Tucked away on a quiet street in the historic city of Jefferson, Texas sits the Captain’s Castle.
The Captain’s Castle, also known as the Rogers-Mc-Casland Home, was originally built in the 1850s by Confederate Captain Thomas Jefferson Rogers. The original home was moved from a location out on the river to its current location by a painstaking method of rolling it on logs at a pace of about four feet per day. It took a year to move.
What you see now at 403 E. Walker Street is a mirror image of that original home, complete with all of the lore and history that takes you back to days gone by.
Captain Thomas Jefferson Rogers was born on February 15, 1832. On April 12, 1862, Rogers enlisted to fight in the Civil War. He joined as a 2nd Lt. in John Cocke’s Company D. of the 18th Regiment of Texas Infantry Army of the Confederate States of America in Gen. W. G. Ochiltrees Regiment at Jefferson for a period of three years. At the Battle of Mansfield, Capt. John King Cocke was slain and Rogers was promoted to Captain.
After serving in the Civil War, he returned to Jefferson, and in 1868 established a mercantile business. He then went on to open a bank in the store in 1896. Eight years later the private bank received a Federal charter as the Rogers National Bank.
Over the years his stately home has undergone several owners and transformations, and now, some 175 years later it is back in the family with his 5th cousin, Sandi Jones and her husband Mike Jones, as the new owners.
Sandi notes, “It is my dream come true. I have always loved it. It wasn’t even for sale when we got it but everything just fell into place. I call it a God thing.”
The two have been working on remodeling the historic home and are well on their way. Though there are still places inside waiting for their touch, the Captain’s Castle is open for visitors.
I stayed there for the weekend a couple of weeks ago and I can tell you personally that a stay there is very worth your while. I stayed in the Captain’s Room and it immediately took me back. The floor still had the burn spot in the floor from the old wood burning stove. The furnishings were a throwback to the 1800s complete with a clawfoot tub. The room was stocked with everything you would want from a stay away with snacks, a stocked mini fridge, and a flat screen TV. A special touch was a fine bottle of bourbon in the sitting area by the big front windows. The huge bed was like sleeping on a cloud as well.
Mike is also a food lover that calls cooking his love language. On Friday night, guests were treated to steaks made to order and then on Saturday the couple hosted guests and neighbors for a huge outdoor fish fry.
Overall, my stay at the Captain’s Castle could not have been any better. Along with the quiet relaxation that I needed, the inn’s location in Jefferson opens up a plethora of possibilities for shopping, dining and night life.
So, if you’re in the mood for a weekend getaway, a simple staycation or just a night out, the Captain’s Castle in Jefferson, Texas is the perfect choice.
If you would like to book your stay, or just need more information, call Sandi and Mike at 903-949-5182 or send them an email at staycaptainscastle@ gmail.com. You can also check them out on their new Facebook page by searching The Historic Captain’s Castle. A brand new website for the inn is under construction and will be launched soon.
