City of Round Rock Suggests a Solution

The City of Round Rock has found a viable solution but is still looking for outside funding and an owner to make it happen! We will be setting up 501C3 called Round Rock Preservation to help raise funds. See the article from the Round Rock Leader below: ROUND ROCK, TX -- City officials are seeking to preserve the Old Stagecoach Inn -- a historic structure dating to the Chisholm Trail -- despite it being virtually in the path of improvements to RM 620 west of Interstate 35. During the last regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on April 19, Director of the Transportation Department Gary Hudder outlined a plan to save the structure to avoid its demolition. The plan was prompted after members of the Historic Preservation Commission voted 4-1 to deny a certificate for demolition of the old building at 901 Round Rock Ave. Director of Transportation Gary Hudder outlined a plan to save the structure by moving part of it further away from the path of the roadway. Untouched would be the original parts of the building at the center of the site, with later additions ready-made for relocation further away from the artery's path. To stop an original call to simply raze the building, members of the historic commission imposed a 120-day waiting period to delay demolition and possibly allow for alternatives to razing. In response, Hudder made his presentation to save the old buiding -- with illustrations of how it would look from the elevated portion of RM 620 that will front it in the future. Planned improvements to RM 620 in a city experiencing brisk growth have threatened to end the structure's existence via the wrecking ball. But the plan now is aimed at saving the historic building. Hudder noted city officials would ultimately need to find a source of money to pay for the restoration, suggesting the possibility of a private-private partnership. No funds have been earmarked for the nascent restoration project. Many in the community would prefer to save the old structure given its rich history. According to historic commission officials, the Stagecoach Inn was built by John and Susie Anna (Tisdale) Harris around 1848, not long after Texas became a state and people started to descend on the area in relocating. The inn was built along the county's first stagecoach line through Williamson County, extending from Brownsville to Salado. The site served as a horse-changing station and rest stop en route to Austin. According to records, Mrs. Harris was especially proud that every room in the inn had its own feather bed -- a luxury thanks to the flock of geese she kept on the property with her husband. The geese also served as winged alarms of sorts, alerting to people's arrival. "When the weekly stagecoach arrived, the geese would honk loudly and the townspeople would gather to meet the stage, in case they had received mail." local historians write. Among some of the inn's guests, are (possibly) notorious con man Soapy Smith, Texas Ranger Ira Aten, cattleman Print Olive and outlaws John Wesley Hardin and Sam Bass. Further updates on efforts to save the building are being posted here. Comments and suggestions from the public can be sent here. Additionally, the Historic Round Rock Collection and the Williamson County Historical Commission have posted information about the building and its history.