Thurmond Building
Victoria, Victoria County, Texas
Marker Inscription
C.L. Thurmond, Jr. constructed this building in 1898 for use as a general mercantile store and residence. It is similar to other structures built here before the 1900s, when Bridge Street was a major commercial center of Victoria. The business district prospered until nearby rail lines and roads were relocated. The Thurmond Building, which features a distinctive three-story central section, housed stores, a grain mill, and the Farmers' Cooperative. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1980
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
C.L. Thurmond, Jr. put up this building in 1898 to hold both a general mercantile store and his residence, in an era when Bridge Street was a thriving commercial heart of Victoria. Distinguished by a three-story central section, it went on to house stores, a grain mill, and the Farmers' Cooperative. The district's fortunes faded once nearby rail lines and roads were rerouted away from it.
Why it matters
The Thurmond Building preserves the look and life of a Gilded Age commercial street, and the way shifting transportation routes could quietly drain a business district.
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Related people
- · C.L. Thurmond, Jr.
Themes & tags
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