
Sitton Dog Trot 1843




The Sitton Dog Trot, built in 1843, was originally located approximately five miles down CR 698, west of Central Heights. It was constructed by William and Mary Jane Hayter, who arrived in Texas in 1842. Their youngest daughter, Sussanah Hayter, married into the Sitton family, and the house was generously donated to Millard’s Crossing by Sam Sitton, who lived on the property until his passing.
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The term “Dog Trot” refers to the open breezeway running from the front to the back of the house. This covered area often remained cooler in the summer than the rest of the home, making it an ideal space for chores such as shelling peas or shucking corn.
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Today, the Sitton Dog Trot is a lively demonstration site at the village. Visitors can see natural dyeing, pickling, and old-fashioned laundry soap making in action. On school tours, children enjoy shucking corn and tending to the homestead garden—hands-on experiences that bring early East Texas life to life.