
   

1. The birth of Gibbs Adair coincided with the establishment of the first national bank in Huntsville, Gibbs National Bank, of which Gustavus Wynne was the first cashier, a member of the first board of directors, an officer, and finally a Chairman of the Board. He worked for the Gibbs National for over thirty years.
   
   

A year after their son's birth and the establishment of Gibbs National Bank, Samuella Wynne gave birth to a third child, a daughter named Sallie Mae. 

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3. Along with working at the Gibbs National Bank, Gustavus Adair Wynne also served on the Huntsville City School District Board of Trustees and was elected for several terms as City Treasurer. He was also involved in the Masonic Lodge, supported the First Methodist Church, and organized many charitable activities in the community over the years. 

By 1910, The Wynne family had a well established, leading role in Huntsville's economic, social and cultural development. 

All three children were making their own moves around this time. In 1914, Mae Wynne married Ike Barton and moved to Houston. Gibbs Adair Wynne moved to Houston in 1911 and married Lela Mae Brown in 1916. Around the same time, Sallie Wynne also relocated to Houston and married W.A. Reynaud. 

Pictured here is the marriage of Gibbs and Lela Mae who were the second generation to live in the home.

Gibbs Adair Wynne, his wife Lela, and their daughter Samuella, moved back to Huntsville in 1919 where he was made cashier at the Gibbs National Bank. The young family moved into the recently renovated Wynne home and their second daughter, Ruth, was born in 1920.

Samuella Gibbs Wynne passed away in 1921. Gustavus Adair Wynne continued to share the house with his son, daughter-in-law, and his granddaughters, Ruth and Samuella until his death in 1940.  

After the passing of his father, Gibbs Adair Wynne continued to serve as an officer at the First National bank and succeeded his father on the Board of Directors. With his health declining, Gibbs Adair retired as a bank officer in 1945 and from his seat on the Board at First National Bank in 1956. He passed in 1959.

As a lover of both art and music, Lela Mae Brown Wynne instilled an appreciation of the arts in her daughters. She was an accomplished pianist and great hostess. She passed away in 1984, leaving the home to her two daughters, Samuella and Ruth. In 1998, the Wynne sisters decided to donate the home to the City of Huntsville for use as a Cultural Arts Center. Shortly after donating the house in 1998, Ruth Hollinshead passed away. 

The Wynne Home Art and Visitor Center was formally opened to the public in 2006. Samuella got to see the house before her passing in 2009.