Most casual observers of the Hill Country know Kerrville as a modern, upscale (though comfortably small) city with cutting-edge industries, world-class healthcare and a variety of cultural and recreational attractions. Those who are more well-acquainted with the town will realize that Kerrville is also a community with a rich history and unique character, with “old west” traditions, larger-than-life heroes and dozens of historic buildings dating from its rugged early days.

Mark Stone was a custom home builder who had moved to Kerrville from Corpus Christi when he was in high school. His wife, Linda, is a scrimshaw artist from Ohio, who lived in Dallas for several years before the couple married. Mark (who also is very artistic: he carves ivory knives, builds guitars and fashions new furniture from old lumber in his spare time) and Linda decided about eight years ago that there were enough builders of new homes in Kerrville; they “wanted to do something noteworthy.”

They began by restoring several of Kerrville’s most historic homes, including that of the famous rancher Sid Peterson (whose sons established the Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital). With those projects successfully completed, the Stones purchased Kerrville’s old railroad depot in 2003, and converted it into a charming restaurant (called Rails a Café at the Depot, and owned by John Hagerla and Melissa Southern). Their latest project is the “Old House of Beitel,” situated just to the west of the depot, at 425 Clay Street.

The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad had arrived in Kerrville in 1887, and San Antonio lumberyard owner Frank J. Beitel followed closely behind. He purchased two acres of land along the new track in 1888, and established a lumberyard there the next year. When the original wood depot burned to the ground in 1912, Beitel sold part of his land to the railroad, which built a fine masonry depot next to his lumberyard.

The lumberyard cont ...

Read the entirety of this article in the print edition.

Subscribe online — it's quick and easy