La Villita in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Esquida-Downs-Dietrich House
Photographed By James Hulse, March 23, 2023
1. Esquida-Downs-Dietrich House Marker
Inscription.
Esquida-Downs-Dietrich House. . The site of this house was granted to Eduardo Hernández - by the Mexican Government in 1831. Justo Esquida purchased the land in 1839, and in 1846, sold "one house and lot" to James M. Downs. In early 1850, shortly after Texas became a state, many Germans were immigrating to the area. One of them, Marie A.J. Dietrich, bought the property. The Kuehn family owned the house and lived there from 1864 to 1894, when they sold it to A.H. Shafer, a plumber who owned the adjacent house on Womble Alley and lived on Nueva Street. All of Shafer's property was acquired by the Joy Kist Candy Company, which operated here from 1951 to 1965. The buildings were then purchased by the San Antonio Development Agency prior to HemisFair '68. Before restoration in 1974, only the rooflines of these houses were visible due to extensive additions that had been made to them over the years.
The site of this house was granted to Eduardo Hernández - by the Mexican Government in 1831. Justo Esquida purchased the land in 1839, and in 1846, sold "one house and lot" to James M. Downs. In early 1850, shortly after Texas became a state, many Germans were immigrating to the area. One of them, Marie A.J. Dietrich, bought the property. The Kuehn family owned the house and lived there from 1864 to 1894, when they sold it to A.H. Shafer, a plumber who owned the adjacent house on Womble Alley and lived on Nueva Street. All of Shafer's property was acquired by the Joy Kist Candy Company, which operated here from 1951 to 1965. The buildings were then purchased by the San Antonio Development Agency prior to HemisFair '68. Before restoration in 1974, only the rooflines of these houses were visible due to extensive additions that had been made to them over the years.
Erected by La Villita Tenants Association and the San Antonio Conservation Society. (Marker Number T.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.
Location. 29° 25.278′ N, 98° 29.344′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in La Villita. Marker is at the intersection of King Philip and
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East Nueva Street, on the left when traveling north on King Philip. The marker is located in the southern section of the La Villita Historic Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 103 King Philip, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. The entrance to the Esquida-Downs-Dietrich House and Marker
Photographed By James Hulse, March 23, 2023
3. The Esquida-Downs-Dietrich House and Marker
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 68 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
