Hoopes-Smith House
Rockport, Aransas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Prominent local businessman and land developer James M. Hoopes (1839-1931) had this home built between 1890 and 1892. The home later served as a hotel and boardinghouse between 1894 and 1930. It was sold in 1934 to T. Noah Smith, Sr. (1881-1955), a prominent oilman and shipbuilder. Features of the Late Victorian Queen Anne home include milled woodwork, roof cresting, a turret, and stained glass windows. It is regarded as a local landmark. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1989
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Local businessman and land developer James M. Hoopes had this Late Victorian Queen Anne home built between 1890 and 1892 in Rockport. For decades after 1894 it served as a hotel and boardinghouse, then in 1934 it was bought by T. Noah Smith, Sr., a prominent oilman and shipbuilder. Its turret, roof cresting, milled woodwork, and stained glass make it a beloved local landmark.
Why it matters
The house reflects the Gulf Coast's Gilded Age prosperity and the entrepreneurs — developers, hoteliers, oilmen, and shipbuilders — who built a coastal Texas town.
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Related people
- · James M. Hoopes
- · T. Noah Smith, Sr.
Themes & tags
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