Phillips and Trosper Buildings

Duane's take

The official marker for the Phillips and Trosper Buildings in Lampasas County is what I'm going on here, and friend, this is one worth slowing down for. August of 1884. That's where we start.

A fire tears through downtown Lampasas, gutting many of the structures along the main drag, including properties owned by a prominent developer by the name of John B. Higdon. Now when fire takes a block, you've got two choices.

You walk away, or you build back bigger. Lampasas chose the second option, and fast. Higdon sold off one of his lots, right there in the heart of things, to a man named David W.

Phillips. Phillips would go on to serve in the State Legislature from 1898 to 1902, but in late 1884 he wasn't legislating yet. He was building.

He put up the eastern half of what would become this pair of adjoining structures before that year was even fully in the ground. And right alongside him, almost at the same time, grocers J. M. and A.

L. Trosper raised the other half. Two buildings, side by side, rising out of the ash of that August fire.

Limestone construction, four-bay facades, round-arched transoms above the entry doors. Late nineteenth century commercial storefront done right, and done to last. The Trospers held their half until 1888, when they sold it to a pair of noted civic leaders and druggists, H.

N. and J. R. Key.

The Key Brothers Drug Store moved in and stayed put in that Trosper building for sixteen years. Sixteen years of remedies and receipts and neighbors coming through the door. But here's the thing about a well-built building in a lively Texas town.

It doesn't stay just one thing. Over the years, these two structures housed the Majestic Cafe, Donovan's Cafe, the Hoover and Noyes Saloon, the Lampasas Daily Leader newspaper, the Bum's Domino Club, the workshop of a noted bootmaker, a bowling alley, a grocery store, a dance hall, a furniture store, a meat market, and apartments. Somewhere in there you've got breakfast, a game of dominoes, custom boots, a waltz, and the morning paper, all under the same limestone roof.

That is a building earning its keep. Both the Trosper and Phillips buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, important elements of downtown Lampasas, which is exactly what they have been since two men decided that a fire in August of 1884 was not the end of the story. Turns out it was just the opening line.

What the marker says

Many of Lampasas' downtown structures, including buildings on the site owned by prominent developer John B. Higdon, were gutted by fire in August 1884. Higdon then sold one lot to David W. Phillips, who served in the State Legislature in 1898-1902. Late in 1884, Phillips erected the eastern half of this pair of adjoining structures. Grocers J. M. and A. L. Trosper built the other half at about the same time. In 1888 the Trospers sold the property to noted civic leaders and druggists, H. N. and J. R. Key. The Key Brothers Drug Store occupied the Trosper building for 16 years. These buildings are good examples of late 19th century commercial storefront. They feature limestone construction, 4-bay facades, and round-arched transoms above the entry doors. The buildings have housed several businesses, including the Majestic Cafe, Donovan's Cafe, Hoover & Noyes Saloon, the Lampasas "Daily Leader" newspaper, the Bum's Domino Club, the workshop of a noted bootmaker, a bowling alley, grocery store, dance hall, furniture store, meat market, and apartments. The Trosper and Phillips buildings, important elements of downtown Lampasas, are both listed in the National Register of Historic places. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1995