Historic Palestine

THE REDLANDS
HISTORIC INN
In the early twentieth
century, Palestine’s citizens
realized the importance of
providing lodging for people
passing or visiting the city
on the International & Great
Northern (I&GN).
It was 1914 when original
stockholders rushed to build
the brown brick building. Its
unique design featured a
metal cornice at the roof line,
while stone trimmed the windows.
Considered one of the
most modern constructions of
its era, and built to withstand the challenges of
time, its walls are made of concrete, masonry
blocks, sheetrock, and metal studs—evident in
the structure today.
Oxen delivered sand for the concrete from
the Trinity River thirty miles away. Built at the
same time as the County Court House, it shared
Italian artisans who installed hexagon tile to
both buildings.
The hotel remained profitable until
WWI. From 1919-1955, it was leased as the
General Offices for I&GN, (later the Missouri
Pacific Railroad).
The once-thriving hotel and restaurant
complete its three-thousand-square-foot
ballroom and handsome hardwood floors sat
vacant until 1976. It was no longer sufficient for
a booming railroad with thousands of miles of
tracks. That is when Norman Mollard, Jr., his
wife Jean, and Robert Laughlin, had a vision.
Their dream was to remodel it, and
eventually, transform it into a revenuegenerating,
multi-use structure. They were up
to the challenge, but knew it would be a longterm
project.
They breathed new life into the brick landmark,
developing both, residential
and commercial spaces while maintaining
the façade and many of the
interior appointments. The stained
glass atrium window was constructed
from fragments, which
were intact in 1977 when they
bought the building. The original
interior “U” design was maintained
to allow residents to have windows.
It was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in
the 1980s, and today, features
residential apartments, extended
stay suites, offices, restaurants
and shops.
It remains a tribute to the way
of life in Palestine and shows
what can be done, once again, by
innovative residents.
The Redlands is located at 400
North Queen Street in Palestine and
at www.redlandshistoricinn.com.
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