Welcome to our History Hotspot at Milam Avenue and Main Street. We have several notable sites to explore including the IG&N Depot, a vital piece of Rockdale’s historical tapestry. This Depot was a critical part of Rockdale's development, connecting us to larger markets and bringing in goods and people that helped the town grow. Let’s delve into its fascinating history.

The IG&N Depot, short for the International-Great Northern Railroad Depot, was constructed in 1873. At that time, the railroad was far more important than it is today, serving as the lifeblood of many communities. Only the iron rails linked many towns and villages, and the depot was often the first and last impression visitors had of a town. The gleam of a locomotive headlight at night was a beacon of hope, telling settlers they were not alone.

Rockdale’s IG&N Depot was particularly significant during its early years. In 1873, the International and Great Northern Railroad decided to extend their line westward from Hearne to Austin, passing through Rockdale. By 1874, Rockdale was reached, becoming the western terminus for a time, handling a great amount of business for cities further west until the line was completed to Austin in 1876.

The 1885 Sanborn Map reflects a Freight Platform in the intersection of Main (with no crossing south) and a Cotton Platform west of that. A small Passenger Platform is further east on the line – just east of Ackerman. The freight and passenger platforms were simple wooden platforms, but the Cotton platform is colored pink on the Sanborn maps indicating it was stone or brick – perhaps a fire prevention measure to prevent loss of the community’s cotton harvest headed to market – a major source of the local economy. 

These platforms were later replaced as Rockdale and the railroad grew. A new red brick freight depot was built as reflected on the 1896 Sanborn map, and in 1906 a new red brick Passenger Depot was constructed, featuring a fancy cupola that offered an unobstructed view of the countryside. This building was a source of pride for the community, reflecting the local culture and economy.

In 1925, the I&GN was leased by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which continued to operate it until 1956 when it was fully merged. Over the years, the depot underwent several remodels, including a coat of light-yellow paint over the beautiful red brick and the removal of the cupola to reduce maintenance costs.

In the 19th century, the depot was a social and economic hub. It was a place where people gathered to bid farewell to departing guests or to greet arriving loved ones. It brought not just travelers, but also news, mail, and merchandise, making it the center of continuous activity. Watches were set by the station clock or, as legend has it, by the locomotive's whistle. Before the telephone, telegrams were dispatched and received at the depot, and the station agent was often the telegraph operator.

By the 1960s, business had declined, leading to the consolidation of freight and passenger operations into one building. In 1970, with the advent of the mobile agent plan and the discontinuation of the Texas Eagle passenger service, the depot was closed. Mr. Oscar M. Brockmann, who had been with the railroad since 1923, was the last station agent, closing the depot for the final time on July 15, 1970. The final passenger train stopped in Rockdale September 21, 1970.

After its closure, the depot was purchased by Rockdale businessman Adolph McVoy and repurposed for storage. This marked the end of an era for the IG&N Depot, which had served the community for nearly a century, playing a vital role in its growth and development.

The Rockdale Historical Society was founded in 1998 with the vision of restoring the I&GN Depot and utilizing it as a museum to preserve, store, and share local and central Texas railroad history. Under the stipulations of the Texas Historical Commission, and with the help of funding from local citizens, Alcoa Aluminum Company, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the depot was purchased from Mr. Adolf McVoy in 1999.  Clean up and restoration began in 2000 and took more than 8 years to complete, almost entirely with volunteer efforts. Loyal member Gary Jackson undertook the painstaking task of recreating and constructing the original cupola which was reinstalled atop the depot. He accomplished this with little more than antique photos of the original 1906 depot, and dimensions of the roof structure to work with. An incredible feat, which helped to restore the depot's historic integrity and beauty. This task was completed in line with the renovation of the building, and with the help of several local businesses. 

​During the restoration process another dedicated member, railroad engineer, and lifetime Rockdale resident Bert Dockall, spearheaded the acquisition of a Missouri Pacific Caboose, and Missouri Pacific Dining Car named "The Cheyenne Mountain." These were relocated and placed on rails behind the depot building, and over time restored as close as possible to their initial specifications.

The I&GN Depot was designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 2005, with the full restoration complete in 2008. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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The now demolished site at the NW corner of Main & Milam has a long history. This site was the location of the historic Mundine Hotel and later McVoy’s Store. 

