Description: This house, more commonly known nowadays as the Bowers Mansion, is one of the most outstanding domestic buildings in Palestine. The oldest parts of the house date back to 1878 and display Victorian Italianate elements. The small cupola with its bracketed eaves and narrow, paired windows is indicative of the style. In 1894 major modifications were completed, giving the house a more Queen Anne style architectural character. The 2-tiered porch with its turned- and jigsawn- wood trim are noteworthy features. Since the 1894 renovations, the house has remained virtually unaltered and retains its integrity to a remarkable degree. Palestine merchant and Prussian-native Henry Ash and his wife Amelia Emilie Ash built this house in 1878 and resided here until 1884, when the property was purchased by Andrew L. and Nellie O’Connell Bowers. Around 1886 the Bowers hired local architect-builder Walter W. Wainwright to add the cupola, gazebo, and circular galleries; later, in 1897, St. Louis architect Charles Dunbar designed more renovations, including the addition of an ornate staircase with stained glass. A North Carolina native, Andrew L. Bowers (1852-1926) was an official of the I&GN Railroad, president of the Palestine Salt & Coal Company, and president of several banks, including ...

Description: Photo of an unidentified House in Palestine.

Description: Georgia-native Nathaniel Royster Royall (1846-1905) and his wife Annie Richardson Royall built this house in 1883-84. Local historians suggest that the house incorporates elements of Galveston homes Mr. Royall had seen; the fanciful original paint scheme (red and white) was indeed suggestive of a summer resort hotel. A Confederate veteran, Mr. Royall moved to Palestine in 1873 and purchased a one-third interest in a general mercantile and banking business. By 1893 he had taken over active control of the business, which he continued solely as a private bank. Public operations began in April 1904 with the opening of the Royall National Bank of Palestine. This same bank later became the Hibernia Bank and then was purchased later by Capitol One. It is still open today. The house is still in the Royall family.

Description: Photo of an unidentified man in a wagon in front of a farm house somewhere in Anderson County.

Description: Poster from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, organized at Fort Jarvis, New York, December 1st 1873. Joshua A. Leach Founder. There was a chapter of this union in Palestine at the turn of the century.