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 really old inn in Castroville, Texas, United States. Today, it's a special place where you can learn about history. It's also a bed and breakfast with eight rooms where people can stay overnight.
Contents
Early Days of the Inn
Let's learn about the history of this cool place! In the 1830s, Cesar and Hannah Monod came from Switzerland to Texas. They settled in Castroville, Texas in 1849. They built a one-story building out of limestone. It was their home and also a general store. They also built a separate kitchen. In 1850, they bought the next-door lot. It had a small house built by Michel and Rosine Simon in 1847.
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The Vance Family Takes Over
In 1853, John and Rowena Vance bought the Monods' property. They added a new section to the general store. This helped them serve more travelers. The Old San Antonio Road passed through Castroville. Travelers used this road to go west to Eagle Pass and El Paso.
In 1859, the Vances built a large home for themselves. It was the biggest house in Castroville back then. They turned Simon's small house into a wash house. People used it for bathing and washing clothes. After the American Civil War, more people traveled through town. So, in 1874, the Vances added a second floor to the store. This gave them 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. Then, they built a water-powered grist mill. This mill helped local farmers. It processed grain and also ginned cotton.
Joseph and Margarethe Courand bought the mill in 1876. They made many improvements to it. Their son, Joseph Jr., and his wife Julia took over later. 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 place in Castroville until the 1920s.
Changes Over Time
The Courands bought the Vance property in 1899. They bought it from John and Rowena's children. 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.
A New Era for the Inn
In the early 1920s, the Courands decided to sell the property. They didn't want to update the old technology. Jordan T. Lawler bought the property in 1925. He changed the mill into a hydroelectric plant. This plant brought electricity to Castroville for the first time!
In 1927, the Lawler family moved to Castroville. This included Jordan, Henry, and Ruth. Their mother Carrie and Henry's family also moved there. Another sister, C. Genevieve Lawler, moved in 1952. She moved with her partner Mary Ruth Lionberger.
Reopening as the Landmark Inn
The old hotel reopened as the Landmark Inn on July 4, 1942. It mainly served military people. They traveled between air bases in San Antonio and Hondo. Ruth Lawler worked to protect the property. In 1965, it was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. In 1970, it became a contributing property in the Castroville Historic District. Finally, in 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Landmark Inn Today
In 1974, the property was given to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). They did a lot of research and repairs. They opened the property to the public on October 25, 1981. It became a state historic site. In 2008, the site moved to the Texas Historical Commission. They finished a big renovation project in 2015.
Visiting the Historic Site
Today, you can visit the Landmark Inn. They offer tours, programs, and special events. A new museum exhibit opened in April 2017. The work done to preserve the site has won awards.
Staying at the Inn
The Landmark Inn is also a bed-and-breakfast-style hotel. It has eight rooms where you can stay overnight. The rooms have old-fashioned furniture. This furniture looks like it's from the 1850s, 1880s, or 1920s. Even though the rooms look historic, they have modern comforts. These include electricity, indoor bathrooms, and air conditioning. There are no televisions or radios, but free Wi-Fi is available.
