A Brief History of Ant Street Inn

In 1899, this, the new Schmidt Brothers Building housed a grocery, feed store, dry goods, and saloon. In what is now the Brenham Grill, brand new carriages once rolled out from a then showroom. A butcher & meat market occupied the backside of the current ballroom; where there remains permanently darken floor stains from that business.

On the front of the building, two central doors led you up a sweeping staircase to meeting rooms and offices which played host over the years to many of Brenham’s leading citizens. At the end of the upper hall was a very large ballroom where various gatherings occurred. It was used by fraternal organizations, as a wrestling arena, a gambling hall, and sometimes ballroom dancing. Activity in the building kept it humming with echoes of foot steps on the very same hardwood floors guests take pleasure in today.

For many years this mercantile building stayed occupied with tenants of various sorts, but as time passed, the economy changed creating hardships on small town businessmen. With only Savital Grocery and David’s Corner Cafe downstairs and low rent tenants filling the upstairs with their refuse of living, the owners finally put the old building up for sale.

It had certainly seen better days. Brick and mortar needed attention, the floors were in horrible disrepair, rotting wood everywhere from ceiling leaks, the need for plumbing upgrade, electrical upgrade, foundation work, window repairs, roof repairs, painting, patching, an enormous financial burden that would require one of those rare souls who could look beyond what it was, and see what it could once again become.

On a day in May, 1991, that rare kindred spirit spotted this crumbling eye sore in downtown Brenham. The spark of an idea, joined with a dream which would save not only the building but also in the long run help to revitalize the downtown area as well. Official transformation into the “Ant Street Inn Bed & Breakfast” began that same year with the discarding of trash from the upstairs, enough to fill four commercial dumpsters.

The grand dame of the Ant Street District,

“Like a lady in waiting, she sat on a side wall at the ball,

longing for the good old days while all around her they danced.

Yet she knew her turn was to come again. And soon.”

Resurrecting an old building to its former glory would take time, and money. It would also require a visionary to see through to the future at what the final picture could be. All the necessary elements came together with Tommy and Pam Traylor. Preservation of historic buildings, antique collecting, decorating, fine dining, cooking, all things the Traylors were very familiar with came to be essential in the success of this new idea of a bed & breakfast for an old mercantile building.

It was through the consummate decorating skills of Pam which brought together furnishings from Tommy’s own collection and an additional three years of attending auctions all over the U.S., to bring the rooms together as you see them today.

With his sharp eye and expertise with American antiques, having been a major antique dealer, Tommy’s established contacts with major auction houses across the U.S. made it possible to amass this large collection of antiques.

Armed with an architectural floor plan of ‘the building to be’, color swatches, camera, and a sharp eye, Pam carefully sought only those items which would fit into her vision. Keeping fourteen rooms, a lobby, dining room, upstairs sitting areas, and library all sorted, categorized, and working visually, while on the road traveling from one town to another constantly looking, is only possible if you have good organizational skills. Coordinating the large antique rugs, colorful stained glass windows, and artwork, with suites of 19^th century American furniture was only the beginning. The full tester, half tester, and canopied beds required rich fabrics to show off their full beauty and serve as focal points in each room. When deciding the theme’s in naming the 14 rooms Pam drew from her tenure at Southern Living Magazine and decided this Texas inn would play host to major southern cities, inspiration which came from personal experiences while touring with the magazines cooking school.

Once bringing everything home, the orchestration of hundreds of small details took three years of construction of the interior, allowed for final processing of the furnishings right up to opening day.

The Traylor’s did not take the inn, with its’ collection of museum quality furniture, too seriously though. They decorate with a sense of whimsy by inserting unusual objects that amuse or cause guests to chuckle when discovering: funny old family photos, a stuffed weasel, umbrella lamp, an old ship model of the Santa Maria, and a dentist chair among the curious items accessorizing rooms. The Memphis room, 209 causes the most stir with its central feature being an original 108 year old freight elevator still intact.

Fifteen guest rooms await the thrill of discovery by newbie’s (first time guests). Each room sports twelve foot ceilings, stained glass, polished wood floors, and private baths. But that is where the similarities stop and sheer creativity takes over and a different experience is felt with each room by way of its decor and colors.

Some rooms have added intrigue from the exposed brick of 22 inch thick walls and the remains of an ancient hand pulled freight elevator. All over the building are interesting vignettes to admire; many become the subject of watercolors, photographs, or drawings made by the varied creative guests who come specifically for the beauty that is in the inn.

When large groups arrive you might see the ballroom full of women making bobbin lace, scrapbook makers, wedding parties, business meetings, writers, church retreats, dancers, or a photographers gathering.

Guests of the Ant Street Inn enjoy sleeping late in their comfortable rooms, rocking on the 80 foot back veranda with a glass of wine, and savoring Blue Bell Ice Cream, made locally in Brenham, as a bedtime snack. Guests enjoy a smoke free environment in the Brenham Grill, dining under a magnificent stained glass chandelier for breakfast, lunch and dinner are also times to enjoy this room.

