One of several buildings in downtown Kerrville that is more than 100 years old, Fawcett Furniture Building was erected at 820 Water Street in 1907 and had several later additions. Like the H. Noll Stock Co. building, it is made of rusticated stone.
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| Early undated photo |
Initially the upper story was used for a meeting hall, but by 1914 the furniture business had begun to take over. In 1919 an addition tripled the size of the building. A final expansion in 1924 brought the building to its current size. By 1940 W. A. Fawcett Furniture was the largest furniture store between San Antonio and San Angelo.
W. A. Fawcett served as Mayor of Kerrville 1940-1944. While he was mayor the airport runway, then between Kerrville and Ingram, was being expanded for Army Air Force pilot training. Land was being obtained from local farmers for this purpose. One farmer was so angry he and his brother accosted Fawcett outside the store, attacked and beat him and bit a piece of his left ear off. The ear was found and successfully reattached at the local hospital.
The two brothers were Oliver and Owen Goss. Oliver was my grandfather. Evidently their land was taken by eminent domain, but they felt the price was unfair.
ReplyDeleteMy family on my mother's side settled in the late 1800's at Honey Creek by Hunt. My grandmother was born in a cabin at Honey Creek, lived most of her remaining years in Kerrville where I was born.
ReplyDeleteThe story of the Fawcett Furniture Company building involvng the Goss brothers first gained my attention. Owen Goss was married to my grandmother when I was a small child.