Accolade — With the Stonewall Jackson Hotel building in the background, San Benito Housing Authority Executive Director Maricela Aguilar speaks to guests and SBHA board members, among other dignitaries, near the conclusion of the hotel’s historical state marker unveiling last Friday. (Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The memories of the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, which stood for decades before it was shuttered a few years ago, number in the thousands. However, one thing most longtime San Benito residents agree on is that the historical state marker for the building has been rightly earned and long overdue.
That was the consensus among several speakers during an Oct. 10 ceremony on the grounds of the old Stonewall Jackson Hotel, which is now boarded up and in desperate need of repair.
“The memories we have of this hotel are in the thousands, and every family can tell stories of their association with the Stonewall. It has withstood many storms, depressions, and changes, and it still stands,” said Sandra Tumberlinson, who is the cofounder and board member of the San Benito Historical Society.
She gave a brief overview of the hotel’s history and the importance of a state marker that was also unveiled in front of about 50 people, who endured hot weather to witness it.
“When I researched its history for the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark application to the state, I kept coming across one significant fact that gave me pride to be a resident of San Benito. The leaders of our town hired the best in the country to build the grandest hotel that told everyone we are a special town.”
Next to the railroad, which is still in operation today, several mentions were made of how visitors would disembark from a train and stay at the hotel, which was established in 1925 and in use two years later.
Among the visitors were U.S. servicemen.
Tumberlinson said in her presentation that the hotel construction was $250,000.
When the massive three-story Stonewall Jackson Hotel opened on October 8, 1927, the achievement was celebrated with punch in the afternoon, balloons for the children, favors for the women, and gifts for the men,” she said. “From all over the Valley, men, women, and children poured into the lobby in the afternoon and filled the dining room and patio at night. The register was open to the public, nearly all the rooms were taken.”
She said the opening of the community hotel marked a major milestone for the citizens of “this small agricultural town.”
She called it the pride of the Valley. She added, “The coming of this distinctive hotel did not merely mean a place for the housing of guests, it meant that the entire community would have a beautiful civic, social, and commercial center.”
The ages of those gathered varied with many of the older generation saying they stepped foot in the building and viewed the portrait of who the hotel was named after.
Emarii Garza was invited to sing the National Anthem for the ceremony. The young Garza is now the custodian of hotel history in her own hometown. She, like others, were witness to hearing about a person who was described as a “nationally famous Texas artist” named Royston Nave, who was commissioned to paint a portrait of Stonewall Jackson, which hung for years in the hotel lobby.
Royston’s brother, Tye Nave, was also a San Benito resident and local land developer who developed the neighborhood between Combes Street and St. Theresa Church.
San Benito Mayor Rick Guerra and City Manager Fred Sandoval also spoke during the ceremony. The latter, who was hired in 2023, never stepped foot in the building, but said he would do whatever he could in his capacity as city manager to see it reopen to its past glory.
“What I have seen and heard today is discussion of what kind of history and the value this building brings in that sense, and not only for us (living), but for our ancestors, people who invested their time and money, and their hope and dreams in something great,” Sandoval said.
Mayor Guerra added: “We’re going to do our best to move this forward.”
The Welcome and opening remarks were made by San Benito Housing Authority (SBHA) Chairperson Jessica Gonzalez.
SBHA Executive Director Maricela Aguilar introduced guests.
Aguilar said there will be a temporary sign placed on the wall of the building that provided SBHA commission vision, dedication, and leadership. The sign also acknowledges Tumberlinson, too.
“Through their commitment, the legacy of our community’s history was safeguarded, ensuring its stories would endure for generations to come,” Aguilar said as she read the board.
The invocation was done by Pastor Hector Perez, who cited the Bible’s Book of Romans, saying that whenever there is going to be history, there’s patience.
Following the conclusion of the marker ceremony, refreshments were available.
San Benito Cultural Arts Department Director Aleida Garcia and Municipal Historian Jose Carlos hosted the networking aspect of the event.
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