Southside in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Mission Espada: The Restoration Period

Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

1. Mission Espada: The Restoration Period Marker

Inscription.

Mission Espada: The Restoration Period. . Only A Few Families Remained At Mission Espada after secularization. The mission continued to deteriorate, and by the late 1850s only part of the church remained standing. Father Francis Bouchu, who was appointed pastor of Espada in 1858, began to rebuild the mission in the early 1880s. Bouchu used his own funds to purchase land, restore the church, and renovate the convento for his living quarters. Repairs continued after his death in 1908. Restoration plans drawn by architect Harvey P. Smith in 1934 remained unfunded for many years. After Robert Lucey became archbishop of San Antonio in 1941, he took an active interest in the missions. Throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s Lucey guided the restoration of Mission Espada's compound, church, and outlying structures. In 1978, after many long years of work to protect and restore the missions, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was established. Today Mission Espada remains an active place of worship that is cared for by the Archdiocese of San Antonio, while the National Park Service is responsible for the surrounding buildings and lands., Captions , Top: Francis Bouchu was born in France, immigrated to Texas, and in 1855 became one of the first priests ordained in the state. He was a skilled mason, photographer, printer, and historian. Bouchu is pictured here in about 1900. , Courtesy: Catholic Archives Austin. , Bottom 1: The church at Mission Espada was in ruins when Father Bouchu began its restoration in about 1884. This photograph shows the church in about 1890 after its walls and roof were rebuilt. , Courtesy: Louis F. Fisher, San Antonio, Bottom 2: Architect Harvey R. Smith's restoration plans for Mission Espada, drawn for the Civil Works Administration in 1934, were not realized for over twenty years. Here Smith consults with Archbishop Robert Lucey's assistant, Father Charles Herzig, on stabilization of the mission walls in 1956. , Courtesy: Light Collection, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections

Only A Few Families Remained At Mission Espada after secularization. The mission continued to deteriorate, and by the late 1850s only part of the church remained standing. Father Francis Bouchu, who was appointed pastor of Espada in 1858, began to rebuild the mission in the early 1880s. Bouchu used his own funds to purchase land, restore the church, and renovate the convento for his living quarters. Repairs continued after his death in 1908. Restoration plans drawn by architect Harvey P. Smith in 1934 remained unfunded for many years. After Robert Lucey became archbishop of San Antonio in 1941, he took an active interest in the missions. Throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s Lucey guided the restoration of Mission Espada's compound, church, and outlying structures. In 1978, after many long years of work to protect and restore the missions, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was established. Today Mission Espada remains an active place of worship that is cared for by the Archdiocese of San Antonio, while the National Park Service is responsible for the surrounding buildings and lands.

Captions
Top: Francis Bouchu was born in France, immigrated to Texas, and in 1855 became one of the first priests ordained in the state. He was a skilled mason, photographer, printer, and historian.

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Bouchu is pictured here in about 1900.
Courtesy: Catholic Archives Austin.

Bottom 1: The church at Mission Espada was in ruins when Father Bouchu began its restoration in about 1884. This photograph shows the church in about 1890 after its walls and roof were rebuilt.
Courtesy: Louis F. Fisher, San Antonio

Bottom 2: Architect Harvey R. Smith's restoration plans for Mission Espada, drawn for the Civil Works Administration in 1934, were not realized for over twenty years. Here Smith consults with Archbishop Robert Lucey's assistant, Father Charles Herzig, on stabilization of the mission walls in 1956.
Courtesy: Light Collection, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections

Erected by San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Hispanic Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 29° 19.173′ N, 98° 27.058′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Southside. It can be reached from Espada Road near Camino Coahuilteca. The marker is located north of the Mission Espada along the River Walk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10040 Espada Road, San Antonio TX 78214, United States of America. Touch for directions.

The Mission Espada Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

2. The Mission Espada Church

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Community Life at Mission Espada (a few steps from this marker); Mission Espada: 1731-1824 (a few steps from this marker); Rancho de las Cabras (a few steps from this marker); Spanish Ranching (within shouting distance of this marker); Missions Along the San Antonio River (within shouting distance of this marker); Mission San Francisco de la Espada (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Defending the Faithful (about 400 feet away); Church Today / La iglesia hoy en día (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Also see . . . Mission Espada. San Antonio Missions - World Heritage

Mission San Francisco de la Espada was the first Spanish Mission in Texas. It was founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Nacogdoches in East Texas. It was renamed as Mission San Francisco de la Espada when it moved to San Antonio in 1731. Distinctive Spanish design features can be seen in the church doorway, bell tower, and brick archways. Espada’s ranch, Rancho de las Cabras, is 23 miles south of the Mission and had as many as 1,262 head of cattle and 4,000 sheep. Mission Espada’s acequia is the nation’s oldest in continuous use. It still uses San Antonio River water
Photographed by James Hulse, December 27, 2022

3. The view of the Mission Espada: The Restoration Period Marker along the River Walk
to irrigate local crops today illustrating the connection the river makes between the past and the present.

(Submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 591 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.