Located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Parsons (Old Hwy 20) and Lexington streets in downtown Manor, this building was originally the home of the Citizens Guaranty State Bank.
Known on plat maps of the city as Lot 10, Block 29, the land on which the bank was built was part of the property deeded to James Manor when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad mapped and platted the area which would become the town of Manor. The Railroad Company was given half of the lots of the town as an incentive to get the railway from Houston to Austin built through James Manor's land rather than through Webberville.
One of the first lots sold in the new town of Manor, on March 13, 1872 James Manor sold all of lot 10 to Doctors J. D. Fields and R. S. Gregg for $250.
Not long after, on September 23, 1872 Dr. R. S. Gregg sold 90 feet of lot 10, except for 25 feet on the north end, to W. H. Browning for the price of $100.
Less than two months later, on November 12, 1872, 90 feet of Lot 10 was sold by W. H. Browning to Dr. John D. Fields for $1500.
Early the next year, on January 2, 1873 Dr. John D. Fields sold 90 feet of Lot 10, block 29 to William E. Gregg for $2500. J. D. Fields reserved the right to use the house on the lot for the year 1873.
W. E. Gregg borrowed $658.77 from Wm. Frazer on June 1, 1874. Gregg gave his promissory note payable on December 1, 1874. Gregg also made out a deed selling 90 feet of Lot 10, block 29 to James Harrington in the event that the note was not repaid. If the note was paid by the due date, the deed would be void. On November 24, 1874. W. E. Gregg sold 90 feet of lot 10 to T. J. Lloyd for $1250. Lloyd paid off the note on December 1, 1874.
On January 12, 1878, Dr. R. S. Gregg sold 25 feet of Lot 10 to Dr. J. D. Fields for $100.
Four years later, T. J. Lloyd sold his 90 feet of Lot 10 to John G. Wheeler on March 22, 1882 for $450.
Soon after, J. D. Fields also sold his 25 feet of Lot 10 to John G. Wheeler on May 6, 1882 for $25.
J. G. Wheeler then sold all of Lot 10 to Lon C. Hill for $1200 on November 21, 1885.
On January 1, 1888, Lon C. Hill borrowed $1900 from J. H. House. As security for the note held by house and signed by Lon C. Hill and Wm. H. Hill, on January 10, 1888 Lon C. Hill sold all of Lot 10 to A. C. Hill for $1, giving A. C. Hill a written deed for the sale. The note was due and payable one year after it was given. If Lon C. Hill paid off the note on or before the due date, the deed for Lot 10 would be void; if not, then Lot 10 was to be sold at public auction to the highest bidder to pay the note. Lon C. Hill failed to pay the note when it was due and Lot 10 was auctioned on March 4, 1890 for $1500 and the deed to Lot 10 was transferred by A. C. Hill to Wm. H. Hill, the highest bidder.
The next year, on September 9, 1891 Wm. H. Hill sold all of Lot 10 to Pincus Cynamon and Joe Zuckert for $1000.
In April, 1893 Pincus Cynamon sold his half-interest in Lot 10 to Joe Zuckert for $500 making Zuckert sole owner of all of Lot 10. In November of that same year Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zuckert sold all of Lot 10 to William Braxton Barr for $2000.
In May, 1896, W. B. Barr sold the property to Peter W. Steger for the price of $1500.
Magdalena Steger, widow of now deceased Peter Steger, sold Lot 10 to Dr. Calvin Weaver Baldridge, owner of Baldridge Drug Store in Manor, on June 21, 1913 for $2000.
Six days later, on June 27, 1913, a charter was filed for Citizens Guaranty State Bank with C. W. Baldridge listed as bank president.
On July 12, 1913 C. W. Baldridge sold Lot 10 to the Citizens Guaranty State Bank for $2000.
Apparently something need to be changed, so on January 21, 1915 the deed from Magdalena Steger was rewritten to show the sale of Lot 10 to Citizens Guaranty State Bank rather than C. W. Baldridge.
In October 1913, The Austin Statesman newspaper, under the headline "HAS MANOR BEEN ASLEEP?", said this: "It seems that Manor is thoroughly waked up and has the building fever....The foundation has been completed and brick laying begun on the Citizens Guaranty State Bank building, which is to be a two story brick handsomely finished throughout."
The "FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT FOLLOWING THE THIRD BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE AND BANKING FOR THE YEAR 1913-1914 PERTAINING TO BANKING" contained the following information:
It was not long after this that the Manor Post Office moved across the street from where it was located at that time, into the north end of the bank building. On December 5, 1914, The Austin Statesman newspaper carried this announcement: "Postmaster Loftis states that as soon as the new fixtures and furnishings arrive and are set up, the post office will change its quarters to the Citizens Guaranty State Bank."
