The Weisman Building

Marshall, Texas

Renovation of Historic Weisman Building

Constructed in 1898, the Weisman Building served as the department store of Joe Weisman & Company in downtown Marshall, Texas. It operated for more than 100 years until it closed in 1989. The building was donated to the City of Marshall in 1994. Federal and State funding grants has enabled the City to renovate the building.

Alterations in the 1930s, 1950s and again in 1964 left little of the historic building intact. During the 1964 renovation work, most of the original windows were either boarded up or bricked in. An aluminum wall panel system was added to the east face of the building and the original storefront was totally reworked.

Extensive archival research revealed period photographs that assisted in the reconstruction of the original façade and the interiors. After the aluminum panels were removed, period reproduction windows were installed where the original windows were missing and the remaining windows were restored. The original cast iron columns were hiding under ceramic mosaic clad column covers. The original hole in the second floor was restored to bring back the open feeling in the middle of the building.

Although not a pure restoration project, rehabilitation of the Weisman Building returned the building's original character and was a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Marshall. Eleven other buildings in the downtown area have been rehabilitated since the completion of the Weisman Center. The building now houses a cooperative including merchants selling pottery, artworks, specialty items, antiques and custom furniture. The Weisman Center in Marshall received an award for historic rehabilitation from Preservation Texas, one of only 15 buildings in the state.

Project Size: 28,780 SF