In 1880, Rockdale witnessed the establishment of a major hotel business when John Mundine of Lexington built the three-story Mundine Hotel on the corner of Main and Railroad streets. This impressive brick structure, which appears on the 1885 Sanborn map, opened its doors in 1881 under the management of Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Brooks and quickly became the social center of the town. Located near the International & Great Northern Railroad depot, the hotel was ideally situated to accommodate the influx of rail travelers, playing a crucial role in Rockdale’s growth and commerce.

However, the Mundine Hotel’s history was tragically cut short. On June 8, 1888, the hotel was destroyed by the most disastrous fire in Milam County's history. The blaze claimed the lives of twelve people, including Mrs. Brooks and her four children. This tragic event marked a significant loss for the community and remains one of the most somber chapters in Rockdale’s history.

After the devastating fire, the site saw new developments. The Jim Cannon Store was built on the location of the old Mundine Hotel. In 1906 a Grocery was labeled on this site on the Sanborn map. Over the years, this building housed various businesses, including the Gaither and Tanner Dry Goods and later the McVoy Grocery and Feed Business. Adolph McVoy, a well-known figure in Rockdale, could often be seen greeting customers at the side entrance of McVoy’s Store until his death. Adolph was a World War II veteran who served in many fierce battles and was known for his dedication to the community and his strong support for the Rockdale football teams. He would often encourage his employees with his favorite saying, "Let's roll, boys!" 

The McVoy’s Store became a landmark business that continued to operate well into the 1960s, finally closing its doors in 2010. Unfortunately, a few months ago the McVoy’s building collapsed and was recently razed.

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Across Main Street at the NE corner of Milam, the next story will answer the question as to why this park is named “Wolf Park”. 

This was the site of the Wolf Hotel, which served as a central hub for community gatherings and events in Rockdale. The story of this site begins with the Rockdale Bank, organized in 1874 by Isaac Jalonick, representing Stowe and Wilmerding of Galveston. The bank purchased a corner lot on Milam and Main Streets for three hundred dollars, the highest price paid for a lot in those days. Initially, a modest eighteen by thirty feet building was erected, but it was soon replaced by a more substantial two-story stone and brick structure.  The 1885 Sanborn map indicates the building was brick. 

In 1901, the structure on this corner is labeled as a hotel the “Wilson House” and in 1906 and 1912 as the “Wolf Hotel” operated by Mr. and Mrs. A. Wolf – who lived just a block away on the lots east of The 1895 City Hall & Opera House.  

The Wolf Hotel, located near the I&GN Passenger Depot, played a significant role in accommodating travelers. The hotel kept a carriage ready to meet every train, ensuring that visitors had convenient transportation upon their arrival. This service was vital in an era when train travel was the primary means of long-distance transportation, and it cemented the hotel’s status as a key hospitality spot in Rockdale. In 1925, this structure was expanded and was labeled as “Hotel Larrieu” indicating it was a successful Hotel location. 

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Of note, across Milam from Wolf Park, on the 1912 Sanborn map a “Wholesale Grocery Platform” was built parallel to the tracks in the location of the current Attorneys of Texas Title structure.  In 1925, this space was specifically labeled Robert McLane Co Wholesale Grocery.  Throughout the various years, the Sanborn Maps also reflect in this vicinity a warehouse for Lone Star Beer and a warehouse for the San Antonio Brewers Association.

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A recent addition to the Downtown District is the Alcoa Crucible #2 exhibit south of the tracks on Main Street – a memorial dedicated to the hardworking men and women of Rockdale and Milam County who contributed to the aluminum industry from 1950 to 2008. This site stands as a testament to their labor and the critical role they played in our community’s industrial history.

The Alcoa Aluminum Smelter, located in Sandow just six miles southwest of Rockdale, was a cornerstone of our local economy for nearly 60 years. From its inception in 1950 until its closure in 2008, the smelter, along with the open-pit lignite coal mine and power generating stations, provided thousands of jobs to residents from seven Central Texas counties. During its operation, the Alcoa smelter produced approximately 26 billion pounds of aluminum, significantly impacting the industrial landscape of our region.

