The Hollis Building is located on Lot 148 of Block 21 of the original town plat at the southwest comer of Montgomery and Columbia streets. In 1885 H. H. Johnson sold the lot to I. H. Hollis (1850-1910), who in 1889 developed the building now there. The building escaped destruction in the 1890 fire, likely in part because of its cast iron and brick construction. It is the only known building in San Augustine to have a cast iron storefront. Prior to the development of the Hollis Building, this lot housed the offices of K. L. Anderson, last vice president of the Republic of Texas. Later the site was the location of the John P. Border mercantile. In 1911 the Hollis Building housed the post office, while the second fioor included space for San Augustine's telephone company with its operators. Long term operators included sisters Mabel Ponder Stewart and Lena Ponder Stewart, and Ola Fussell Halbert (Williams interview 2006). Many long-term San Augustine merchants and businessmen rented space in the Hollis building. In the 1940s, the Hollis building was home to Childers grocery, A. J. Wood & Bro. and Beall Brothers' store, among many others (Williams interview 2006). Offices of a physician and insurance agent also were in the building. The large third floor room was used as a community ballroom in the 1920s and 1930s and later was converted into office space. The Hollis Building is significant as the best example of Romanesque Revival style architecture in the San Augustine Commercial Historic District, as the only commercial building to survive the 1890 fire, and as an important anchor in the development of the district.