Site of the Chaney Building

The building with the green awnings is now The Galleria.  The portion to the left, next to the Weston Building, is where the the Chaney Building stood at 802 Water Street from 1923 to 1964 when it was razed for bank expansion. The rest of the building includes the old First State Bank Building, which dates to 1910.

In 1923 R. H. Chaney erected a two story building at this location. In 1927 the Kerrville Sunshine Society, described as a social and literary club, opened here. The newspaper reported, “George W. Walther, manager of the club announced that the new club would be conducted along the highest lines of refinement, and would be equipped with a recreation hall where members will have the privileges of playing billiards, pocket billiards, dominoes, chess and checkers.  The Kerrville branch of the International Sunshine Library, which Mr. Walther has conducted for the past 27 years, will be located in the rear of the club rooms, giving club members access to 500 volumes, as well as the latest issues of magazines and newspapers.

Membership in the club has been limited to 100 members who will be required to furnish good references.

The second floor of the Chaney Building has been remodeled and attractively arranged into club rooms. 

The club will remain closed on Sundays, the management has announced.”

I have heard reports that this was in actuality a private drinking club for gentlemen during Prohibition.  

In 1964 the Chaney building was razed for expansion of the First National Bank.

It can be seen in the photo below.  Look for the sign on the left that reads "Pool Dominos".

From the Kerr County Historical Commission collection

Former Memorial Library Building

Before there was the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library,  an earlier building, in the 300 block of Water Street, served as the public library.  The earlier library, a rock building, is being renovated for office space for Crenwelge Motors. 


Like many buildings in Kerrville, this one is older than many realize.  It was constructed in 1938.


In July 1938 D. W. Starkweather bought three lots on Water Street that became the church property.  On Aug 4, 1938, the Kerrville Times reported the Pentecostal pastor, D. W. Starkweather, trustee, obtained a building permit for "300 Water Street, rock veneer building, 38x58 feet; $2,500." 

Then September 8, 1938, Kerrville Times ran a story about the new Pentecostal Church.  They were having a pie and cake sale to raise funds to finance the building of the church, which was then under construction at the corner of Water and Hays St.    (Can you imagine paying a mortgage by selling baked goods?)


By February, 1939, the Pentecostal Church was meeting here, so the building must have been finished.  The Pentecostal Church continued to meet here until 1958, when the Library Board purchased it for the new Memorial Library.



When the library moved to the new building on the river in August 1967, the rock building returned to its original purpose as a church and was home first to the Mormon Church then to Conquest Christian Center.