La Villita in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bombach House and Store
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2015
1. Bombach House and Store Marker
Inscription.
Bombach House and Store. . Otto Bombach, a carpenter, built this combination house and store in 1856 before moving to Mexico. His wife lived here and managed the property until it was sold in 1869. Victor Bracht, author of Texas in 1848, lived here briefly, and in 1874, Henry W. Bitter bought the property, then known as The Villita House. Bitter, who operated a wagon transport business, never lived here. During the Bitters' 76-year ownership, tenants included Frank Umscheid's Old Stand Saloon, a private school, and Jesús and Rachel O'Con’s grocery, restaurant and bar which gave the building the name of O'Con's Corner. The San Antonio Conservation Society bought the property in 1950. After that, it served as an antique shop, the headquarters of the San Antonio Press Club, a museum, and since 1967, a steak house called the Little Rhein - the name given to this predominantly German section of S. Alamo Street at the turn of the century., This building is a good example of the combined residential and commercial building, a common 19th century form of development.
Otto Bombach, a carpenter, built this combination house and store in 1856 before moving to Mexico. His wife lived here and managed the property until it was sold in 1869. Victor Bracht, author of Texas in 1848, lived here briefly, and in 1874, Henry W. Bitter bought the property, then known as The Villita House. Bitter, who operated a wagon transport business, never lived here. During the Bitters' 76-year ownership, tenants included Frank Umscheid's Old Stand Saloon, a private school, and Jesús and Rachel O'Con’s grocery, restaurant and bar which gave the building the name of O'Con's Corner. The San Antonio Conservation Society bought the property in 1950. After that, it served as an antique shop, the headquarters of the San Antonio Press Club, a museum, and since 1967, a steak house called the Little Rhein - the name given to this predominantly German section of S. Alamo Street at the turn of the century.
This building is a good example of the combined residential and commercial building, a common 19th century form of development.
Erected by La Villita Tenants Association and the San Antonio Conservation Society. (Marker Number H.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
Location. 29° 25.307′ N, 98° 29.278′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in La Villita. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.