Antique shops, art galleries, and other restaurants are a half block stroll from the inn’s front door. Unity Theatre, museums, the Antique Rose Emporium, Ellison’s Greenhouses, Pleasant Hill Winery, and Washington on the Brazos State Park are nearby.

Business travelers are amazed that an inn offers not only the quiet comfort of a friend's home, but also the corporate amenities that they need, including desks, wireless internet connections, individual thermostats, cable TV and early breakfast.

One corporation chose The Ant Street Inn for a two day business meeting because of its location which is central to the major cities in Texas and returned monthly for 12 years. They enjoy the planning, arrangements, and rooms offered at the inn and testify that sales were off in the couple of months they were unable to hold their meeting here.

This wonderful old building has gone from an industrious beginning, through years of neglect and near abandonment, back to proud productivity as a premier bed and breakfast. Tommy and Pam Traylor had gone from retirement to the demanding and rewarding job of inn keeping in a building they artfully restored beyond its original beauty to serve as a centerpiece for Brenham, Texas.

Recent guests wrote,

"You couldn't have done anything better

unless you tucked us in and

kissed our foreheads good-night."

History of Ant Street Inn written by Beverly Hill Smith with Pam & Tommy Traylor 2004

“Where did the antiques come from?” Guests often ask the origin of the antiques. While remodeling the building, Tommy and Pam Traylor went to auctions across the U.S. searching for the right combination of classic furniture to show off the inn. It took two years of travel to acquire the fabulous collection you see today.

Sources include:

Stained Glass Chandeliers dining room &ballroom: Atlanta.

Stairway Stained Glass Window: Moody home in Galveston.

Gift Shop Vault Door: Waco.

Large Sofas in upstairs hall: Rockefeller estate, Hyde Park, New York.

Oak Doors to guestrooms: State Capitol Building in Austin.

Bathroom Doors in guestrooms: 1875 hotel in Navasota, TX.

Brenham, as county seat of Washington County, the birthplace of Texas, has prospered and grown since its incorporation in 1844. German and Polish immigrants moved to this important hub for commerce as railroads were completed in the late 1800”s.

Brenham’s prosperity launched many successful businesses, one of which was the Schmid Bros. An ad from the Brenham newspaper of 1898 read, “Dealers in staple and fancy groceries, dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, hats, crockery, hardware, woodenware, cigars, tobaccos, etc. Agents for the excellent brew of the Lone Star Brewing Association of San Antonio, Zurcher Building near Union Depot.”(2)

The Schmid brothers, Josef, Sigmund, and Benjamin, were born respectively on July 18, 1849; April 9, 1852; and August 30, 1858 on a farm in Baden, Switzerland. Their parents moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1868, and there Josef became a plasterer. (3)

The family moved to Galveston, Texas in 1871 and from there became farmers in Shelby, Austin County where they first purchased Texas real-estate.(4) Josef moved to Brenham in 1873 and was the first brother to marry when he met Miss Selma Roesler in 1879. Sigmund was married in 1880 to Miss Bogelsang in Shelby. Benjamin, the youngest, married Miss M. Burchbuchlerl. (5)

When Josef bought a small grocery and saloon business from the estate of Mr. Bohnenstengler in 1880, he retained the location of the business in the Amsler Bros. wagon yard. On January 1, 1882, Ben became a partner of the business now called J. Schmid & Bro. In 1883, when Amsler Bros. built their new brick building, Sigmund joined the firm and J. Schmid & Bros. doubled the size of their business and rented the western portion of the building.(6)

In 1889, the name of the firm was changed to Schmid Bros. the firm transferred their location to the new Zurcher building in 1891.

The Schmid brothers built their own building in 1899 on Quitman Street at a cost of $40,000.(7) Property had been purchased from three sources: Carrie Halenza, February 17, 1897; the heirs of Christoph Busse, February 4, 1898: and a trade of property with the City of Brenham, December 22, 1898.(8)

A two story red brick building of 21,440 square feet, which occupies one city block, was built. An increase in property tax assessments show the building was completed by the 1900 tax year.(9) The imposing Romanesque styled building had five stores fronts of cast iron from the Beaumier Iron Works of Brenham with French plate glass, wooden doors and sashes, pressed metal details and original coping and pediments. A metal canopy sheltered the front sidewalk. (10)

Winds from the hurricane of 1900 removed some of the urns on top of the building cornice, but they were replaced. (11)

The firm prospered and added two additional business sidelines. When Charles Halenza, the wholesale agent for the Lone Star Brewery of San Antonio, died in 1894 while killing wild dogs, the business was continued by his brother-in-law, Ben Schmid. The brothers also opened a dairy farm one and one-half miles west of Brenham for the production of fresh milk and butter for their store. (13)

The Schmid’s building housed stores which sold all manner of goods to a prospering Washington County populace: dry goods, groceries, liquor, beer, feed, and farm implements. (14) There was a record written on a wall in 1916 by one of the clerks giving the customer’s name, shoe and boot sizes, and date. (15)

Most of the customers were Polish and German, so signs painted on the East wall of the building were in German. It read, “Hir begotum Wenbeth and Farm Producte.”(16)

By 1900, cotton receipts for Brenham were up to 40,000 bales (17) and many of these were sold through the Schmid Bros.

