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| The Shanley House was estimated to have been built by 1886 and very possibly as early as the 1870’s. It was originally constructed as a gristmill and was used for grinding various types of grains. Known as the Granite Mills, its original proprietor was J. N. Haney, the same Granbury citizen who built the Hood County Jail in 1885. The power source for the mill was a wood-burning steam engine, the same type of engine that ran steam locomotives. Mr. Haney’s mill also included a cotton gin that processed the area’s burgeoning cotton crop during the 1880’s and 1890’s. By 1900, the building was sold to Michael H. Shanley, whose family owned the Shanley House for the next 76 years. Soon after the purchase of the building, Mr. Shanley transformed the mill building into a ground floor opera house, which presented both musical and theatrical productions. Mrs. Shanley, a talented musician, was often featured in many of the musical shows. Traveling acting troupes were also included in a great number of the performances. Mike Shanley also used this building as a kitchen cabinet factory where he manufactured his own patented kitchen cabinets on casters. An old photograph of the building shows large hand-painted letters on one of the exterior limestone walls identifying the building as Shanley’s Kitchen Cabinet Factory. Retail merchants all over the country purchased Mr. Shanley’s cabinets. In 1912, Mr. Shanley’s interest changed once again, and the Shanley House became known as Shanley’s Rock Hotel. Today the second floor still has evidence of its use as a hotel. The Shanley family was very prominent and active in the Granbury community even though they eventually moved to St. Louis where a local company began manufacturing the Shanley kitchen cabinet. In the years after the Shanleys moved, the Shanley House was converted to a residence and rented to many local families. For many years after the death of her husband, Madeline Shanley Green, daughter of Michael H. Shanley, made her home in the Shanley House. During the 1940’s, she added a framed sleeping porch on the east end of the building. The Shanley House, a frontier utilitarian work structure, was constructed of native Hood County Limestone. Before you enter the former mill, notice the stone arch that caps the front door. Each outside door has such a relieving arch to help hold the weight of the heavy stonework above the door. Also notice the supporting stone lintels above each of the original windows. The Shanley family sold the Shanley House in 1976 to the Hood County Bicentennial Commission. With the help of many area residents, the Commission renovated the building. It is now home to the Lake Granbury Art Association. |
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using 2009 Auction Profits 2 gallery rooms were renovated |
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http://www.granburyart.org |