McClanahan House History

History of the Historic McClanahan House Museum 

Located at 206 E. Corpus Christi, Beeville, TX 

Data from Beeville Weekly Picayune; 

History of Bee County, I. C. Madray; 

1858-1958 Bee County Centennial Booklet; 

Goliad Historical Commission; 

Robert Bell research 1963 

On June 23, 1836, the State of Coahuila and Texas, then a part of the Republic of Mexico, for a very small consideration, granted to Ann Burke, widowed wife of Pat Burke, 25 labors of pasture land and one labor of farming land. EARLY HISTORY OF BEE COUNTY: From BEEVILLE WEEKLY PICAYUNE, Friday, 14 Feb 1908 By Thomas Ragsdale Atkins, Editor 

Sometime later, Mrs. Burke became the wife of Patrick O’Carroll, and November 19th , 1860, Bee County, which had been organized as a county in 1858, purchased from Patrick and Ann (Burke) O’Carroll and her son, Patrick Burke, for $1.00, a tract of land which is generally known as the “Original Town site of Beeville”. So in 1860 the town was moved from the first location on the Medio Creek to its present site on the Poesta Creek.  EARLY HISTORY OF BEE COUNTY: From BEEVILLE WEEKLY PICAYUNE, Friday, 14 Feb 1908 By Thomas Ragsdale Atkins, Editor; 1858-1958 Centennial Book 

George W. McClanahan had come with his family to Texas in the 1850s hoping that the change would improve his wife’s health. He graduated from Emory and Hill College in Virginia in 1853, later moving to Goliad, Texas to become principal of Paine Female Institute from January 31, 1857 to October 18, 1858 (Beth White-Goliad Historian-via Goliad Historical Commission). He later resigned because of poor health and with his wife, traveled through the adjoining county, camping out in order to regain his health. Mr. McClanahan lived for a short time in Oakville then he settled in Beeville in 1859. Having moved to the county, he became very active in the welfare and development of the town and surrounding country. He was looking to the future, and on August 3, 1859, before the sale to Bee County was completed, he paid C.C. Jones, who had been designated “Agent for the County Court”, the sum of $59.50, which represented the cost of Lots 2, 6, and 7, of Block 33 of the original Townsite of Beeville. He did not record this deed, however, until after the transaction for the purchase from the O’Carroll’s and Pat Burke was completed on record. History of Bee County by I.C. Madray; 1858-1958 Centennial Book; Robert Bell Research 1963 

Mr. McClanahan was appointed the County Clerk of Bee County, probably its first County Clerk in the “new” town. Mr. Henderson Williams was the first county clerk for the old town on the Medio. There were problems with the court records and their keeping, so Sherriff R. Allsup picked up all the county documents from Mr. Williams and appointed G. W. McClanahan the county clerk for the new counties’ location. He was county clerk from August 1860 to November 1865. Mr. McClanahan also helped charter the first Masonic Lodge in the county on November 17, 1860. 1858-1958 Centennial Book 

Mr. McClanahan owned the first mercantile business in the town of Beeville which consisted of a tent, then later a small wood building. 1858-1958 Centennial Book It was located in the vicinity of where the Klipstein Park is today, at the 400 block of E. Bowie and E. Hefferman streets. (Tour info at Historic McClanahan House Museum) On the Evergreen Cemetery Historical Plaque, it shows that Mr. McClanahan also owned Block 1, where in 1862, he sold it to the county for a public burial place. (Historical Marker at Evergreen Cemetery) As stated previously, because, there were questions about where the town site would be settled, he also bought lots down on the public square, paying as high as $11.00 for one lot in a horse trade (Tour info at Historic McClanahan House Museum). In one letter written to his brother, he described himself as having many occupations: storekeeper, farmer, gardener, deputy clerk in the county clerk’s office, and sometimes a tavern keeper when someone wanted a night’s lodging. I.C. Madray History of Bee County 

When the post office was moved from Medio Hill to Beeville in 1860, it was established in the first McClanahan store. Henderson Williams was postmaster for a short time. Thomas Martin was appointed and headed the office until December 1872, when he resigned. B. B. Atkins was assistant postmaster. 1858-1958 Centennial Book 

In resigning, Mr. Martin recommended Mr. McClanahan for the position, stating that he had been doing most of the work in the office “and without pay” for around 12 years. G.W. McClanahan was appointed postmaster in January 1873 and held the office until his death. History of Bee County by I.C. Madray

 Sometime in the early to mid-1860’s, Mr. McClanahan began the construction of (the McClanahan House Museum) and was started across from the courthouse square later given the address of 113 S. St. Mary’s, (Lot 6, Block 33). The store was built by Viggo Kohler. The first floor was a large room, where groceries, dry goods and hardware could be bought. One corner was used for the post office. He and his wife also had classes for the children of the community until a school was built. He also taught Sunday school in this house. The upper floor was used for temporary lodgings for people who were passing through. Tour Info at McClanahan House Museum 

It appears that after a number of years Mr. McClanahan sold the store to a Thomas J. Smith (See Robert Bell research below) and moved to Corpus Christi in 1866, where his wife, Mary Doretha Harris McClanahan, then died there August 6, 1867, in an epidemic of yellow fever. She is buried at the Old Bayview Cemetery in Corpus Christi. Soon after, he returned to Beeville, bought back the store from Mr. Smith (deed records) and lived in Beeville until his death in April 14, 1874. His remains lie at the Evergreen Cemetery, Beeville’s Oldest historic cemetery. Partial I.C. Madray & Tour History at McClanahan House 

Per Robert Bell research of court records noted in February 21, 1963 Bee Picayune Newspaper article: 

“From the consideration of the next transaction, it appears that Mr. McClanahan had put quite a bit of improvement on the property, because in this transaction, Mr. McClanahan acknowledged an obligation to Thomas J. Smith of $1000.00 and this instrument, which was called a “Bond for Title”, Mr. Smith gave Mr. McClanahan four notes for $125.00 each, which made the consideration $1500.00. Mr. McClanahan evidently executed this “bond for title” to secure his indebtedness to Mr. Smith, who probably had advanced the $1000.00 for the improvements McClanahan had put on the property. The instrument was recorded on June 27, 1867.” 

