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The Thomas Gaunt House

The Thomas Gaunt House was constructed during the decade of the 1870s as evidenced by the white brick lettering on the west side of the structure.A photograph of the Gaunt family home, circa 1889, with the lawn's original cast-iron fence.A 1910 postcard of the Gaunt House showcases the mature trees, sidewalk and east porch.A postcard of the Gaunt House produced and sold during the 1920s.Thomas Gaunt purchased the tract of land in the Northwest quarter of section 18, Township 64 of Range 35 on May 4, 1860, for $693.00.The numbers "1870" were incorporated into the home's brickwork, but the "0" was removed to add a window.A glimpse of the Memorial Bell Tower from the Gaunt House lawn.A photo of the Gaunt House in 1977.Although a number of renovations have occurred throughout its history, the Gaunt House echoes the graceful spaces associated with Georgian domestic architecture. A view of the chandeliers selected and installed in the home during the Jones presidency.President J.W. Jones and first lady Mildred Jones are seated in the living room of the Gaunt House.A photo of the south sitting room during Hubbard's presidency, taken in 2006.As the official residence for Northwest’s presidents, the Gaunt House is a stage upon which all of the University’s history has played. As the official residence for Northwest’s presidents, the Gaunt House is a stage upon which all of the University’s history has played. A Foster family portrait taken in the Gaunt House for the Tower yearbook.The Owens family poses for a photo in the Gaunt House living room.A photo of an elaborate cast copper pictorial firebox closure inside the Gaunt House.Since 1905, the Gaunt House has housed a century of Northwest presidents and their families.Since its donation in 1905, the Gaunt House has housed a century of Northwest presidents and their families.A photo of the kitchen and expanded breakfast room in the Gaunt House, circa 1965.A photo of the kitchen during the Jasinski presidency.Since 1905, the Gaunt House has housed a century of Northwest presidents and their families.The Gaunt House includes a restaurant-grade kitchen and catering facility.The Gaunt House patio was refurbished during the 2010s and provides an additional gathering space for social activities.The Gaunt House patio was refurbished during the 2010s and provides an additional gathering space for social activities.The Gaunt House patio was refurbished during the 2010s and provides an additional gathering space for social activities.The Gaunt House patio was refurbished during the 2010s and provides an additional gathering space for social activities.The Gaunt House patio was refurbished during the 2010s and provides an additional gathering space for social activities.The Gaunt House patio was refurbished during the 2010s and provides an additional gathering space for social activities.

Thomas W. Gaunt

The historic Thomas Gaunt House, on what is now the Northwest Missouri State University campus, was constructed during the 1870s, a decade after Gaunt purchased the tract of land on May 4, 1860, for $693. He later added a tract of 19 acres in 1864 for $120. By 1882 his holding had grown to 72 acres.

The year of the home’s construction is depicted in white brick lettering on the west side of the house. While it has undergone numerous renovations throughout its history, the Gaunt House maintains its graceful spaces associated with Georgian domestic architecture.

Thomas W. Gaunt was born in Staffordshire, England, on April 4, 1830, to Thomas Gaunt, a fruit and flower gardener, and Catherine Wooley. Gaunt left England for the United States on Aug. 3, 1853, and arrived in New York on Sept. 12, 1853.

After his immigration in the spring of 1854 to McDonough County, Illinois, Gaunt found employment with the Smith and Franklin Plant Nursery. Then, in April 1855, Gaunt immigrated to Andrew County, Missouri, where he established a nursery for Smith and Franklin.

Finally, in 1857, Gaunt moved to Nodaway County, where he established his Gaunt Nursery, cultivating and developing many of the early ornamental shade and fruit trees found in the region.

During the Civil War, Gaunt served in the Enrolled Missouri Militia and obtained the position of Captain of Company G, 36th Regiment Missouri Militia.

In 1861, Gaunt married Mary Ann Castillo, and they raised four daughters—Josephine, Martha, Carrie and Ruby. Mary died in 1900, and Capt. Gaunt died a few months later, at the age of 70 in 1901.

In 1905, his daughters donated the house and grounds for the proposed site of the new Maryville Fifth District Normal School, which is now Northwest Missouri State University.

The home has served as the residence for Northwest presidents and their families since the institution's founding, and thus as a setting where some of the University’s noteworthy history has played.

President Lamkin, who oversaw an expansion of Bearcat athletics programs during his tenure, kept the Gaunt House porch light on when the teams were away and instructed bus drivers to honk when they returned safely. After the devastating Administration Building fire in 1979, President Owens assembled his administrative team at 2 a.m. to assess the disaster and make plans to rebuild. Dignitaries from Eleanor Roosevelt to Maya Angelou to Rev. Jesse Jackson have been guests at the home.

For its significance, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.


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