Landmark Inn State Historic Site facts for kids
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Landmark Inn Complex
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Landmark Inn in 2017
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 Landmark Inn Complex
Location in Texas
Landmark Inn Complex
Location in the United States
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| Location | Florella and Florence Sts, Castroville, Texas |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1846 |
| Architect | Caesar Monod, John Vance |
| Part of | Castroville Historic District (ID70000758) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001368 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 7, 1972 |
| Designated CP | April 3, 1970 |
The Landmark Inn State Historic Site is a special place in Castroville, Texas, United States. It's both a historic site where you can learn about the past and an inn where people can stay overnight.
Contents
A Look Back at the Landmark Inn's History
Early Days with the Monod Family
Cesar and Hannah Monod were immigrants from Switzerland. They came to Texas in the 1830s. In 1849, they settled in Castroville, Texas, near the Medina River.
The Monods built a one-story building made of limestone. This building was their home and also a general store. They also built a separate kitchen building. In 1850, they bought another small house that had been built by Michel and Rosine Simon in 1847.
The Vance Family Expands the Inn
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John and Rowena Vance bought the Monod property in 1853. They added a new section to the general store. This helped them serve travelers better. Many people traveled on the Old San Antonio Road through Castroville.
In 1859, the Vances built a large personal home. It was the biggest house in Castroville at that time. They also turned Simon's small house into a wash house for bathing and laundry.
After the American Civil War, more people traveled through town. So, in 1874, the Vances added a second story to the store. This created more rooms for guests to stay overnight.
The Mill and Its Importance
In 1854, the Vances sold part of their land by the river. George L. Haass and Laurent Quintle bought it. They built a dam on the river and a water-powered grist mill. This mill processed grain and ginned cotton for local farmers.
Joseph and Margarethe Courand bought the mill in 1876. They made many improvements to it. After Joseph's death, his son Joseph Jr. and his wife Julia took over.
By the 1880s, the mill was very busy. It processed lumber, cotton, wheat, and over a million bushels of corn each year. The mill was the main industrial center of Castroville until the 1920s.
New Owners and a New Purpose
The Courand family bought the Vance property in 1899. They turned the 1859 Vance home into a warehouse. The Vance Hotel was sometimes rented out, but it wasn't kept up as well as before.
The Courands moved to San Antonio in 1903. However, they still managed the property. In the early 1920s, they decided to sell everything.
Jordan T. Lawler bought the property in 1925. He changed the mill into a hydroelectric plant. This plant provided electricity to Castroville for the very first time!
The Lawler family, including Jordan, Henry, and Ruth, moved to Castroville in 1927. Another sister, C. Genevieve Lawler, moved there in 1952.
The historic hotel reopened as the Landmark Inn on July 4, 1942. It mostly served military people traveling between air bases. Ruth Lawler helped get the property recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1965. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Becoming a State Historic Site
In 1974, the property was given to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). They did a lot of research and repairs. The site opened to the public as a state historic site on October 25, 1981.
In 2008, the site moved to the Texas Historical Commission. They finished a big renovation project in 2015. Today, visitors can enjoy tours, programs, and special events. A new museum exhibit was added in April 2017.
Staying at the Landmark Inn Hotel
Besides being a historic site, the Landmark Inn is also a hotel. It has eight rooms where guests can stay overnight. The rooms are decorated with old-fashioned furniture and copies of historical items. These items show what rooms might have looked like in the 1850s, 1880s, and 1920s.
Even though the rooms look historical, they have modern comforts. These include electricity, indoor bathrooms, and air conditioning. You won't find Televisions or radios, but there is free Wi-Fi available.
See also
