COUNTY LIFE
Fillmore Hotel a time capsule; couple renovating a unique 1924 gem
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
“NOCONA, Texas – The new modern 40-room brick Hotel Fillmore was formally opened with a banquet and ball Wednesday evening. The spacious dining room was filled to overflowing with the public-spirited citizens of Nocona and their guests from other cities.” Oct. 23, 1924, Wichita Falls Times Record News.
Nearly 100 years after that grand opening, the Hotel Fillmore has new life breathed into it by new owners Eddie Fenoglio Jr. and his wife Chris. They have filled the downstairs retail spaces, replaced windows boarded up for 60 years, restored penny tile floors and now walk the dusty, but pristine pine floors trying to envision what’s next for the hotel.
Located at the corner of Clay and Elm Street, the two-story Hotel Fillmore was the gem of North Texas when it opened in 1924. It featured modern amenities such as steam heat, a dining room fit for banquets of up to 250 people, hot and cold running water, in-room baths for some rooms and electric lights. It was described as well-lighted and ventilated across its 42 rooms.
The ground floor had a drugstore, Our Drug, a barber shop, a cafe, office space and an expansive lobby with a beautiful carpeted stairway to the upstairs rooms.
It also was adjacent to another magnificent building for its time, the Millstone Theater, which was next door. It opened in 1920 and had been built for motion pictures complete with a pipe organ. Later the post office was put in the building.
History shows the theater closed May 22, 1937. After the theater closed the community still used the building for pageants and other programs. The hotel closed in the mid-1960s. Eddie explains when the Balls lived upstairs above the theater there were six rooms and they had boarders. There were lots of oil men working the 1920s oil boom and they stayed full. Bunny found it was one of the reasons they decided they needed to build a hotel.
Read the full feature in your weekend Bowie News.
Get an early start celebrating mom by enjoying the Mom’s Night Out Sip & Stroll With Me downtown Bowie, Texas from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 2 with a chance to win a free gift basket full of goodies at each participating location.
Weather permitting, the Stark family will provide horse-drawn carriage rides on the beautiful historic brick streets for guests.
Join us for another fun downtown “mini-open house” event starting at 5 p.m. along with the added fun of pop-up vendors.
Read about all the participating merchants for this week’s Sip & Stroll With Me in the May 1 Bowie News.
Get ready, Bowie the Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con is back and bigger than ever for its second annual event on May 3 at the Bowie Public Library.
Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this annual celebration of comics, pop culture, and creativity is a can’t-miss event for fans of all ages.
This year’s Mini-Con will feature an exciting lineup of vendors, artists and authors, along with a bounce house, video game tournament and costume contest. Attendees can enjoy free comic books while exploring a variety of geeky goods, delicious food/drinks and more.
Whether you’re a superhero fan or just looking for a fun community event for all ages or to take the family out to, there’s a little something for everyone.
Don’t forget your costume, join us for a day of fun, fandom and free comics. Follow Bowie Texas Freakz & Geekz on social media or join the discord at BTXFG.Carrd.co.
Members of the Stoneburg Volunteer Fire Department will serve up its annual fish fry from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 3 at the Bowie Community Center, 413 Pelham Street.
Dinner includes fish with all the trimmings, served for donations only.
There will be a prize drawing for a Pitboss Savannah Pellet Grill and a custom built ARIS Rifle 5.56 NATO. Tickets are $10. To buy tickets call Bill Prater at 841-0263, Chad Long at 531-2711 or Chad Gerlach at 531-0726.
Donations may be sent to Stoneburg VFD, c/o Chad Gerlach, 9954 FM 1816, Bowie, TX 76230.
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