Hotel Wiley
Garrison, Nacogdoches County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The town of Garrison was founded in 1885. By about 1900 the Hotel Wiley, owned by Mrs. S. A. "Mattie" Wiley, was in full operation. The hotel was frequented by railroad and telephone workers, traveling salesmen and townspeople who enjoyed Mrs. Wiley's family style meals in the dining room. At one time the hotel had about 38 rooms including a two-story annex that later was removed. The structure is a fine example of an early 20th century railroad hotel, exhibiting Queen Anne style influences in its hipped roof, decorative spindle work in the lower cross gables, multilight dormer windows and wraparound porch. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1999
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The town of Garrison sprang up along the railroad in 1885, and by about 1900 Mattie Wiley was running her hotel at the heart of its bustle. Railroad crews, telephone workers, and traveling salesmen filled its rooms and gathered for her family-style meals in the dining room. With its hipped roof, decorative spindlework, and wraparound porch, the building is a fine surviving example of the Queen Anne–influenced railroad hotel.
Why it matters
Hotel Wiley preserves the story of a woman entrepreneur and the railroad-town hospitality that knit together rural commerce across turn-of-the-century Texas.
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Related people
- · Mattie Wiley
Themes & tags
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