Near Comfort in Kendall County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Hygieostatic Bat Roost

Photographed By James Hulse, September 26, 2020

1. Hygieostatic Bat Roost Marker

Inscription.

This shingle style structure was built in 1918 to attract and house bats in an effort to eradicate mosquitoes and thereby reduce the spread of malaria. It was designed for Albert Steves, Sr., a former mayor of San Antonio, by Dr. Charles A.R. Campbell, an authority on bats who had served as the health officer in the same city. Named "Hygieostatic" by Steves, the bat roost is one of 16 constructed in the United States and Italy between 1907 and 1929.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981

Entered in
the National Register
of Historic Places
1983

Erected 1981 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2608.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 29° 58.225′ N, 98° 53.085′ W. Marker is near Comfort, Texas, in Kendall County. Marker can be reached from Farm to Market Road 473, 0.1 miles west of Flat Rock Creek Road. The marker is located about 300 feet down a driveway on private property but the bat “tower” can be seen from the highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 109 FM 473, Comfort TX 78013, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Meyer Hotel Complex (approx. 1.2 miles

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away); Peter Joseph Ingenhuett Homestead (approx. 1.3 miles away); Comfort Post Office (approx. 1.3 miles away); Hermann and Antoine Ingenhuett Homestead (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Gass Schmiede (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Founding Freethinkers (approx. 1.3 miles away); Ingenhuett-Karger Saloon (approx. 1.4 miles away); Karger Building (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Comfort.

Also see . . . Hygieostatic Bat Roost.

The Hygieostatic Bat Roost is located in Kendall County, approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Comfort on the south side of RM 473, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was erected in 1918 on property owned by former San Antonio Mayor Pro Tem Albert Steves, who had commissioned San Antonio health officer Dr. Charles A. R. Campbell to design the structure. The shingled pyramid-shaped raised tower stands 30 feet (9.1 m) high. One dormer serves as an entrance for the bats, while the other dormers are ornamental. The lower portion of the tower allows access for humans. The concrete base of the tower
Photographed By James Hulse, September 26, 2020

2. The Hygieostatic Bat Roost and Marker
is raised 7 feet (2.1 m) off the ground, facilitating wagons being driven beneath to collect the guano. Source: Wikipedia

(Submitted on October 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Hygieostatic Bat Roost from the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 26, 2020

3. The view of the Hygieostatic Bat Roost from the highway

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 744 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 3, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 3. submitted on October 4, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.