How Miss Charlotte's Place Came To Be
Frank Anthony Dibrell was born in 1858. Mary P. Miller was born in 1864. Frank and Mary were wed in 1882. It is believed that Frank built the original residence between 1887 and 1888, a block north of his parent’s house, William C. and Margaret Jenkins Dibrell.
After Frank’s death in 1914, Mary continued living in the home. Between 1923 and 1929, Mary had the original frame house rebuilt and added onto, which also included a second story. The old house was made into an apartment house, with five separate apartments.
Frank and Mary’s daughter and son-in-law, Harry Hewell “H.H.” and Lotta Dibrell Wooldridge, lived next door. After Mary’s death in 1938, Harry and Lotta purchased the apartment house and moved in. Harry died in 1954 and Lotta died in 1973.
Charlotte Dibrell Edwards Strawn, granddaughter of Frank and Mary Dibrell, purchased the property from the Estate of Lotta Wooldridge. Charlotte continued renting out apartments to many in Coleman while living there herself.
Charlotte was born on November 19, 1923, in Coleman, Texas to Arthur Irvin Edwards and Aileen Dibrell Edwards. Charlotte grew up on a farm near Echo and attended school at Burkett, graduating in 1941. She attended college in Denton, but during World War II she began to teach school at Whitt, Texas. Charlotte then taught school in Talpa and Echo. While teaching at Echo, she married Lester Strawn in 1945. Her only son, Anthony Jackson Strawn, was born in 1947. Charlotte then attended Howard Payne College and received her bachelor's degree in education in 1954. In 1959, she received her master's degree in elementary education. Charlotte taught school in Coleman from 1954 to 1989. She then served as a substitute teacher until 1998. Charlotte had a heart for children and passion for teaching. She touched many lives throughout her career making many fond memories for several generations. Charlotte was selected to be included in the Most Prominent Educators of Texas and Who Who's of American Teachers twice. Charlotte was inducted into the Coleman I.S.D. Hall of Honor in 2018 in recognition of her dedication to the education of Coleman County students and was awarded Coleman Citizen of the Year in 1998. She was a life-long resident of Coleman and was a member of the St Mark's Episcopal Church in Coleman.
Sadly, Miss Charlotte passed away on February 22, 2022. Lana Kading purchased the residence from Charlotte’s son, Anthony, and renovated it to what it is today.
There is a lot of family history that has transpired on this little corner of Liveoak Street. Many of the furnishings in the house are from Miss Charlotte’s family that have been handed down over the last 135 years. Miss Charlotte’s Place will continue for friends and family to make new memories as they enjoy and learn about Coleman and Coleman County.
Thank you to Ralph Terry for helping with the history of Miss Charlotte's Place.
