There’s no hard evidence that the infamous Bonnie
Parker and Clyde Barrow spent time in a local Conroe
hotel during their reign of Depression-era
robberies, but there are several stories to that
effect and a number of locals who believe it’s
highly likely they did. |
The State Hotel was constructed in 1932 when Conroe
was a “boom town” because of a major oil find.
The
State Hotel,
located at the northwest corner of Thompson and
Metcalf Streets, was constructed back in 1932 – a
time of great prosperity and opportunity in Conroe’s
history following the major oil discovery by George
Strake. |
With rooms
at a premium, the facility became home to a
significant number of workers in the oilfields and
the fast-growing retail community that came from a
rapid expansion. |
Local
historian
Larry Foerster said
Conroe’s population of less than 2,500 more than
doubled in a month and continued growing to perhaps
as many as 15,000 people in 1932. He said local
jails were so full that trouble makers were chained
to water troughs outside the courthouse. |
Homeowners
in the area were taking in boarders and tent cities
sprung up overnight. The 37-room brick hotel was
built by local dentist Dr. John L. Hicks and Houston
architect Blum Hester – who would later design the
Crighton Theatre. |
According to
Foerster, oil field workers rented beds or cots for
eight-hour shifts – sleeping in the same bed, with
the same linens, as the man before him. It was an
approach to housing that is surprising to many in
the modern era, especially thinking about south
Texas summers without air conditioning. |
“Times were
tough and it was matter of survival for many,” said
Foerster. “A good eight hours of sleep was a premium
for these hard-working men.” |
In June of
1932, Strake Petroleum Corporation’s South Texas
Development Company No. 2 well came in at a depth of
5,026 feet. Conroe would eventually be described as
“The Miracle City” because of the amazing
transformation to boom town during the Depression.
Within a year of Strake’s discovery well, there are
431 producers and 65,102 barrels of oil produced
daily in the County. Conroe briefly claims more
millionaires per capita than any other town in the
United States. |
Such wealth
attracted a number of interested parties looking to
cash in. |
Local lore
told by long-time residents states that the infamous
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow passed through Conroe
on numerous occasions and that they likely stayed in
the State Hotel.
|
“Clyde Barrow had family in
the area,” said Rodney Poole, current owner
of the State Hotel building. “It’s said they
used to meet up with them under the bridge
on FM 2854 near McDade Estates on a regular
basis to get supplies and visit.” Rodney
Poole, current owner of the State Hotel
Building.
|
Poole has
access to some of the registration information of
the State Hotel, but hasn’t been able to confirm the
alleged sightings – adding that it is unlikely the
pair would have registered under their real names
since they were being sought by law enforcement. The
pair of outlaws were ambushed and killed by law
enforcement in May of 1934 in Bienville Parish, La. |
The Barrow
clan still has family in the area, but did not
respond to inquiries about the lodging practices of
their infamous relative. |
As the oil
boom faded, the State Hotel became a more
traditional lodging facility, offering rooms for the
day, week or month. Gertie Spencer, 78, recalls the
hotel as a busy, popular place in Conroe. |
“It was
across the street from my dad’s Pontiac dealership –
now the Owen Theatre,” said Spencer. “I spent a lot
of time around there in the 50s and people were
coming and going all the time.” |
Poole said
the hotel had 15 day rooms on the second floor when
he purchased the building, but he has converted the
space to six full-sized apartments. Four are
long-term rentals and two have been furnished for
nightly or short-term use. |
“We’ve kept
the original hardwood floors and most of the
original cabinetry,” said Poole. “It has a nostalgic
look to it.”
|
The former State Hotel, above
and below, now has apartments on the second
floor and houses the Montgomery County
Republican Party headquarters and offices on
the first floor.
Poole said
he has no plans to name one of the apartments after
the infamous couple that may or may not have spent a
few nights there coming in and out of town. The
first floor is rented out to a number of
organizations, including the Republican Party of
Montgomery County. |
For information on Conroe and
Montgomery County history, visit www.heritagemuseum.us or
call 936-539-6873. |