The centerpiece of this exhibit is the actual molten-metal crucible used in the production of the Goddess of Liberty #2, which now sits atop the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin. This crucible is not just a piece of industrial equipment; it symbolizes the ingenuity and hard work of our community. In 1986, this crucible was used to produce a “metallurgically unique alloy” for the new statue, replacing the original zinc die-cast Goddess of Liberty installed in 1888. Rockdale can proudly consider itself to have provided the “DNA” for the new Goddess of Liberty.  Scan the QR on your Tour Map to read more about the Alcoa Crucible #2 and the casting of the Goddess of Liberty.  

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It is fitting this memorial to our mining an aluminum industry lies in this area south of the tracks.  The Sanborn maps reflects this area as having many of Rockdale’s industries. 

Of note along the I&GN and SAAP rail lines along the Milam Ave were numerous operations including a J.R. Rowland Grain Warehouse, H. Lockwood Lumber Co., Waters-Pierce & Co., Price-Booker Mfg. Co., Rockdale Ice Co. — and, interestingly enough, next door is located a “Natatorium” (aka a Swim Center), and the Rockdale Improvement Co. Electric Light & Water Works Plant. In 1906 and 1912, an A. Lockwood Lumber Co. operated at the site of the Rockdale Building Materials on Main Street just South of the tracks, and in 1925 the site is labeled as Cameron Lumber Co. Also in this vicinity are several businesses linked to Rockdale’s prolific cotton industry: Baxter Cotton Gin & Grist Mill, Rockdale (Cottonseed) Oil Co., and the Farmer’s Union Warehouse & Cotton Platform.

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Just a little further South on Main Street is the Old Rockdale City Cemetery which holds countless stories and reflects the history of our town's pioneers. Built on 2-1/2 acres donated by the Texas Land Company, which handled land business for the railroad, the cemetery was established in 1874, the same year Rockdale became an incorporated town.

Initially known as Rockdale Cemetery, this site has been a vital part of our community’s history. Many of Rockdale's early residents and businessmen who helped shape the city are buried here. The cemetery's first four burials were J.E. Featherstone, D. Murphy, Tennie Simms, and Marie Vogel. Over the years, this cemetery has become the final resting place for numerous individuals who played significant roles in our town’s development.

The cemetery was initially segregated, with the first recorded burial in the African American section being Katie Fulcher in 1886. The last known internment in this section was of Georgia A. Smith, who lived from 1872 to 1948. This segregation reflects the societal norms of the time, making it a poignant reminder of our past.  On that note, the 1925 Sanborn map also labels the original location of the “Acock [Aycock} High School (Colored)” as being just east of the Old City Cemetery on 3rd St.  

Some well-known Rockdale citizens are buried at the Old City Cemetery, such as Anton Wolf (1846-1924), who built the Wolf Hotel and was instrumental in forming St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Charles Hunter Coffield (1847-1918), a Civil War veteran, organized the First National Bank, served as Rockdale's mayor, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor. Reverend W.E. Copeland (1839-1924), also buried here, was another Civil War veteran, a railroad agent, and a proponent of education, having encouraged and assisted in building the public school. General Hazard Perry Hale (1814-1882), who served as Milam County commissioner in 1854, was elected to the 6th Texas Legislature as a representative from Milam County, and was a Civil War Brigadier General of the Texas State Troops 27th Brigade.

At the back southeast corner of the cemetery, you will find Rockdale’s Jewish Cemetery, established by the Hebrew Benevolent Society in 1878. Surrounded by a wrought iron fence, this section contains headstones carved in Hebrew and includes names such as Block, Cohen, Cohn, Collins, Crown, Emsheimer, Goldsticker, Kestenbaum, Loewenstein, Malsch, Philipson, Rosenfield, and Steinburg. This area reflects the diverse cultural heritage of our community and the significant contributions of the Jewish residents of Rockdale.

A Texas Historical Marker at the Old City Cemetery provides an inscription that acknowledges its historical significance. It notes the various prominent families and individuals buried here, including the Perrys, Baxters, Longmoors, and Witchers. More than 40 known veterans are interred in this cemetery, highlighting its importance as a historical and military site.

As you stand here, take a moment to reflect on the many lives and stories represented within these grounds. The Old Rockdale City Cemetery is not just a resting place but a testament to the rich tapestry of our town’s history, honoring those who came before us and their lasting impact on our community.