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Moore Hotel 
Moore Hotel Historical Marker |
Historical Information
Building History William J. and Mary O'Daniel Moore moved to Texas from Alabama with their family in 1845, and settled in Lavaca County in 1853 on 500 acres. Moore was a farmer and raised livestock. Their son, Samuel B. Moore, also became a farmer and rancher. In the 1860's, Samuel and his brother William Moore bought 12,000 acres of land lying between the present towns of Moulton and Shiner. The Moore brothers granted right of way out of their land to the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad in 1887. A town-site was plotted, and the new town of Moulton was established. The Moore Hotel was built in 1888 directly east of the railroad tracks and depot. The 32 room hotel was built to accommodate travelers and the large influx of people arriving in the growing community during this period. A large room in the back of the hotel was known as the "sample room". Here the salesmen, or "drummers", as they were called then, could spread their samples and wares on long tables which were furnished to them. Merchants would come to the room to see the latest fashions, household goods, and materials, and to place their orders. Young men who came to town from distant places looking for jobs boarded at the hotel. On weekends, the hotel parlor was filled with music and song, becoming the social center of the new community. Often newlyweds lived there until a home was made available to them. The 32 rooms were usually all occupied. In 1890, the Moore Hotel was purchased by Christian Kotzebue. It was progressively enlarged, and when finished, the hotel contained 42 rooms. In the annexes, containing between 23 and 30 bedrooms, was located the wine cellar, where Christian Kotzebue prepared his wine. The sample room of the hotel became the site of the first Boy Scout building for Moulton in 1921. Christian and his wife, Louise, had seventeen children. The couple lived quietly, looking after the Moore Hotel and their children. After Christian died, his sons and daughters managed the hotel until it went out of business in the 1930's. The Moore Hotel building was purchased by Edwin and Minnie Pundt in 1940. The old hotel was demolished to make way for a new business, a grocery store and meat market. The carpenter's crew tore down the hotel and used much of the lumber to build the store with living quarters upstairs. The store closed during World War II. It was remodeled and reopened as Pundt's Cafe in 1942. A west dining room and an east dance hall were added to the original building. On March 1, 1971, Harvey and Diana Kloesel purchased the cafe and renovated it into Kloesel's Steakhouse. In the original building of the Pundt's Cafe (that is now the front dining room of Kloesel's Steakhouse), hangs a frosted glass artwork that was part of a door of the Moore Hotel. The west dining room of the steakhouse features a large original sketch of the Moore Hotel as well as pictures of the hotel interior and other historical pictures of early Moulton. Back to Top Kloesel's Restaurant History Harvey & Diana Kloesel began their restaurant business in July 1970 in a small cafe they rented next to the Moulton Post Office. Within eight months, realizing that they had outgrown the Cafe, they purchased the present building from Ed and Minnie Pundt and began renovating it. In May 1971 they moved to the new location making their home in the living quarters above the restaurant. (The upstairs living quarters were very convenient; keeping them close to their two children, Laura and Jason while they were growing up.) The west dining room was already a part of the building, but the kitchen was expanded extensively. A two car garage and storage room was kept on the east side of the restaurant until 1972 when it was torn down, and the east wing was added and made into a dining room. In 1975, the Kloesels purchased a restaurant and bar in Gonzales, Texas, located at the intersection of County Road 532 and Highway 90A. However, in 1980 they decided to sell the business and concentrate efforts at their original location in Moulton. In 1978, the Kloesels purchased a house belonging to the Kotzebue Family, renovated it and moved from the upstairs apartment into their new home. The living quarters were then converted into a private dining area, and the east dining room was remodeled into a bar. In 1981, the bar was expanded to include a dance floor and more seating. Additional expansion was done in 1993 to accommodate the pool table and dart boards. DJ and Karaoke are featured in the bar every Friday and Saturday evening. In 1997 a historical marker was erected marking Kloesel's Steakhouse & Bar as the site of the Moore Hotel, a historical landmark built by Samuel Moore, one of the original founders and settlers of Moulton. Over the years, historical pictures and antiques were added and are still being added to the inside decor. The front porch was restored to its original historical look adding a bench and porch swing for their customers' enjoyment. All steaks at Kloesel's are USDA choice beef and are freshly cut in the Kloesel's preparation room. The salad dressings and sauces are family recipes prepared fresh each week. The Kloesels also feature their own private label of Steak Sauce which is served in their restaurant. The sauces, salad dressings, homemade pies, fresh bread and buns and fresh steaks are available for purchase. In 1997, the Kloesels began a new venture with a building they call "Cowboy Roundup Hall". It is a large air conditioned hall located 1˝ miles north of Moulton atop a hill overlooking a scenic valley. The hall has been remodeled in an antique western style décor with seating up to 300 people. It features a full kitchen, pool table, game tables, a large stage, dance floor, antique bar, six TV’s with a CD and video system, PA system, surround sound music system and special lighting over the dance floor and stage. Back to Top Kloesel's Steakhouse & Bar 101 Moore Street P.O. Box 590 Moulton, TX 77975 Phone: (361) 596-7323 E-Mail: kloesels-stkhs@sbcglobal.net http://www.kloesel.com 
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BaerCom - Shiner, Texas 2001-
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