First Store in Panna Maria

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, and the way I'm about to tell it to you, this is the story of the first store in Panna Maria, Karnes County, Texas. Built in 1855, this old structure started its life as a storeroom, a place where the landlord's share of the Panna Maria crops was kept. Now, that landlord was a man named John Twohig, and here's where the story gets interesting.

John Twohig was a devout Catholic, and he wasn't content to let a building be just one thing. He set aside one room of that store for the church and for the school. One room doing the work of several, which tells you something about the character of the man and the community he was part of.

The crops came in, the landlord took his share, and right there in the same building, faith and learning had a room of their own. Then comes 1918, and the Snoga family takes ownership. They've been running the place ever since, which means this building has carried more than grain and goods across the years.

It has carried a whole community's worth of history in its walls. One building, one room set aside, one family keeping the doors open. That's Panna Maria for you.

What the marker says

Built in 1855; used as a storeroom for landlord's share of Panna Maria crops. The landlord, John Twohig, a devout Catholic, set aside one room of store for the church and school. Owned and operated by the Snoga family since 1918. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966