As you continue your drive through Kilgore, you will come to the Tincy and Liggett Crim House, standing at 2023 S Henderson Blvd, one of the city’s most distinctive historic homes. Built around 1939 and 1940, this striking residence was designed by the architectural firm Stone and Pitts for Liggett N. Crim and his wife, Tincy Dean Keener Crim. The home reflects a bold modern style inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, with strong horizontal lines and a design that blends into its setting.
Liggett Crim was the son of Lou Della Crim, often called Mama Della, whose land became the site of the discovery well that ignited the East Texas Oil Field. That discovery brought extraordinary wealth to the Crim family and transformed Kilgore almost overnight. Liggett played an active role in the family’s oil ventures and in local entertainment, including movie theaters, while this home stood as a symbol of the family’s success during the boom years.
The house itself is notable for its materials, which included salvaged lumber from the demolished Hearne Hotel, reflecting both practicality and ambition during a time of rapid growth. Over the years, it has become recognized as a major architectural and historical landmark in Kilgore. As you pass by, you are looking at a powerful reminder of a moment when oil wealth reshaped not only the economy of East Texas, but its architecture and lifestyle as well.