First Mercantile Building

In the late 1890s, Dutch immigrant G. W. Kilsdonk, Jr., acting as agent for the Port Arthur Land Company, encouraged people from his native Holland to settle in this area and built a number of businesses to serve the developing community, including a two-story mercantile store at this site. Beyond serving as a supply center, the Mercantile building became a community gathering place and meeting hall for many organizations, businesses, churches, and social groups. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1909.

Nederland, Texas · United States