DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Old Rialto Building in Bowie County, Texas. Now, 1902 was a busy year for triangular buildings. Way up in New York City, they were putting up the Flatiron Building.
And right down here in Texarkana, a pioneer businessman by the name of George Fouke was doing the very same thing. Same year, same shape. You can't make that up.
Fouke was born in 1843, and by the time he got around to erecting this building in 1902, he had already made his mark in lumbering, railroads, electric power, and a handful of other ventures. The man didn't slow down for much. He died in 1915, but that building he put up, it kept right on going.
Now the triangular style, that wedge of a footprint, it wasn't just for looks. It gave the Rialto a kind of presence on the street, the way a building that comes to a point tends to command your attention. And it was one of the earliest buildings in Texarkana to have electricity running through it, which in 1902 was not something you took for granted.
At first the building served as offices. Then it became an apartment hotel. And then, in 1934, a Dr.
E. L. Beck came along and converted it into a medical building, giving those walls a whole new purpose.
After that, the property passed to Dr. N. B.
Daniel and Dr. William B. Harrell.
From George Fouke's bold triangular vision, to offices, to apartments, to medicine. One building, one corner of Texarkana, and more lives than you'd think to count passing through its doors.
What the marker says
Erected 1902 by George Fouke (1843-1915), pioneer businessman, leader in lumbering, railroads, electric power, other ventures. Triangular style resembles New York's Flatiron Building, also erected 1902. One of the earliest Texarkana buildings with electricity. First used for offices, became apartment hotel. Was converted by Dr. E. L. Beck in 1934 to medical building. Later property of Dr. N. B. Daniel and Dr. William B. Harrell. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966