The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946 Page: 591
717 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Notes and Documents
government.13 After Piedras' expulsion from Nacogdoches, Am-
brose Sompeyrac, of Natchitoches, was agent for his property.4
The "Red House" was rented to new settlers and in 1835 be-
came the first Texas home of Thomas J. Rusk.'" Major Arthur
Henrie, a surveyor under the Mexican government, also lived
in a part of the "Red House." After the "Runaway Scrape"
and while General Rusk was in command of the Army of Texas,
Mrs. Rusk and her children lived for a few weeks in San
Augustine, but they had returned to the "Red House" by August
24, 1836.
Shortly after the Texas Revolution, the creditors of Colonel
Piedras brought suit against him, describing him as an "ab-
sconded debtor." In the suit of Colonel Bean vs. Piedras, Thom-
as J. Rusk represented Bean, while F. J. Starr was appointed
attorney for Piedras. Judgment having been obtained in the
county court of Nacogdoches County, Piedras' property was
sold under execution.," General Rusk bought the "Red House"
and continued to make it his home until 1841 when he rented
the house of Somperac for eighteen months.
When General Rusk moved to his farm north of town, he sold
the "Red House" to Judge Bennett Blake, February 10, 1845.
A few months later Judge Blake rented the building to the
newly chartered Nacogdoches University. This institution, the
only non-sectarian university to be chartered by the Republic
of Texas, opened its doors on the first Monday in September,
1845." The lower story was used for classrooms, living quar-
ters for the Reverend Mr. Montrose, the first president, and
his family, and a dormitory for male students. Female stu-
dents had their dormitory upstairs. At the close of the first
session the Trustees of Nacogdoches University purchased the
property from Judge Blake.18
The Passing of the "Old Red House"
In later years the old building was used as an inn. The bell
shown in the picture was the inn's dinner bell. Its call could
be heard daily through the square and business district of the
3R. B. Blake, "Site of the Old Red House," Daily Sentinel, March 5, 1936.
14Statement of Mr. Roy Gray, 1930.
1.'Harriet Smither, "Diary of Adolphus Sterne," Southwestern Historical
Quarterly, XXXI, 75.
1George Pollitt vs. Jose de las Piedras, County Court of Nacogdoches
County. Record in District Clerk's Office.
"The Redlander (San Augustine, Texas), October 2, 1845.
1 Deed Records, Nacogdoches County, I, 387.591
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946, periodical, 1946; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146056/m1/678/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.