The second story of the building features eight meeting rooms flanking a center hall with a ballroom at each end of the hallway. These rooms were used during the years for club meeting rooms, a saloon, dances, wrestling, and a nightclub. Many organizations met upstairs including the Sons of Herman, Ancient Order of United Workmen, United Ancient Order of Druids, and the Ladies of Sons of Herman. On the upper floor were the offices of W. C. Henderson, W. H. Bouldin, J. T. Browning and the Columbian

Printing Co. (13)

Ben Schmid became well known around the state with his involvement in the Brenham Field Artillery Battalion when he was promoted to the rank of captain. His first commission of second lieutenant was signed by Governor Hogg and the commission of first lieutenant was signed by Governor C. A. Culberson. (19)

Edmund, eldest son of Josef, inherited his parents’ interest in Schmid Bros. and managed the business. Other heirs including Ben’s sons, Alexander and Edward, worked in the stores. (20)

The Depression years brought on a forced sale of the property to Brentex Building Co., R. C. Barnes, President, in 1934. (21)

Mr. Edmund Schmid continued to run the Schmid Bros. business, leasing space from Mr. Barnes. With an eye to the future of retailing, Edmund paid a firm to recreate his grocery business into a self-serve store, naming it Super Savitall (save-it-all). (22)

In 1929, Mr. Fritz Kugel began operation of a delicatessen and meat market. An article in the Brenham Banner Press of March 2, 1936, read, “Savitall Meat Market- Modern and extremely sanitary refrigeration, dressed poultry and heavy corn fed prime KC beef.”(23) Mary Bell Klatt, a future owner of the building, kept books for Mr. Kugel. (24)

The Depression brought on a new use for some of the upstairs rooms. Space in one of the ballrooms was leased for a government sponsored work program to employ local women to sew garments. (25)

A cafe owned by Steven Michalak relocated to the building in 1939. It was commonly known as Annie’s Cafe after Steven’s daughter, Annie Maria Michalak. She was famous for her “Come Back Chili”. (26)

In the 1940’s, Blue Bell rented a corner of the grocery store to sell ice cream cones. Movable partitions were arranged so that ice cream could be sold in the evenings after the grocery store closed. (27)

Brentex building Co. conveyed its interest to R. C. and R. D. Barnes on January 22, 1944. (28) Later in 1945, R. D. Barnes deeded his interest to his mother, Lillie Barnes. (29) Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Barnes gave the property to their three children, Dorothy B. Fuller, R. D. Barnes, and Maurine B. Harrison on May 10, 1949. (30)

During the Barnes ownership, the ornamental cornices on top of the building were removed to modernize the appearance of the building. (31)

Famous gamblers from around the state met upstairs in a gambling hall run by Martin Kramer from the years 1955-60. Amarillo Slim and Johnny Moss, currently professional players in Las Vegas, along with other wealthy men from west Texas met from Mondays through Fridays to play poker. The winners stayed in local hotels, while the losers, hoping to get a stake, waited around the hall. (32) Once a man was shot while gambling when it was discovered he had an informant behind a peephole passing him information.

In 1957, Lawrence and Mary Bell Klatt Nowicki bought the meat market business from Mr. Kugel. (33) Over a period of years; four generations of Nowicki’s have been gainfully employed there. (34)

At Edmund Schmid’s death, management of the business was turned over to Henry Becker. Edmund’s only child. Edmund Charles Schmid, began running the business in about 1959(35) and inherited the business from his mother, Mamie, in 1961 at her death. (36)

The Barnes’ children sold to Lawrence J. Nowicki and his wife May Bell on July 21, 1967. (37) Mrs. Nowicki ran a bar, The Silver Spur, upstairs in the building for a few years. She also opened a restaurant named, David’s Corner Cafe, after her son. The cafe enjoyed notoriety when it was featured in Texas Monthly Magazine for its great food and charm. (38)

Edmund Schmid continued to lease space for his Savitall grocery business from the Nowicki’s until shortly after they sold the building to Tommy Traylor, President of Specialized Distributing, Inc. on December 2, 1991. (39)

Mr. Traylor restored the building which still retains its original features except the cornices. He maintained architectural integrity while replacing the roof and repairing the original wooden windows. Traces of the original German sign painted on the end of the building remain to describe the extensive offerings this great building once held.

Keith and Suzy Hankins purchased the building from Tommy Traylor on December 27, 2011. They continue to operate Ant Street Inn and lease out the restaurant space. They consider the responsibility of maintaining a historic building is vital so others can enjoy the history we all share.

A Brief History of the Ant Street Inn

History of the Schmid Brothers Building

Historic Accommodations Are Waiting