La Villita in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Shafer House
Photographed By James Hulse, March 23, 2023
1. Shafer House Marker
Inscription.
Shafer House. . This frame house is located on land granted to Dionicio Martínez and María de Luna in 1819 after a disasterous flood destroyed properties closer to the river. The house was built by A.H. Shafer, a local plumber, after he purchased the property in 1888. Shafer also bought the small stone house on Womble Alley, and had the two houses joined. Before 1894, the Shafer family used the Womble Alley address. Later they lived alternately in a house on Commerce Street and their Nueva Street home., In 1909, Annie Shafer opened the St. Clair rooming house here, and continued the business after her husband's death in 1912. Mrs. Shafer, who married Albert Ruhnke in 1918, advertised "nicely furnished apartments with hot and cold running water, electric lights and gas by the week or month." She lived here and operated the business from 1917 until 1946. In 1951, the Shafer family sold the property to Edwin and Anna Lewenthal, owners of the Joy Kist Candy Company., The roof is crowned by a lantern that not only provides light, but also vents the hot summer air.
This frame house is located on land granted to Dionicio Martínez and María de Luna in 1819 after a disasterous flood destroyed properties closer to the river. The house was built by A.H. Shafer, a local plumber, after he purchased the property in 1888. Shafer also bought the small stone house on Womble Alley, and had the two houses joined. Before 1894, the Shafer family used the Womble Alley address. Later they lived alternately in a house on Commerce Street and their Nueva Street home.
In 1909, Annie Shafer opened the St. Clair rooming house here, and continued the business after her husband's death in 1912. Mrs. Shafer, who married Albert Ruhnke in 1918, advertised "nicely furnished apartments with hot and cold running water, electric lights and gas by the week or month." She lived here and operated the business from 1917 until 1946. In 1951, the Shafer family sold the property to Edwin and Anna Lewenthal, owners of the Joy Kist Candy Company.
The roof is crowned by a lantern that not only provides light, but also vents the hot summer air.
Erected by La Villita Tenants Association and the San Antonio Conservation Society. (Marker Number W.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1819.
Location.
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29° 25.271′ N, 98° 29.358′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in La Villita. Marker is on East Nueva Street, 0.1 miles east of South Presa Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located in the southwestern section of the La Villita Historic Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 507 East Nueva Street, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 67 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
