Ford Street Commercial Row
Llano, Llano County, Texas
Marker Inscription
These three attached structures are believed to have been built by John Goodman, a builder and stone mason who immigrated to Llano from Germany in 1878. They exhibit typical features of early 20th century commercial structures, including corbelled brickwork. Since 1904, the buff and red brick structures have housed a variety of businesses, including furniture stores, liquor stores, cafes, saloons, mercantiles, bakeries, a saddle shop, domino hall, feed store, and theater. In 1989 the buildings were adapted for use by the Llano County Library. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1992
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
These three attached buildings are believed to be the work of John Goodman, a stonemason who emigrated from Germany to Llano in 1878, and they show the corbelled brickwork typical of early twentieth-century commerce. Since 1904 the buff-and-red brick row has sheltered an astonishing variety of businesses — furniture and liquor stores, cafes and saloons, a saddle shop, a domino hall, and a theater among them. In 1989 the buildings were adapted to house the Llano County Library.
Why it matters
The row embodies the adaptable Main Street commercial architecture, built by immigrant craftsmen, that anchored small-town American life for over a century.
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Related people
- · John Goodman
Themes & tags
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