Whistler B&B, Huntsville

Trailblazer Joined : 29 May 2007 Posts : 88

We'll have a report on the Whistler B&B in Huntsville later in the month, and hopefully also be able to say something about the Thomason Room at Sam Houston State.

Teh B&B is in the house still owned by the Thomason-Eastham family (since new) and the childhood home of one of the best writers and artists Texas has produced, Colonel. John W. Thomason, Jr., USMC.

Subject: Re: Whistler B&B, Huntsville Sun 03 Jun 2007, 3:22 am

Clyde ... I hope you all have a wonderful time!

It is really neat to learn that the Thomason family has been able to retain their tie to that old home for all of these years. As I mentioned before, I was familiar with The Whistler B&B, but knew nothing of the history of the house.

I do remember my sister speaking of the Thomason Room at SHSU! I believe that it is located within the library there and is devoted to regional history and includes an archives?? Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to go check it out.

My sister stays busy with her eight little ones, but hopefully she and her husband will be able to share here before long about the area which they know so well.

Let us hear of your trip, Clyde!

Holly

Trailblazer Joined : 29 May 2007 Posts : 88

Will report when we have had the trip. Your understanding about the Thomason Room is the same one I have. Depository of John W. Thomason Jr.'s papers I believe, with a fair amount of his art-work as well as other matters of regional interest.

We plan to visit it - something we've been saying "We ought to do this" for years, but seemed to never get around to it. But we will. We hope. Now - watch it not be open or something on June 26th....

Trailblazer Joined : 29 May 2007 Posts : 88

We are back from Huntsville. We were just blown away by the Whistler. A beautiful home (1859, still in the hands of the original family), wonderfully adapted to its service as B&B, and operated by Mary Thomason Clegg in a fashion that an only be described as great. She is friendly, dignified, hospitable, and serves a very bountiful and properly described gourmet breakfast at 8:30 each morning you are there.

And our visit to the Thomason Room at Sam Houston State (on the fourth floor of the library - go to campus security and get a visitors parking tag to make you visit hassle free as far as parking is concerned) was everything we'd hoped and more. Very helpful and friendly (and knowledgeable) staff assistant was more tan willing to pull up folders of photographs, drawings, note-books in John W. T's own hand and such. We got to see a lot of original drawings that alter appeared in books (a camel's head taht is in TEH SERGEANT AND THE SPY turns out to have been in red chalk - I think chalk - instead of the pencil or pen and ink I'd expected; a drawing taht illustrates TWO LITTLE CONFEDERATES turns out to have been done in pen & ink and then colored by Thomason; etc). WOW.

We are gonna have to go back before too long. and when we do - we'll try to arrange to stay at the Whistler again. Highly recommended.

Subject: Re: Whistler B&B, Huntsville Wed 27 Jun 2007, 6:48 pm

Clyde, I am so happy that you all had a great visit to Huntsville and the Whistler.

As I was reading your post, I was reminded that you and your wife met in a library. Is that right?

Someday, they ought to make a love story movie set amongst tall shelves filled with yellowing tomes in just such a place.

Hope you can get back to Huntsville soon!

Holly

PS. Thanks so much for sharing the details of the Thomason Room. I hadn't known who it had been named for nor of its special holdings till you began filling us in on John W. Thomason and his works.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Trailblazer Joined : 29 May 2007 Posts : 88

The Thomason Room is part of the Special Collections at Sam Houston State, and has a good deal besides the Thomason material, though that is the heart of it for me. But they have a very good Civil War collection and other things. Very worth a visit.

And yes, Carlie and I did indeed meet in a library. Specifically the Waco-McLennan County Library, in the Children's Room...