Historic — The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has recognized The Stonewall Jackson Hotel as a significant part of Texas history by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
Special to the NEWS
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has recognized The Stonewall Jackson Hotel as a significant part of Texas history by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker. The designation honors The Stonewall Jackson Hotel as an important and educational part of local history.
A dedication ceremony to commemorate the event is being held on October 10, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. at 220 East Stenger Street, San Benito.
Speakers for the afternoon includes Jessica Gonzales, San Benito Housing Authoirty (SBHA) Board Chairperson, Maricela Aguilar, SBHA Executive Director, Sandra Tumberlinson Co-Founder and Board Member of the San Benito Historical Society, Fred Sandoval, San Benito City Manager and Honorable San Benito Mayor Ricardo Guerra. The SBHA previously acquired the building.
“The Official Texas Historical Marker program helps bring attention to community treasures and the importance of their preservation,” said Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of the THC. “Awareness and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of our state’s history. This designation is a tool that will increase public awareness of important cultural resources,” Wolfe said.
A subject qualifies for a marker if two basic criteria are met: historical significance and age, according to a THC press release.
Historical significance is established by reviewing its role and importance in local history, and the age requirement depends on the topic.
The THC’s Official Texas Marker Policies are outlined in the Official Texas Historical Marker Procedures, which may be obtained by contacting the History Programs Division, Texas Historical Commission, at 512/463-5853 or visiting the web site at www.thc.texas.gov.
The construction of the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in 1927 was conceived by the prominent business leaders of the town as an economic investment that would help keep San Benito a prosperous community and nationally proclaim the area’s assets, according to the THC.
The development and financing of the hotel was secured through the nation’s top firm, the Hockenbury System, Inc. which observed the growing desire for grand hotels in small town across the nation and made the Stonewall Jackson Hotel a reality.
The civic leaders selected a renowned architect and preservationist, Harvey P. Smith, to design the hotel putting it on equal standing with work he did on the historic missions of the San Antonio area.
A nationally famous Texas artist, Royston Nave, was commissioned to paint the portrait of Stonewall Jackson which hung for years in the hotel lobby and is preserved in the Museum of San Benito, Community Building.
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel is a monument to the success of visionary people who harnessed the Rio Grande River to bring agriculture to the nation via a railroad that brought northern land seekers to this area and created the need for a magnificent place to stay, reads the THC’s statement.
In the decades following its opening, the hotel became the centerpiece of community life in San Benito.
More than just a place to lodge, it hosted weddings, dances, banquets, civic gatherings, and celebrations honoring public figures. Its Spanish Revival architecture, modern amenities, and welcoming spaces made it a symbol of progress and pride for the city.
Though it eventually closed, the hotel’s legacy as a gathering place and landmark of San Benito’s growth remains an enduring chapter of the community’s history.
There are three types of Texas Historical Markers. Subject markers are posted solely for public education awareness and awarded more frequently than the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL), which is a legal designation for historic structures and comes with a measure of protection.
Unlike subject markers, the RTHL must also meet a third criterion–architectural integrity. Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) markers identify cemeteries which have obtained the HTC designation and whose histories have been researched in detail.
Texas has the largest marker program in the United States with approximately 15,000 markers.
Seventeen states have used the Texas program as a model; the THC reviews more than 300 marker applications each year.
The Texas Historical Commission is the state agency for historic preservation. The agency administers a variety of programs to preserve the archeological, historical and cultural resources of Texas.
1 comment
Okay, so now what??
Good luck on getting rehab financing for a building that should have been condemned years ago! Previous owners and City officials have been trying to find funding to rebuild the Stonewall for 50 years! HINT: the Texas Historical Commission might give the City a plaque, but they won’t give the City/Housing/SB Historical Society nor anyone else a DIME! They will head back to Austin in a flash.
I believe several years ago there was a study done to prove ( or not) the viability for rehabilitation of the property as a hotel or as housing of some sort. If the City officials would just look into that and find the study, they would see that the property had all sorts of structural issues and problems. Clearly the study revealed that the Stonewall was a waste of time and public money and that was at least 10-15 years ago!
One last thought: The Historical people have been advocating for the restoration of this property for years! I guess this is their last hurrah.
The City might be better off looking for monies to pave the awful streets in that area. They are a mess!