02/12/2026
Tunstall House (1850s–1871)
Operating by at least 1854, the hotel served travelers arriving by rail and stage, offering lodging, dining, and stable services.
Ownership and management shifted several times between 1854 and 1859, with proprietors including G. T. Pace, C. J. Simmons, Dr. E. D. Withers, and William M. Moseley. Despite a destructive stable fire in 1859, the main structure survived and continued operating.
During the Civil War, the hotel gained prominence as lodging for Confederate officers and officials. It hosted Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan in 1863 and was active during Danville’s brief role as the Confederacy’s final capital in April 1865. After the war, the hotel remained operational but faced economic instability during Reconstruction.
Paxton House (1871–1879)
In 1871, the hotel reopened as the Paxton House under new management, reflecting efforts to revive its reputation. Through the early 1870s, it remained a leading hotel, offering lodging, dining, entertainment, and even a saloon. However, declining fortunes led to its sale in 1874.
In September 1879, the Paxton House was destroyed by fire, ending nearly twenty-five years of continuous hotel use on the site.
Eagle Warehouse / Acree’s Warehouse (1881–1911)
As Danville’s to***co trade expanded rapidly, the cleared site was redeveloped in 1881 as the Eagle Warehouse, a modern to***co auction facility strategically located near rail lines.
Soon after, the warehouse was purchased by the Acree brothers and renamed Acree’s Warehouse. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, it became one of Danville’s leading to***co auction houses, central to the city’s regional and national prominence in the leaf to***co trade.
Like its predecessor, the warehouse was destroyed by fire around 1900. It was rebuilt in 1901 on a larger, more substantial scale, featuring ornate masonry construction and a landmark tower.
Cyclone Damage and Final Transition (1911–1912)
In June 1911, a cyclone severely damaged the rebuilt warehouse and destroyed its tower. The damaged portion was subsequently cleared.
In 1912, the James I. Pritchett & Son building was constructed on part of the former warehouse site. This structure, which still stands, marks the final major phase in the property’s transformation from hotel to to***co warehouse to early twentieth-century commercial building.
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Note: ChatGPT was used to compile this information. Citations are available upon request as well as further documentation.
