History Lost & Found

Riddle: When Houston traveled homes they would share. Your job is to find the hotel and two houses somewhere.

Answer: Price Hotel, Magnolia House & Arnold-Simonton House

 

The three places that Sam Houston occasionally stayed on his trips to Montgomery were the Price Hotel, the Magnolia House, and the Arnold-Simonton House.

The Price Hotel was built in 1854 by a local doctor named Dr. J.H. Price.  This hotel was a resting place for stage coaches during their trips.  It provided a place for the horses to be rested and fed or new horses to be hitched to the coach.  Artifacts from this era are still found at the site today (Jim's Hardware).

The Magnolia House located at 801 College Street was built in 1854 by John Shelton for the Peter Willis family.  It was named after their first born daughter.  The fully furnished house was purchased by Ilai C. Davis in 1868 and is still owned by his descendants.  The current owner is the only other child born in this house.

The Arnold-Simonton House was built in 1845 by Dr. E.J. Arnold.  It was a typical cottage with dentil trim, wide hall, and wainscoting. The home gifted to the Montgomery Historical Society from the Simonton family and now sits within the Fernland Historical Park.  A replica of the Old Town Montgomery is available for viewing within this house.