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. 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.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(Marker Number H.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 29° 25.307′ N, 98° 29.278′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in La Villita. It is on South Alamo Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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: La Villita (a few steps from this marker); Gray-Guilbeau House (a few steps from this marker); Faville House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Dashiell House (within shouting distance of this marker); Florian House (within shouting distance of this marker); Little

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2015

2. Bombach House and Store Marker

Church of La Villita (within shouting distance of this marker); The Acequias of San Antonio (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Site of St. Philip's College (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2015

3. Bombach House and Store Marker

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 7, 2024

4. Bombach House and Store Marker

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 7, 2024

5. Bombach House and Store Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,139 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on July 13, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.