DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. There's a building sitting in Jefferson, Marion County, that has lived more lives than most towns ever see — and every chapter of it is the genuine article. Built around 1860 by a man named Robert W.
Nesmith, who made his living contracting stage lines, this place started out as what it was and then kept right on becoming something else entirely. That's the Jefferson Playhouse, and its story doesn't stop for breath. After Nesmith's time, the building passed through several changes in ownership — the marker doesn't linger on every name, and maybe that's just as well, because what comes next is worth the wait.
In 1869, the house was purchased for the Sisters of Charity. Under their care it served as a convent, a hospital, and a school, and they called that school St. Mary's.
Think about that combination for a moment — shelter, healing, and learning, all under one roof. Then the story turns again. In 1875, the property was bought by the Sinai Hebrew Congregation of Jefferson.
They added an auditorium, and from that point the building served as the local synagogue — all the way until about 1900. One building. A stage line contractor's work.
A convent. A hospital. A school.
A synagogue. And then — as if the place had one more hand to play — it was owned and restored by the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club, who made sure all those chapters had somewhere to live. Jefferson has a way of holding onto things worth keeping.
What the marker says
Built about 1860 by Robert W. Nesmith, a contractor of stage lines. After several changes in ownership, house was purchased 1869 for Sisters of Charity and used as their convent, hospital and school (called St. Mary's). In 1875, property was bought by Sinai Hebrew Congregation of Jefferson. An auditorium was added, and served as the local synagogue until about 1900. Owned and restored by the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965