In September, 1915, W. G. Luedecke, who was at that time Vice President of the Farmers National Bank of Manor, was elected to the position of Treasurer of the Manor Independent School District. When the board of trustees of MISD chose to deposit all school funds with Luedecke at the Farmers National Bank, Citizens Guaranty State Bank filed suit against the board of trustees alleging that Luedecke offered only a 6 1/4 percent interest rate while Citizens Guaranty offered 6 1/2 percent. At the end of October, the judge ruled against the plaintiff stating that the court had no jurisdiction in the case. The Austin Statesman and Tribune newspaper reported that, "A motion for a new trial was filed and overruled and notice of appeal given".
On January 4, 1917, Citizens Guaranty State Bank filed against Ed Zar (whereabouts unknown) for repayment of a promissory note made to him on November 11, 1916 in the amount of $1595, which was due and payable on December 1, 1916. Information published in The Austin Statesman on February 10, 1917 seeking to locate Mr. Zar stated that the bank had only recovered $15.95 from Mr. Zar's account with their bank and had credited him $250 for the value of 2 mules that Zar had turned over to them on January 3rd.
Fortunately for MISD, the Farmers National Bank with W. G. Luedecke, now as it's President, would still be in business for four more years. The Manor Post Office remained in its location in the Citizens Guaranty State Bank building for many more years.
After the closing of the bank, the Commissioner of Insurance and Banking for the State of Texas was ordered to sell the bank. On August 25, 1922 F. W. Sternenberg, Jr., vice-president of the Kuntz-Sternenberg Lumber Company in Austin, purchased lot 10 with “all improvements thereon” for the price of $10,000.
January 26, 1923 F. W. Sternenberg Jr. sold lot 10 “with all improvements thereon” to M. W. Hubbell and W. E. Thurman for $6750. A down payment of $2587.50 was made by Hubbell and Thurman and four promissory notes were given to secure payment of the balance owed. Hubbell and Thurman were required to maintain fire and tornado insurance on the building until the notes were paid.
M. W. Hubbell and W. E. Thurman sold lot 10 “with all improvements thereon” on January 25, 1924 to Dr. A. T. Cook for the sum of $7000. Dr. Cook paid $500 down and gave six promissory notes for the balance owed. Dr. Cook was required to keep the building insured against fire or tornado damage until the notes were paid.
A 1924 Manor map shows the former bank building housing Moses Grocery and the Manor Post Office on the first floor and Dr. A. T. Cook and Nurse Hanna Gustafson on the second floor.
Some long-time Manor residents may remember this as the Kouri building. That’s because on November 24, 1924 Dr. A. T. Cook sold Lot 10 “with all improvements thereon” to Jim El Kouri for $7825. El Kouri was required to maintain the lease agreement with the U. S. government for the post office located in the building. The bank vault doors and other accessories were not included in the sale and the seller reserved the right to remove them from the building.
Travis Central Appraisal District information shows that from late 1982 to early 2000 the building was owned by Josephine Clawson. During the mid 1980’s the building was renovated and rooms were decorated with antique and period-correct furniture and opened as a hotel called Tara Manor House. A sign outside is reported to have read, “Historic Hotel, Cable TV-HBO, Weekly rate, $95”.
January 26, 1923 F. W. Sternenberg Jr. sold lot 10 “with all improvements thereon” to M. W. Hubbell and W. E. Thurman for $6750. A down payment of $2587.50 was made by Hubbell and Thurman and four promissory notes were given to secure payment of the balance owed. Hubbell and Thurman were required to maintain fire and tornado insurance on the building until the notes were paid.
M. W. Hubbell and W. E. Thurman sold lot 10 “with all improvements thereon” on January 25, 1924 to Dr. A. T. Cook for the sum of $7000. Dr. Cook paid $500 down and gave six promissory notes for the balance owed. Dr. Cook was required to keep the building insured against fire or tornado damage until the notes were paid.
A 1924 Manor map shows the former bank building housing Moses Grocery and the Manor Post Office on the first floor and Dr. A. T. Cook and Nurse Hanna Gustafson on the second floor.
Some long-time Manor residents may remember this as the Kouri building. That’s because on November 24, 1924 Dr. A. T. Cook sold Lot 10 “with all improvements thereon” to Jim El Kouri for $7825. El Kouri was required to maintain the lease agreement with the U. S. government for the post office located in the building. The bank vault doors and other accessories were not included in the sale and the seller reserved the right to remove them from the building.
Travis Central Appraisal District information shows that from late 1982 to early 2000 the building was owned by Josephine Clawson. During the mid 1980’s the building was renovated and rooms were decorated with antique and period-correct furniture and opened as a hotel called Tara Manor House. A sign outside is reported to have read, “Historic Hotel, Cable TV-HBO, Weekly rate, $95”.
More recently, the building has housed a number of different businesses including the following:
Tae Kwan Do in 2009
Pizza + Wings in 2009
Crenshaw’s Beauty Supply in 2011
Big Country Grill in 2015
Remember Me Tattoos in 2019
Dancin' Jazzi Dance Studio from 2020 to 2023
Lillie Mae’s Comfort Food from 2021 to 2023
Wow, thanks for posting. We moved to Manor in 1957 and remember when the post office was in this building.
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