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The Nelson Hotel Standing majestically at the corner of W Walnut St and S Ohio Dr in Celina, Texas, a magnificent historical landmark has withstood the test of time for over a century. This architectural gem is lovingly owned by the Nelson family, a local lineage whose legacy includes fostering entrepreneurial ventures across multiple generations in Celina. The building received a historical marker in 1991 due to the efforts of Jill Rodarmer, the great-granddaughter of the Nelson Hotel’s original owners Charlie and Nora Nelson. “The historical marker was such an incredible day in my life because it was something I worked so hard for,” Rodarmer shared. For Rodarmer, this is more than just a building in the confines of the town in which she grew up. The Nelson Hotel represents generations of home, hard work, and love for family and Celina. “My great-grandparents were Charlie and Nora Nelson. I believe they moved to Celina from Plano in 1917 for opportunity,” Rodarmer recalled from conversations with her parents. The building was initially built in 1914 by Richard Tinsley Peterman, a prominent early settler of Celina. It was constructed 12 years after Downtown Celina relocated to its current site, spurred by the arrival of the railroad. 46 | City of Celina
The site’s first iteration briefly included Wolf Grocery Store on the ground floor and offered rental space on the second floor. “My greatgrandparents and their children lived upstairs in what we would call room one and room two over the grocery store before moving north of town to a two-story house,” said Rodarmer. The Nelsons bought the building in 1922, renovated it, and moved back in, this time living on the first floor. “They rented out the rooms upstairs, mainly to men who worked on the railroads in Celina. My mother remembered that my great-grandmother used to prepare meals for the men who lived up there,” said Rodarmer. The hotel, a beloved fixture of Celina, welcomed guests and residents until 1976, leaving an incredible mark on Celina’s history. Since then, the building has been passed down through generations of the Nelson family. It stands as a testament to Celina’s enduring heritage, symbolizing the City’s rich history. It is one of the unique landmarks that make Celina’s historic Downtown such a charming home. According to accounts from her family, Rodarmer shared, “After Charlie and Nora were in the building with their family, my grandparents, Lorita and Carl Nelson, lived there with guests still renting on the top floor until they passed away. It was left vacant