Tilghman owned and operated the Crystal Palace Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas back in the 1870s and early 1880s.

The beautifully crafted wood bar now sitting in Black Jack’s originally stood servicing patrons at the Crystal Palace Saloon, where Tilghman was the proprietor.

Black Jack McCanless Saloon and Steakhouse is owned and operated by Rick Hocker and Julie Humphries.

Invited guests were pampered with great service and plenty of appetizers to go along with delicious samples of top sirloin steak sliced and served to each table.

Margaritas, draft beer, and regular drinks of tea and soda were available for thirsty patrons.

David C. Young, who recently returned home with his new CD titled, A Country Called America, provided the live entertainment.

Even though the opening was for only a couple of hours, Hocker said he was satisfied with the way the evening went.

“The place was packed,” said

Chef Donald Whitby kept the kitchen in order and hor derves on the table.

The ambiance was quite spectacular as well.

Guests were in total awe of all the work that Hocker and his crew have put into the restaurant-bar, as they gazed around at all of the antique signage, artifacts, and the spectacular mural painter on the back wall of the grand stand.

“It was awesome,” Hocker said, with a smile, “just awesome! I hoped and prayed that folks would come out, but I never realized we would have so many people show up during that short time. We’ve worked so hard, and been through so much … we wanted to make this place something no one has ever seen before … an asset for the community, and something that would draw in tourism as well.”

Even with the intriguing décor, Black Jack McCanless’s lore actually dates back to the early 1870s, when then owner A. Furche ran a saloon and café named the Bismarck.

Furche first advertised Western Lager as the draft of the day, but apparently changed over to Buck Beer after the new establishment opened at 105 South Beaton Street.

According to old newspaper clippings from the Corsicana Observer, the new saloon featured paneled oak floors and sides, and walnut counters described as the “most elaborate piece of workmanship, and is fine as the writer ever seen as he defined the interior of the building.”

The large show windows were decorated with curtains marked with A. Furche, with one window showing an arrangement of imported bottles of the finest wine, and in another a display of quality cigars of the period.

Over the bar were three splendid oil paintings, with one in the likeness of Napoleon I valued, according to the article, at $800 or more if it were to be purchased in Europe.

Billard tables were also available for play in the establishment as was the order in most saloons and bars during that time.

The basement, which today is known as the famous hole-in-the-ground, held the finest stock of imported and domestic liquors in the state.

Later, another article in the same paper mentioned that a barbershop was doing business in the basement in 1876.

Sometime in the late 1870s or early 1880s, Fred and Charles Mirus took over the ownership of the Bismarck, and more than likely held the longest run as owners of the saloon.

Rumors ran amuck of the gambling activities that took place at the Bismarck and other saloons, and evidence can be found in a few old court documents seeming to confirm the accusations, including the arrest of a man known only as Mississippi, who was arrested for playing cards at the Bismarck, deemed illegal at the time.

The Mirus brothers owned the saloon until sometime in the 1890s, when they both died just a few days apart under mysterious circumstances. (Ironically, there was a saloon directly across the street from the Bismarck called Two Brothers Saloon, but not the same brothers though!)

Under the proprietorship Schomerus and Atkins (date unknown), the Bismark offered such delicacies as fresh fish, oysters, game, and Kansas City meats, and may have included as some of their guests many of the famous acts and actors that performed on stage at the Merchants Opera House a few doors away.

Between 1901 to 1914, when Prohibition went into effect and outlawed the sale of alcohol up until the 1930s, the Bismarck was under the ownership of H. T. Jackson, and still held it’s reputation as “The Gentleman’s Resort.”

The Bismarck was known for more than quenching ones thirst, and that included its courteous bartender for many years, Charley Block.

What could be considered a possible “bribe” for top advertising status, Block was kind enough to take a bucket of Buck Beer for the writers at the Corsicana Observer newspaper to enjoy.  This treat could explain a few of the typos and misidentification of a few names as well. 

It’s been rumored that since the inside work at Black Jack McCanless Steakhouse and Saloon was completed the spirit of Charley Block seems to be lurking around after the lights go out.

Mysterious things are taking place behind the bar after closing, so old Charley must still think he’s working at the Bismarck.

Since 1914, the Bismarck has been known by several different names, undoubtedly becoming the longest operated saloon in Corsicana history. From Prohibition to present day, the building has been home to a variety of restaurants and cafes.

The Vogue Café, Everybody’s Café, Mexican Inn (Old Mexican Inn now, second only to Roy’s Café for the oldest eating establishment in Corsicana still in business), Western Inn, and the Super Bowl Chinese Restaurant are a few names many folks may remember.

The building sat vacant for many years until Hocker purchased the property in the early 1990s, and began his current project, Black Jack’s, a few years ago.

The present location drew press coverage and visitors from all over the world in June of 2007, with the re-discovery of the Bismarck cellar, where several artifacts from the original beginning were found buried in the dirt filled foundation.

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