The earliest record of the property is the 1809 Nacogdoches census stating that the dwelling of Andres de Acosta and his family was located on the east side of calle del norte, the road leading northward out of town. Acosta was a prominent citizen during the Spanish and Mexican periods. In 1826, Acosta sold the property and house to Joseph Durst. It is not clear from the deed records whether the house sold to Durst is the one now standing. While it is possible that the present house was built by Acosta before the sale, it is perhaps more likely that Durst built it since it is an early example of Anglo architecture. Durst served as Nacogdoches’ alcalde, or mayor, from November 1826 until January 1827 and later founded the town of Angelina (now Linwood).
Many of the 19th century owners of this house played important roles in the development of Texas:
Andres de Acosta – 1809-1826
Joseph Durst – 1826-1836
- Alcalde (mayor) of Nacogdoches in 1826; signer of the Houston-Forbes Treaty in 1836.
David Hoffman –1836-1837
- Merchant and alcalde (mayor) of Nacogdoches.
Isaac Watts Burton – 1837-1838
- Served in the Battles of Nacogdoches and San Jacinto, and was a member of the First, Second, and Third Congresses of the Republic of Texas.
Charles Sims – 1838-1841
- Tavern keeper and Indian agent; charter member of Masonic Lodge #2.
Bennett Blake – 1841-1845
- Served as Justice of the Peace for 10 years; Chief Justice of Nacogdoches County for 12 years; fought in the Texas Revolution; served under Thomas J. Rusk in two expeditions against the Cherokees; elected to the State legislature in 1862; Texas delegate to the Congress of the Confederate States of America; elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1875.
Thomas J. Rusk – February 1845-March 1845
- February 1845-March 1845: first Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas; member of the Convention of 1836; commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto after Sam Houston was injured; member of the Second and Third Congresses of the Republic; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1839-1840); State Senator to the U.S. Congress (1846-1847).
William Beck Ochiltree – 1845-1846
- Judge of the 6th Judicial District; representative in the 6th Texas Legislature (1855); member of the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy.
John & Lucy Blackburn –1846-1861
- Merchant; died in 1847, left detailed records of imported goods and of his personal estate (his probated will included an 1847 full house inventory, down to the number of sewing needles); his widow, Lucy Elizabeth Blackburn, managed the property after his death.
Madison Guess Whitaker –1861-1875
- 1835 member of Committee of Safety and Vigilance; served in the Siege of Bexar and the Battle of San Jacinto; Texas Senator (1853).
Lawrence Sterne Taylor and heirs –1875-1989
- Son of Charles Stanfield Taylor, signer of Texas Declaration of Independence; served and was wounded in the Civil War; served as county clerk; great uncle of current U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Anna Kathryn Holbrook was last Taylor descendant to own the house.
The McKinney Foundation –1989-1996
- In order to save the house from destruction, the Friends of the Adolphus Sterne House purchased it; shortly thereafter, the local McKinney Foundation purchased the land and the house and restored the exterior to the mid-19th century period; Dr. James Corbin of SFASU did the archeological survey and Charles Phillip did the first architectural study; their work stabilized the house; the McKinneys deeded the Durst-Taylor House to City of Nacogdoches in 1996.
City of Nacogdoches – 1996-Present