East Texas Quarterly Magazine Summer 2013 | Page 16

Nacogdoches on El Camno Real and was moved to
the Phillips’ Llano GrandePlantation in 1975 where it The Hardeman House, built in 1892, is listed on the
has been restored to its original grandeur.
National Register of Historic Places and is situated
on Old Washington Square, a “center” in NacogdoThe Rosewild bed & breakfast accommodations ches that is much older than the town square. The
include a high-ceilinged parlor with oriental rugs Caddo Indians established the area as a ceremonial site
and square grand piano, master bedroom, modern between 1250 A.D. and 1450 A.D. One of their
bathroom, dining room with crystal chandelier and mortuary mounds remains today on Mound Street,
fully-equipped kitchen. The master bedroom includes which is 1/2 block east of the Hardeman House.
two antique double beds. A sleeping loft upstairs, is Another mound, located on the Hardeman House
completed, and has one double bed and a half bath. property, was excavated in the 1930’s.
The house has central heat and air conditioning; in
addition, every room except the bathrooms have a In 1845, Haden Edwards, Charles S. Taylor, and J. R.
wood-burning fireplace. All furnishings are antiques Arnold promised 2.5 acres next to the Hardeman
of the period, ranging from 1840-1880.
House to the City of Nacogdoches to erect a building
for the Nacogdoches University, which was chartered
The modern kitchen is fully equipped with appliances, at the time. The modified Grecian structure, built in
china, glassware, etc. and is stocked with homemade 1858, was the first nonsectarian university established
bread, homemade jam, fresh fruit, venison sausage, during the Republic of Texas and the only building
bacon and eggs, cereal and milk, orange juice, tea chartered by the Republic that is still standing.
and coffee. You can use this generous stash of food
at any time, not just for breakfast, and you can bring Robert Lee Hardeman, a descendant of an early
your own food from home, or from local restaurants pioneering family of Texas, built his one-story home
or grocery stores.
at the corner of Church and Arnold Streets in 1892.
In 1912, Hardeman commissioned prominent
Rosewild will sleep 5-6 people from the same family architect Dietrich Rulfs to enlarge the house, adding a
or group. When you reserve Rosewild, your party has second story, a wrap-around gallery, new siding, and
the exclusive use of the entire house, whether you are interior. Mr. Rulfs also designed and built 15 other
a “party” of one or six.
turn-of-the-century homes and churches located in the
neighborhood surrounding the Hardeman House.

Hardeman House
Nacogdoches, TX

Slow down, relax, and move on in to the
Hardeman House in the heart of
Nacogdoches, the oldest town in
Texas. Enjoy an evening breeze
on
the
wrap-around
porch
under lazy ceiling fans while
listening to the distant lonesome
whistle of a train. The Hardeman House is
listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and pays tribute to her surrounding
town and the Republic of Texas. Take a
minute to look back in time with an old
magazine, or review one or more of the many historic
books on Texas.

14 East Texas Quarterly

Lee
and
Ida
Hardeman had three
children:
Homer,
Gladys, and Curtis.
Gladys never married and lived in the
home until just prior
to her death in 1980.
In
more
recent
years, the house
has been home to
an antique shop
and a bed and breakfast. The Hardeman House is
currently owned by Michael and Kim Dean.