Zapp Building facts for kids

Zapp Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The Zapp Building in 2013
Zapp Bldg (Fayetteville) Location in Texas Show map of Texas Zapp Bldg (Fayetteville) Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Fayetteville, Texas
Built	1900
Built by	Stidham & Kurtz
Commissioned by	Hugo Zapp
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
Part of	Fayetteville Historic District (ID08000657)
NRHP reference No.	83003139
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	23 June 1983
Designated CP	10 July 2008

The Zapp Building, also known as the Country Place Hotel and Restaurant, is a historic building in Fayetteville, Texas. It was built in 1900 by builders Stidham and Kurtz. They used the Romanesque Revival style for local merchant Hugo Zapp. This new building replaced an older wooden one that had burned down.

Hugo Zapp bought a shop at this important spot in 1876. It is located at the northwest corner of the town square. The Zapp Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1983. It was also named a key part of the Fayetteville Historic District on July 10, 2008.

History of the Zapp Building

Records show that a store was at this location as early as 1865. The land first belonged to Phillip J. Shaver. He was the person who planned out the town of Fayetteville. Shaver sold this corner spot to Andrew Crier. Later, W.H. and Elizabeth Donathan sold the shop to Hugo Zapp.

What Was Sold and Stored There?

The store Hugo Zapp ran in the building sold many items. These included fabrics, shoes, and clothes. These goods were shown in the upper gallery. The building served many purposes over the years.

• The upstairs had hotel rooms.
• There was also a room for an undertaker.
• A dentist's office was located upstairs too.
• The cool basement was used to store milk. Local farmers brought milk there to be shipped by train to a creamery.

Hugo Zapp's Business and Legacy

Besides his store, Hugo Zapp also bought and sold land. He was very involved in the town's business life. Hugo Zapp passed away in 1912. His son, Hugo Zapp Jr., continued to run the store and rent out spaces in the building.

Over time, different groups used the building.

• It was once a hospital.
• It also served as a school.
• A boarding house operated there.
• During the time of Prohibition, a secret bar was in the basement.

As of 1983, the building was still used for businesses. The first floor had an architect's office, an antique store, and a restaurant. The upstairs was used as an inn, offering rooms for visitors.

Building Design and Style

The Zapp Building is one of five brick buildings facing the town square. It is the only one built using traditional brick methods. It is not known if the builders, Stidham and Kurtz, used plans from an architect. They might have designed the building themselves.

The building is a great example of the Romanesque Revival style. It is a rectangular, two-story building made of red and yellow bricks. It sits at the corner of Fayette and Washington streets. The main entrance is at a 45-degree angle, opening right onto the street corner.

Photo gallery