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 continued under several different names, (and nicknamed the “Old House" by Frank Beitel's son Ally) for 108 years.; it was purchased by Gus DuMenil in 1965, and later converted to the “Peddlers Square” flea market in 1993. After some careful negotiations, Mr. DuMenil agreed to sell it to Mark and Linda Stone in 2007 on condition that they preserve the original 1889 building. The lumber bins had been built on the ground, without a foundation, so they could not be preserved, but the Stones decided to save (along with the original storefront) one of the additions which was built on a solid foundation. “Gus was keeping an eye on us,” Linda reports. “He didn’t want it all bulldozed.”

The Stones didn’t want to bulldoze it, either. They lovingly restored the old building, using much of the lumber from the bins and preserving historical touches wherever possible. The floors and boxbeamed ceiling are original, and letters and signs from a century of business deals adorn the walls. A centerpiece is the old “Kerrville Lumber Co.” Diebold safe, purchased from the Hoera-Rosenthal Safe Company of Fort Worth and Dallas sometime early last century. The building is now a wonderful place for social and business events, and excellent catering is available from the Rails a Café at the Depot (call 830-257-3877 for details).

The project isn’t over with the restoration of the Old House of Beitel. Mark and Linda are hoping to put in an old-style, two-story retail center along the back of the property to further enhance the historic and intimate atmosphere (a two-story building would block the “city-scape” view from the far side of the property). “We need the right combination,” Linda says, suggesting a possible art gallery, bakery, spa or jewelry store. “And we’re not sure of the timeline.”

But judging from their already-completed projects, the Old House of Beitel, at 425 Clay Street in Kerrville, will soon be an even better place to visit.