The Adams House

The Adams House was built by H.F. Short (b.1862-d.1946) about 1904 and was operated by him until it was sold to Mrs. Kate Bills and her daughters, Pauline and Katherine in 1912.  It was located immediately north of the presently standing Bills Hotel on Houston between Reynosa and Gonzales.  The Adams House was a favorite location for the drummers passing through De Leon as it had a parlor of sufficient size to display and sell their wares.

An annex was constructed in 1919 for the Bills Hotel in the open area where the windmill is pictured. The Adams House was torn down about 1928.  Mrs. Bills operated the City Hotel in 1914 and it is believed that is the name under which she operated the Adams House.

The rear of the Adams House or Bills Hotel about 1911 extracted from another photo.  Notice the two matching outhouses along the back fence.  The building to the left was W.C. Streety’s warehouse.  At the bottom is the Counts building and the Masonic Hall is on the bottom right.