Historian Bob Burns refers to this Block 121 as Deep Bonham, which included Block 21. A.W. Neville refers to Block 121 as Smoky Row part of Deep Bonham. See the photo shot from the courthouse in 1914.
The earliest map of this corner site site shows the Texas Wagon Yard occupying the northwest corner of what was North Mill and Bonham Street. The 1888 Sanborn Map shows six buildings on the property, facing Bonham, with the wagon yard stretching back north to an alley, later called Houston Street. The numbers of the buildings were 318, 307, 306, 305, 304, and 303, running descending back west. There was a grocery and two restaurants.
In 1892 six buildings faced Bonham, with the addresses running upwards west from the square. They were from 400 to 411. Paris was growing fast now, thus wagon yards for daily parking or just shopping errands surrounded the square on almost all sides.
Little changed by the 1897 Sanborn Map. By 1902, however, there were apparently two permanent buildings on the east end of Block 121: one running from 400 to 408; the other from 410 to 422. In between was an entrance to the back (north) wagon yard. In 1908 nothing had changed on the Bonham Street side, but in the wagon yard was a large shed toward West Houston Street.
By 1914 the numbering system had changed. The east building on the block was 66 to 76, with five stores on the first floor of that structure. The entrance to the wagon yard was still there, and from 78 to 84 Bonham Street were four businesses, the first a large grocery. This was about the same by 1920.
The Texas Wagon Yard in 1921 was owned by G.A. Brooks, and his address was 76 Bonham Street, which was apparently also the Imperial Hotel lobby [76 1/2] and drive through to the yard and shed behind, or north. The hotel was upstairs in both buildings. The grocery was at 78 & 80, and operated by T.N. Tolbert. The complex had been a virtual second town for almost two decades, offering railroad traffic many services before the passengers reached the square.
By 1936 the two buildings are connected. The drive-through is a stairway to the Imperial Hotel, and below at 314 is one of two restaurants on the east end. The numbering system was 302 through 336 for the 14 businesses in operation facing Bonham Street. The back was still open for parking. The wagon shed was still there in 1946, as well as a brick wall.
In 1950 the shed was gone with a clean lot for parking. Entrance was apparently off Third Street Northwest. The buildings were still intact but deteriorating by the 1960 aerial. There was a hotel fire in about 1966, and what was remaining were torn down during that decade for a new White's Auto Store. Later Texas Furniture moved there from long time occupancy on First Southwest.
