An excerpt from the local newspaper in Nov. 1973.

The Heartsill-Marcom Home was built in 1900 by Dr. Oliver M. Heartsill, prominent early Marshall physician, and his wife Sallie Garrett Heartsill. The two-story frame house introduced a new architectural style on East Austin, a street of fine large homes built in the Victorian vogue popular in the 1870’s and 1880’s.

A profusion of decorative elements distinguish both the exterior and interior of the Heartsill-Marcom house.  On the northwest fascia, the semi-circular turreted tower-bay is festooned with a carved wooden garland of flowers.  A similar garland is repeated on the newel post of the interior stairway.

Other points of architectural interest are the pillared gallery marked with classical cornices, wide overhanging eaves supported by numerous ornamental brackets, and sparkling leaded windows.

The interior is dignified with intricately detailed woodwork and wainscoting.  A geometric patterned inlay of unusual parquetry borders the hardwood floor in the parlor with its circular tower bay. 

The O.M. Heartsills, and Mrs. & Mrs. Marcom were of different eras, but had many analogous characteristics.  Both were successful in business and in their professions.  Both are credited with giving their support and effort to building a better Marshall, and both had banking interests. 

From the time the house was constructed until today, the Heartsill-Marcom home has been a gathering place of business, professional and social leaders of the community.

The home builder’s great-grandfather was born in Blount, NC in January 1777, only six and a half months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Dr. Heartsill came from Georgia to Marshall in 1878 upon the recommendation of his cousin, W. W. Heartsill, a pioneer Marshallite.  The physician had the third telephone installed in the city.  At that time one’s telephone number was the installation number.  From 1880 until the numbering system changed, the doctor’s number was 3.  Sears Drug and Eads Drug had numbers 1 and 2 respectively.

After their home was built, the small northeast room on the first floor served as Dr. Heartsill’s home office.  The small room just above on the second floor was Mrs. Heartsill’s sewing room.