Continued from the Robert Bell research: 

“The next transaction involving this property and its improvements show that while Mr. Smith had possession, he put additional improvements on it amounting to $257.00 which Mr. McClanahan reimbursed him for and it also shows that Mr. McClanahan paid the $1000.00 he owed Mr. Smith when he gave the “Bond for Title”, and returned the four notes for $125.00 each that Mr. Smith had given him at the time he executed the instrument. This payment to Mr. Smith of all the money owed on the property, according to the terms of the “Bond for Title”, rendered the instrument null and void, so Mr. Smith returned title to Mr. McClanahan and this instrument was placed on recorded March 12, 1869.” 

Per Robert Bell’s assessment of the research of the property in 1963: 

“The above two paragraphs involving Smith and McClanahan reveal a tremendous increase in the value of the property (and its improvements), a difference of $1445.50, which indicates that Mr. McClanahan surely had put considerable improvement on the property. To me, this clearly indicates that the building presently on the site was erected before June 27, 1867.” 

After G.W. McClanahan’s death on April 14, 1874, his will mentioned many of his treasured belongings to be bequeathed to his children, whom he named as Mary, William (first born male child in Beeville), George and James, his brother, William being named as his executor. His 2nd wife, Ann Elizabeth McClanahan was also mentioned in the will. The Will was probated and Letters of testamentary were issued on May 5, 1874. Witnesses to the will were H.W. Wilson and A.A. Scott. Research by Robert Bell 

On September 9, 1874, William S. McClanahan, executor, executed a deed to Eugene A. Glover and on July 21, 1874, Eugene A. Glover executed a deed to L. F. Roberts, mentioning in the deed that this was the same property upon which were situated the store-house and warehouse and garden adjoining, which had been occupied by the late George W. McClanahan. The deed was recorded on July 21, 1874. The Roberts family lived there for about ten years, continuing to use the property as a store. Research by Robert Bell 

On May 25, 1886, deeded Lot 7, Block 33, to John S. Ragland of Refugio County, this lot being immediately south of the McClanahan Building and he retained possession of the building and the lot on which it was situated. Research by Robert Bell 

On April 20, 1899, L. F. Roberts and his wife sold the south half of Lot 6, Block 33, on which was located the house, to Dr. D. M. Thurston and on September 29, 1899, Dr. Thurston bought Lot 7, Block 33 from John S. Ragland. Research by Robert Bell. The doctors once lived upstairs and had their office downstairs. A speaking tube was connected to the front porch. Tour History at McClanahan House 

The Thurston Family lived here for a little over six years and on September 7, 1906, sold the property to Dr. C. T. Moffett. The Moffett’s and their son Green, lived there about a year and on September 23, 1907, sold the property to Levi J. Harkey, who in turn sold it to a Mrs. William O’Lander on March 18, 1908. She later sold the property to A. C. Marsden with a vendor lien by Dr. D. M. Thurston and Mollie Thurston, on May 20, 1909. On November 1, 1910, A. C. Marsden sold it to A. Q. Knight and T. B. Knight and was owned by Tosco and Louceyette, the children of T. B. Knight. Research by Robert Bell 

Sometime during the earlier sales, the original “store” was converted from the previous mercantile store into a comfortable home with bedrooms upstairs and living room, dining room, and kitchen downstairs. The outer stairs were removed and an addition was made to the back of the house, no dates can be found on these additions or when the outside stairs were removed. Eventually, the older members of the original Knight family died and home was used as a rental property. Writer’s notes. 

The property was used as a dance studio early in the 1930s and 1940s, then a beauty shop, Palace Beauty Shop, from February 1952 through December 1962. Bee Picayune Ads from 1952 to December 1962 

By the late 1950’s parking space for the Courthouse was needed, and the building was going to be torn down. Through the efforts of the Bee County Historical Society it was saved from destruction. The Society bought it from the Knight family for $600.00 and the County moved it to its present site (206 E. Corpus Christi) in the early 1960’s. Since then, it has been the project of the Society to restore it and furnish it with furniture and mementoes of the early days of Beeville converting it into a museum. History by Bee County Historical Society 

Wooden steps were added to the back of the building in 1986 and boards on the front porch were replaced due to rot. Data at McClanahan House 

In July 2006, the porch and balcony were repaired due to weather damage. Building was restored to original condition. Data at McClanahan House

 In November 2013, a (removable) ramp was installed on the front easier access for some patrons. Data at McClanahan House

 In November 2015, the porch and balcony was restored to original condition after the elements had severely damaged the wood that had been installed in 2006. Data at McClanahan House

 Data compiled in July & August 2016 by Sylvia Garcia-Smith, Treasurer; Bee County Historical Society Inc.