Castroville in Medina County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Biry-Ahr Property

Photographed By James Hulse, March 1, 2022

1. Biry-Ahr Property Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Castroville was founded by Empresario Henri Castro in 1844. By the mid-1840s, immigrants, many from the Alsatian region in Europe, began to settle here. The unique Alsatian culture was recreated in the countryside of Medina County and largely remains intact.

An excellent example of early Alsatian immigrant architecture, the Biry House was built between 1847 and 1850 by Jean Jacques (Jacob) Biry (1816-1868). He was born in Oberentzen, Alsace, and immigrated to Texas in December 1846 at the age of 30. In 1847, this lot was purchased by Jacob and his business partner, Etienne (Stephen) Ahr (1821-1903), also from Alsace. According to deed records, Jacob and Stephen purchased several properties jointly. Soon, Jacob began constructing a home on this site. On June 12, 1849, Jacob married Marianna Bilhartz (1828-1920), the sister of Stephen Ahr's wife, Anne Marie Bilhartz (1830-1913). The Birys raised their four boys and Marianna's four brothers in this house.

This historic home was built of local semi-regular shaped limestone stacked with a lime-based mortar. With asymmetric and steep roofs, thick walls and small rooms, the house

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reflects a humble lifestyle of hardworking people with a sense of tradition. Wide cypress planks or large flat flagstone covered the floors along with cedar shakes on the roof. Constructed room by room over a period of several years, the house consists of two front rooms, a rear lean-to and a loft, reachable by a wooden stairway. The simple yet unique architecture of the Biry house enhances the heritage of Medina County and Castroville. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2016

Erected 2016 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18540.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1849.

Location. 29° 21.459′ N, 98° 52.613′ W. Marker is in Castroville, Texas, in Medina County. Marker is on Paris Street, 0.1 miles east of Fiorella Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located in front of the Castro Colonies Living History Center building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 Paris Street, Castroville TX 78009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dolch-Hans Compound (within shouting distance of this marker); First County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Cordier-Tschirhart-Seal House (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of the Homestead of Henri Castro

The Biry-Ahr Property Marker along the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 1, 2022

2. The Biry-Ahr Property Marker along the building

(about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (about 600 feet away); Arcadius Steinle House (about 700 feet away); Alsatians of Texas (approx. 0.2 miles away); General Wool and the Chihuahua Road (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Castroville.

Also see . . . Castroville, TX. (Submitted on March 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Biry-Ahr Property from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 1, 2022

3. The view of the Biry-Ahr Property from the street

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 305 times since then and 151 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 4, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.