C. L. Thurmond Building

905 South Bridge Street

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In 1898 the idea of a New Orleans-style bordello in Victoria must have seemed like a good business opportunity, at least to C. L. Thurmond, Jr. His plans called for a building with a central tower three stories high over a basement, with two, one-story wings on either side. According to the late historian Sidney Weisiger, the ground floor was to consist of a bar and kitchen; the second floor a gambling room which opened onto the adjoining roof to allow for dancing; and the top floor for the “ladies of the evening.” The basement would serve as a wine and storage cellar.

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The first sign of a misstep in the grand plan came when the application for a permit to operate his entertainment-oriented business was denied. The second was the relocation of the railroad and a shift in the business district from South Bridge Street northward to the area around present-day De Leon Plaza.

This building has housed a general mercantile, Farmer Co-Op, private storage, and as Harold Nichols residence and art studio. Today it belongs to the Victoria Art League and is the perfect venue for artists and exhibits of their work. Its existence owes much to the late Harold J. Nichols.

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You can learn more about this home and the families that have lived here in Volume I of Historic Homes of Victoria, available here online through our SHOP or at the Victoria Preservation, Inc. office.