Rice Hotel and Saddlery
Uvalde, Uvalde County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This building, constructed in 1909-10, has long been a part of Uvalde's commercial development. The first floor originally was used for ice storage and a meat market. While the upper story served as a dance hall, private club, and Grand Jury room. In 1913, Prentice Carrington Rice (1848-1934), a Uvalde saddle maker since 1883, purchased the building and moved his saddlery and harness business to the first floor. The second floor later was partitioned into rental units and operated as The Rice Hotel. Later owners continued the hotel business until the 1940s. 1984
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1909–10, this two-story building has long anchored Uvalde's commercial life, its ground floor first holding an ice house and meat market while the upper floor served as a dance hall, private club and grand jury room. In 1913 saddle maker Prentice Carrington Rice, working in Uvalde since 1883, moved his saddlery and harness business to the first floor, and the second floor was later divided into rooms that operated as The Rice Hotel into the 1940s. Its layered uses trace the everyday economy of a South Texas ranching town.
Why it matters
The building shows how a single Main Street structure could evolve with a small town's needs — from ice house to saddlery to hotel — in the years when Texas ranching towns came of age.
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Related people
- · Prentice Carrington Rice
Themes & tags
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