J. J. Josey General Store

The store outlived the town's best years. In the mid-1870s San Felipe turned down the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe's offer to route its Galveston-Brenham spur through town, and Sealy, four miles west, grew up on the line instead and drew away residents and businesses. When the Texas Western Narrow Gauge built its Houston-Sealy spur through in 1882, the remaining residents moved half a mile south to a new townsite on the tracks. Income from selling the old township's lands let the town run without taxes and build good schools, but the Texas Western abandoned its line in 1899.

What the plaque says

J. J. Josey General Store Built by John Crutcher in 1847 of the Plaza de Commercio in San Felipe, this was the last store built in the town after its 1836 burning by military order. Purchased in 1867 by Dr. J. J. Josey, it was in continuous operation as a store until 1942. The building has been relocated a number of times. Josey, in 1880, moved the store one mile east to a new location on the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railroad. In 1962 the structure was returned to its original site and restored for use as a museum. It was moved to the Stephen F. Austin State Park in 1969. (1962, 1987)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Near This Site Stood a Town Hall — steps away
• Stephen F. Austin — steps away
• Early Roads to San Felipe — steps away
• San Felipe de Austin Cemetery — 0.6 mi