100 Years of Calling the Minter House ‘Home’

The W.A. Minter house is 100 years old! In that time, many have called the house “home.” The first residents of the storied home were William A. Minter, a distinguished businessman and civic leader in Abilene, and his wife, Mabel Minter. The Minter House later became the office spaces for local architecture firms Tittle-Luther-Loving and Tittle-Luther Partnership. The Tittle Luther Partnership merged with Parkhill in 2012, and our Abilene office currently resides there. 

One hundred guests were invited to the Minter House on April 10, 2025, to celebrate the centennial year. The house is a three-story, historic house near the heart of Downtown Abilene. Much of the original interior floor plan remains intact, and the two-story Tudor Revival house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

“We are celebrating the house, but like any house, we’re celebrating a collection of stories,” said Brandon Young, AIA, Parkhill’s Director of Design for Architecture. "A house houses stories, stories of people over time.”

Guest speakers at the event were introduced by Brandon, who has been part of one-tenth of the house’s life, working in the office. At the celebration, Bill Minter, the grandson of William Minter, recalled being a “little bitty tike” visiting the house seven decades ago. Jack Harkins, retired architect from Parkhill, has a 55-year history with the house, worked for Tittle Luther Partnership before the Parkhill merger, and is still a part-owner of the house. In 1968, Jack met Jimmy Tittle and Jack Luther of the Tittle Luther Partnership as a Texas Tech architectural student and worked for them that summer.

In 1970, the Tittle Luther Partnership moved from their office space in the back of a pharmacy building on 542 Butternut Street to 340 Beech Street, the Minter House.

“It was a family," Jack said. "It really was."

At age 97, Jimmy still visits his office, helping where he can and sharing the knowledge he has gained throughout his life. Jack Luther passed away in May 2021. Their legacy is exemplified by projects throughout Abilene, including multiple projects at Abilene Christian University, Hendrick Medical Center, and the Abilene Zoo.

And their stories will forever hang in the air within the walls of the Minter House.

The Minter House served as home to the Minter Family for 37 years and 55 years so far to the professional practice. Today, the home still captures imaginations, both for its architectural beauty and for the memories it carries in its walls. Whether viewed as a symbol of progress, a nod to classic design, or simply a treasured local landmark, the W.A. Minter House continues to connect Abilene’s past with its present.