Roanoke in Denton County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Silver Spur Saloon
Photographed by J Frye, March 24, 2020
1. Silver Spur Saloon Marker
Swedish stone mason Lawrence Olson constructed this building for brothers R.M. and B.S. Snead in 1886; they built it to house the Silver Spur Saloon. The building was sold upon R.M. Snead's death in 1911 and later served as a hardware store and grocery. The two-story building is the oldest extant commercial building in the community, with a main faηade of cut sandstone quarried from local ranch land, arched windows and keystones, a belt course and corbels of limestone, and side and rear load-bearing walls composed of rubble stone. Metal threshold plates are inscribed with the Snead Brothers' names.
Erected 2009 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15720.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 32° 59.968′ N, 97° 13.719′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Texas, in Denton County. It is at the intersection of Rusk Street and N Oak Street, on the left when traveling west on Rusk Street. The old Silver Spur Saloon at 114 N Oak St, Roanoke, TX, is a contributing building
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Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Roanoke Lodge No. 668, A.F. & A.M. (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Roanoke Water Tower (about 500 feet away); Roanoke (about 500 feet away); Roanoke I.O.O.F. Cemetery (approx. 1.1 miles away); Westlake and the Cross Timbers (approx. 1.4 miles away); Mahotea Boone Trail (approx. 1.7 miles away); Possum Trot School (approx. 2 miles away); Medlin Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by J Frye, March 24, 2020
2. Silver Spur Saloon Marker
More about this marker. This building is a Recorded Historic Texas Landmark, and a 2009 Texas Historical Marker
Regarding Silver Spur Saloon. Mr. Snead's rock building was a hotel and saloon. Local legend indicates that it was a brothel. Apparently, the building next door (112 Oak) was two stories and housed a bank at this time. Upstairs there was a door between the two buildings. This allowed patrons to come into the bank, go upstairs and pass through to the brothel without detection. The door is still in evidence. In later years, the building was used as a grocery, the site of future mayor Hugh Jenkins' hardware store (before he constructed his own building across the street at 200 N Oak) and cafe. The structure at 112 Oak is now only one story due to a fire.
3. Silver Spur Saloon
Photographed by Matthew G French, April 20, 2025
4. Silver Spur Saloon - Front of Building
Photographed by Matthew G French, April 20, 2025
5. Silver Spur Saloon - Back of Building
Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2020, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,250 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2020, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. 4, 5. submitted on April 22, 2025, by Matthew G French of Fort Worth, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
