The property on which the Post Office and Federal Courthouse now stand
was donated by Mrs. Kate Wood, once owner of the hotel.
Today the hotel is noted for the many beautiful pieces of antique
furniture. Among them is a “button bed”, a suite in carved walnut, old
fashioned secretary, settees, marble topped tables, quaint lamps, a
massive Chickering square piano and its stool with needlepoint
upholstery, and many lovely pictures, one worked in wool, valued at
$1,000.
For each table in the spacious dining hall there was a revolving silver
castor with the various glass bottles for pepper and salt, vinegar,
pepper sauce and catsup.
“Queen Mab”
In 1877 Jefferson gave a celebration in imitation of Mardi Gras, as put
on at New Orleans, Louisiana, but called it “Queen Mab”, borrowing the
conception from Shakespeare, with whose plays even frontiersmen and
pioneers were familiar. The street parade was several miles in extent,
made up of floats decorated with flowers and grotesques, carrying
innumerable fairy folk and punctuated with bands of music with “Queen
Mab” herself as central figure, the whole “blow out” winding up with a
grand ball. This was an annual affair for many years.
Dr. George T. Veal of Dallas, Texas, tells us that far back in slavery
times Jefferson was one of the most famed towns of the South, and was
set down in the school geographies as the “Emporium of the Southwest.”
Jefferson has truly lived up to its slogan, “Queen of the Cypress.” Many
visitors come from Dallas, Fort Worth, and even El Paso and many other
towns to enjoy the fishing and hunting that can be found in the pine
woods and lakes surrounding the historic old town.
An Advertisement of a famous old hotel operated here:
THE HAYWOOD HOUSE
Jefferson, Texas
Largest and Finest Hotel Building West of the Mississippi
Has been fitted up in a style of elegance and comfort, that entitles it
to the patronage of the home and traveling public. The rooms are
comfortable, and have new furniture. The table supplied with the best
the market affords; and the servants attentive. In a word it is the
business of the Proprietors to consult the comfort of guests, and to
make the house a desirable stopping place.