Rent the Watkins Reception house and the Chapel/Gazebo for your special day!

Duration

• Full Day (15 Hours)
• Full day= 9 am to midnight, can be opened earlier by request

Chapel

The white wooden chapel was built by a Free Methodist congregation and used at its original location into the 1950s. The quaint chapel is currently available as a rental facility for weddings or other special events.

This church, which stood on the corner of Townsend Street and South Fredonia (Highway 7) one block west of South Street, was established in 1905 according to the Deed Records of Nacogdoches County. Free Methodists were an independent lot who did not agree with all the Methodist doctrines or practices – particularly that of charging a fee for use of a pew. The church disbanded sometime after WWII as membership dwindled and gas rationing made travel prohibitive for the circuit preachers that serviced the congregation. This church did not have a steeple until it was moved to Millard’s Crossing because a bell was a luxury many small congregations could not afford.

​This charming turn-of-the century chapel with seating for 75 to 100 people. The building is both heated and cooled, has a working antique pump organ, piano, and chapel bell. You decorate, candles are permitted.

The Chapel includes the following: (sizes and amount of furniture listed are approximate.)

• 17 pews which seat approx. 75 people comfortably
• Approximately 30 folding chairs for additional seating may be available on request.
• 1 Altar Table
• 2 Brass Candelabra which hold 5 candles each (use only dripless candles) 2 Wooden Lecterns
• 3 Bishops’ Chairs
• Chapel Runner Rug is 32' by 4' (optional)
• There are 10 chapel windows (each 6 1⁄2 ft by 2 1⁄2 ft)
• Sanctuary opening measures 8' 4" high by 12' 6" wide
• The pump organ, electric organ, and piano are available for your use. However, they are not to be moved. If the piano is not in tune, you may have it tuned (at your expense).

Please, no food or drink in the Chapel.

Reception House

The Watkins Reception House was build in 1895 by Lera Thomas' maternal grandfather and reflects the practice of modifying a vernacular house with Victorian architectural features. ​The original floor plan was a standard rectangular farmhouse with a dog-trot, or breezeway through the center. This house also features a back porch well that is still displayed at the village. The home was made more stylish by adding a bay window parlor and front porch with "gingerbread" detailing.

The Reception House includes the following (sizes and amount of furniture listed below are approximate):

• Kitchen (refrigerator/freezer, sink with hot & cold water, electric stove/oven, microwave)
• Restrooms
• Two fireplaces
• Piano
• 2 Buffets: (Counter tops measure 60" x 17” and 67" x 21")
• 4 Round Tables: (Diameters: 53", 48", 48", 42")
• 2 Oval Tables: (42" X 54", 36" x 48")
• 1 Drop-leaf table (35" x 18" opens to 35" x 52")
• 2 Rectangular Tables (1 large - 60" x 45", 1 small - 42" x 26") 1 Long Library Table: (66" x 20")
• 30 Assorted Chairs
• 2 Garbage cans – one on the back porch, one in the kitchen (if you need more trash containers, bring them with you).

Chairs and tables are for the use of the renters and can be rearranged; please attempt to put the furniture back where it was or at least neatly with chairs around tables. The piano and the buffet with the tall cabinet attached are not to be moved at all, and the two largest round tables are not to be moved to rooms across the hall. Please keep restroom doors closed when using heat and A/C. In cold weather you may use the fireplaces (bring your own wood). Before lighting fires, be sure that the dampers are open and the central heat is off so that the chimneys will draw properly; heat may be turned back on after the smoke is drawing well.

Additional facilities can be added to your package for $100/venue. Please contact us at 936-564-6631 for more information.