The Active Historian

Hey, Friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to tell you more about the historic Thannisch Building in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Let’s get started!

History

Col. Thomas Marion Thannisch wanted this building to be used as a hotel and office spaces for the Fort Worth Stockyards community. Thannisch purchased a 50-foot frontage lot on Exchange for $3,000 in July 1906. The original Eastern portion of the building was constructed in 1906-1907.

They chose to use a buff colored brick for the project. E. Stanley Field and Wiley G. Clarkson were chosen as the architects for the addition.

“The three-story brick under construction by T.M. Thannisch in Exchange avenue is well under way.”

“North Ft Worth and Rosen Heights.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, December 29, 1906.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in March 1907 that the building was almost complete.

A handful of businesses also operated out of the new building including: Exchange Drug Store, M.L. Loewenthal Saloon, and P.B. Penix Barbershop. The hotel was to be run by H. Chandler.

In 1913, Thannisch decided to expand the building to include the three story hotel. It was to have 86 rooms, eight storerooms, and a cafe at an estimated cost of $46,000 in 1913.

In 1983, the Thannisch Building was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. It is also included on the National Register of Historic Places within the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.

Today, the building is home to the Stockyards Hotel, H3 Steakhouse, and Booger Red’s Saloon. I would love to walk inside this building or maybe stay in the hotel next time I visit Fort Worth!

Historic Marker

“The Eastern portion of this structure was built in 1906-07 by Col. Thomas Marion Thannisch (1853-1935), one of North Fort Worth’s early developers. Designed for use as a hotel and office space to serve the Stockyards Community and trade, the building was expanded in 1913. The three story commercial structure features decorative brickwork, chevron designs in the upper story, and a corbeled parapet.”

Visit

109 E Exchange Avenue

Fort Worth, TX 76164

Sources

Secondary Sources

“Details for Thannisch Block Building – 5439005278.” Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission.

“Thannisch Block – Exchange.” Historic Fort Worth.

Primary Sources

Newspapers

“North Fort Worth.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), July 1, 1906.

“North Ft Worth and Rosen Heights.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), December 29, 1906.

“November.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), January 2, 1907.

“Sales Nearly Half Million.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), March 10, 1907.

“Panhandle Man Likes Ft. Worth.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), June 23, 1907.

“North Side Is Sure Of Three-Story Hotel.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), June 27, 1913.

“Building Nears Completion.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), September 23, 1913.

“Short Notes.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), November 4, 1913.

“North Side News.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), March 2, 1915.