Sylvan Hotel - La Porte, TX - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

Sylvan Hotel was built in 1892, by Col. A.M. York, and was located across the street from the present Saint Mary's Catholic Church. The Sylvan was primarily a resort hotel. It stood next to the Sylvan Grove Park. The hotel had large porches that overlooked the bay. There was a swimming and dancing pavilion at the park and dancing at the hotel. The schooner "Mary Lorena" was docked at the wharf in front of the hotel and moonlight sails were enjoyed by many.

In 1897, after the railroad was completed to La Porte and the park, trains would run down twice a week, leaving Houston at 6 p.m. and returning at midnight.

The Sylvan Hotel was damaged in the great storm of 1900. The owners decided not to repair the hotel and, in 1901, the Catholic Diocese decided to purchase the building and land as to part of the Catholic Seminary and School they were going to build in La Porte. The hotel building was moved several hundred yards and the old wooden building was covered with concrete. Is served as part of the school until the seminary was moved into Houston in 1953. It then sat vacant until it was destroyed by fire in December of 1971.

Group that erected the marker: City of La Porte Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: 800 Block of Bayshore Drive Across from St. Mary's Catholic Church La Porte, TX USA 77571 URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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