Stagecoach Inn of Chappell Hill facts for kids
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Stage Coach Inn
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Stage Coach Inn in 2008
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 Stage Coach Inn
Location in Texas
Stage Coach Inn
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main & Chestnut Sts., Chappell Hill, Texas |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1851 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Main Street Historic District (ID85001175) |
| MPS | Chappell Hill MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002082 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
| Designated CP | May 15, 1985 |
The Stagecoach Inn of Chappell Hill is a very old building in Chappell Hill, Texas. It was once a special place where stagecoach travelers could stop and rest. You can find it at the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets.
Contents
The Inn's Early Days
Building a Historic Stop
The Stagecoach Inn was built in 1850. A woman named Mary Elizabeth Haller built it. She was also the person who founded the town of Chappell Hill. Mary and her husband, Jacob Haller, worked together. Jacob was the town's first postmaster, which means he was in charge of the mail.
The Inn was a large building with 14 rooms. It was built in the Greek Revival style, which means it looked like ancient Greek temples. It stood along the main road that connected Houston to Austin. This road was very important for early Texas travel.
A Place for Travelers and Students
Some of Texas's first stagecoach companies used the Inn as a stop. These included the Smith and Jones company and later the F. P. Sawyers company. Travelers on these stagecoaches would stay the night at the Inn.
Before it became a stagecoach stop, the building was used differently. It was a boarding house. This means students who went to college in Chappell Hill lived there. At that time, it was known as the Hargrove House or Hargrove House Hotel.
Who Ran the Inn?
Mary Haller's mother, Charlotte Hargrove, managed the Inn for several years. She ran it until 1859. Then, a person named Judge Benjamin Thomas bought the Inn. He continued to operate it until about 1870.
Mary's brother, John A. Hargrove, wrote about helping to build the Inn. He mentioned cutting wood from "the Cedar breaks" for its construction. During these early years, Chappell Hill was a busy town. It was part of a big cotton-farming area. The town was even named after Mary Haller's grandfather.
A New Chapter for the Inn
Falling into Disrepair
After the early 1900s, the cotton farming business started to slow down. New highways were built that went around Chappell Hill. Because of these changes, the Stagecoach Inn was not used as much. It slowly started to fall apart.
A Dream Come True
In 1976, a famous architect from Houston named Harvin C. Moore bought the Inn. His wife, Elizabeth, helped him. Harvin Moore had seen the Inn many times when he was young. In the 1920s, he traveled past it often as a student at Rice University. He always dreamed of fixing it up.
The Moores worked hard to restore the Inn. They brought it back to its original beauty. After their restoration was finished, the Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States.
Recent Times
For many years, the Inn was run as a bed and breakfast. This means people could stay there overnight and get breakfast in the morning. However, the property was put up for sale in 2014. By late 2015, the Inn's website was no longer active.
