Welcome to our History Hotspot stop at Main Street and Highway 79. Let's dive into the history here.

As early as the 1891 Sanborn Fire Maps, the building located at the NW corner of Main Street & Cameron Ave was recognized as Coffield & Witcer which sold hardware and carriage & harnesses. While the name Witcer disappears from the maps in 1901, it continued to serve in this capacity thru the 1912 maps. This building was also said to be a Montgomery Ward store and in its last function it served as the Antique Queens, which closed in 2019, and is another excellent example of how historical buildings can find new life. This site has seen various businesses including a Shoemaker in 1885, and in 1901 a “Notions” store (Sewing) and a Barber Shop were next door to the same space Talk of the Town Quilts and Hair Salon occupied for many years. 

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Many people have wondered about the significance of the “Star” that was stained in the intersection of Cameron Ave & Main Street during the recent TXDOT project.  The star is an homage to the Old Well that was located in the middle of the intersection and can be seen in some of Rockdale’s earliest photos.  Since most homes did not have running water, the Well was essential for early settlers, providing a reliable water source as well as a point of social gathering. The star in the intersection points due north, like a compass.

This intersection of Main and Cameron is also said to be the site of the famed incident in which Bill Pickett first performed the bull-dogging maneuver in 1903 to wrangle an unruly steer.  More information about Bill Pickett’s life can be found HERE and on a Historical Storyboard about Pickett’s life is located next to the Municipal Development Building next to Wolf Park.

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At the SW corner of Cameron Ave & Main Street is the site of today’s Corona’s Mexican Food, which has housed several businesses over the past 100+ years. From 1885-1901 the Sanborn maps label the location as a Saloon and later a General Store. In 1912, it was listed as a Bank. This bank can be seen in some of the earliest photos of Rockdale with a distinctive domed roof.  It was still listed as such in 1925. In recent years the space has served as a boutique and hair salon, and most recently as Corona’s Mexican Food continuing as an important part of our town’s commercial landscape, showcasing how historical buildings can be repurposed and given new life.

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The SE corner of Main Street at Cameron Ave had a long standing reputation of having Saloons. Some local ladies who grew up in the 1950s stated even in their youth their parents disliked them walking on that side of the street due to the unsavory elements of the saloons.  On this block in 1885, one space was labeled as Grocery & Liquors, and in 1891 the corner building was a Saloon. Also in 1891, what is now the MDD Parking lot housed the Masonic Hall and upstairs was the Knights of Hermann. 

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At the NE Corner of Main Street and Cameron Ave is another of Rockdale’s oldest buildings. In the 1950s this building was the home to Perry Drugs — later it became Skrivanik’s, a long-standing local business that has been a fixture in Rockdale for many years. It represents the enduring nature of family-run enterprises in our town.  Upstairs was located Dr. Barkley’s office, a beloved local healthcare provider whose contributions to community health are fondly remembered. 

Behind that building to the East was once the Cameo Building which, beginning in 1891 on the Sanborn map, was labeled as having an upstairs Gallery which played a significant role in Rockdale's cultural life. It hosted various events and gatherings, serving as a community focal point.

Heading further east, the building that is currently The Snug was believed to be Baldridge Drug Store in the 1930s and later became Prewitt’s Drug by the 1950s. Upstairs housed offices for Dr. Swafford, DDS, as well as where the esteemed Dr. Richards opened his first medical office following his service in WW2. In 1969, pharmacists Walker and Burnett purchased and continued to operate Prewitt Drugs until they moved across Cameron Ave in 1970, renaming the business Walker Burnett Drugs. That site was demolished in 1977 and is where the drive thru for Citizens Bank is located. 

Today, The Snug has become a beloved bakery and gathering spot, continuing the tradition of being a place where the community comes together. Offering delicious baked goods and a warm, inviting atmosphere, providing a welcoming space for social interaction and community bonding.

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Lastly, let's discuss Cameron Avenue itself, originally an unpaved route, the earliest efforts at paving was spearheaded by the City and motivated business owners in the mid-1920s.  Articles in the Rockdale Reporter reveal coordinated work days in which businesses would close and citizens and city crews would work together to improve the roads.  In the 1940s, members of the Rockdale Chamber lobbied the State Legislature for funds to pave Cameron Avenue which became a State Highway and later became Highway 79. The paving of this highway significantly improved transportation and commerce, cementing its importance to Rockdale.