Construction began on this contemporary commercial building at 832 Main Street, Kerrville, in November, 1964. It features a double arch over the entry and red ceramic tile walls. When the building was completed in early 1965, it became the temporary home of the Post Office. In July, 1966 the Post Office moved back to newly renovated quarters in the Federal building at the corner of Earl Garrett and Main Streets.
The January 13, 1965, Kerrville Mountain Sun printed a photograph of a crane erecting a column for the Nugent Building. The cutline reads:
This guy Guido must have a good thing. His tall cranes have been in Kerrville five times during the past six months, assisting with erecting buildings. This picture shows one of the columns for the Nugent building at the corner of Main and Washington Streets. The same cranes have been used for erecting the lights at Antler Stadium, on the Peterson Hospital, and even the new water tower at Mooney Aircraft.
Low bidder I'm sure. Now if I just knew Guido's last name I might be able to learn the name of the contracting company.
The first occupant after the Post Office moved out was Drue A. Dunn who announced the opening of his office "for the practice of Public Accountancy at 832 Main" in the February 1, 1967, Kerrville Mountain Sun. Dempsey Tegeler Co. Member New York Stock Exchange also moved in at about the same time.
This building has been home to many small businesses, mostly professional offices, ever since.
This art deco building at 228 Earl Garrett Street served as Kerrville's Post Office from 1936 to 1998 when it moved to its new location across the river. It is now home to the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center.
In January 21, 1926, the Kerrville Mountain Sun reported that the Chamber of Commerce heard a report that Kerrville "had a fine chance to get an appropriation through Congress at this term for the construction of [a federal building]." In June of that year the Hill View Times opined that "too much politics" was keeping Kerrville from having a new Federal Building.
March 7, 1929, the headline in the Kerrville Mountain Sun read "Kerrville is Included in Recommendations to Congress for New Government Buildings." It was not to be.
Every year the local newspapers reported that Kerrville's new Federal Building was in the federal budget, and this would finally be the year. It was not until December, 1935, that ground was finally broken.
The architect was Ayres & Ayres, San Antonio. The contractor was Templeton-Cannon.
The Post Office finally moved here from rented space on Water Street in 1936, more than 10 years after the first announcement of a new post office for Kerrville.
