Browse Exhibits (61 total)

Alig - Tampke House

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It is undetermined as to who built the house and in exactly what year it was built. However, based on the history of the property it is likely the house was built by Benedict Alig in the 1880’s after his purchase of the property in 1879. The State of Texas patented the property on March 24, 1882 to Benedict and his wife, Catherine Alig.

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Aue, Max Stage Coach Stop

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“The Aue Stagecoach Inn Complex is an outstanding historical site, representing a broad, evolutionary spectrum of architectural styles as well as the changing needs of the Max Aue family and the Leon Springs community.  Constructed between the years 1850 and 1880, the group of buildings represent the simple immigrant-Germanic construction which was common to the area, as well as the more sophisticated and refined transitional Greek Revival/Victoria style.” (THC Atlas)

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Bacon - Steubing Dairy Farm

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The Bacon-Steubing Dairy Farm is in danger of being totally obliterated! After much research and preparation, it was presented to HDRC for a Finding of Historical Significance. The vote was 7 to 1 in favor or it. Then it went to City Council and was not approved. Although the building is not much to look at currently, it seems to be the only remaining vestige of the early dairy industry in the northwest quadrant of the city of what was once a thriving dairy industry.   

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Ball, Joseph and Salome House

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The Joseph and Salome Ball House and Farmstead dates back to c1898.  It has been restored by the current owner.

Joseph Ball, Jr. immigrated from Alsace/Germany in 1852.  In May 1867 he married Salome Keller of Castroville, Texas, who was also Alsatian. 

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Beauregard Ranch

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The Beauregard Ranch was created from land previously owned by Spanish mission ranches. In1852, Augustin Toutant-Beauregard consolidated the initial 7,971 acres of the Beauregard Ranch by recording two purchases from Henry and Francis Radaz with the Bexar County Clerk. The first purchase of 2,951 acres was executed in 1849. The second purchase of 5,000 acres was executed in 1852. The establishment of the approximately 8,542-acre Beauregard Ranch predates the
creation of Wilson (1860) and Karnes (1854) Counties.

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Benke - Naegelin Homestead - Demolished 2005

Benke - Naegelin House

 The original stone-built homestead was built by Alex and Elise J. (nee Biering) Benke about 1888.  The original house, the additions and the subsequent stone-built outbuildings were excellent examples of Texas vernacular architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  In 1936, 190.12 acres, including the homestead property, passed to the Benke’s daughter, Dorothea M. Benke (1898-1984).  She had married Frank J. Naegelin (1894-1973) in 1924. Farming and ranching activities on the property included bee keeping, the raising of chickens and turkeys, hog raising, cattle and the growing of oats primarily for the cattle.

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Borregas Road House

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From a 1967 deed record, one of the property boundaries indicates the west side of Borregas Road at the Borregas Bridge.  This same record stated that Borregas Road was known at that time as FM 1518.  Today it is E. Loop 1604.  Available deed records go back as far as A.W. Earnest selling the property to B.J. Jackson, but that only in 1943.  That's still not the original owner/builder. It is one of our ongoing mysteries.

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Bracht - Stapper Farmstead

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Dr. Felix Bracht immigrated from Germany to Texas in 1849 where he joined his younger brother, Victor Bracht, who had previously written the popular travel guide, Texas in 1848.  Dr. Bracht was followed within six months by his wife, Josephine and their daughter, Felicitas. The family settled on the Cibolo Creek in the area of Schertz. For a period of time, the Bracht family also lived in New Braunfels but later returned to their home on the Cibolo Creek.  Before leaving Germany, Felix Bracht had been a student at the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Letters (current day Humboldt University) in Berlin.  He was an intelligent, outspoken young man who involved himself in the volatile political situation in his country.  While attending the University, he had been vocal in expressing his liberal political views and had joined the General German Student’s Association.  With the defeat of the democratic initiatives, he was put on trial in Wesel.  He was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison, but pardoned after two years and allowed to complete his medical studies.  In March of 1833, Dr. Felix Bracht graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree and began the practice of medicine in Elberfield, Germany. Sixteen years later, the continuing political unrest in Germany and the opportunities for a better life in America apparently was a deciding factor in the Brachts leaving their homeland for Texas.

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Braun - Rousseau Complex Demolished 2009

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The Braun/Rousseau Complex was an integral part of an early German settlement in northwest Bexar County.  It had been identified as a potential Landmark for the City of San Antonio and was potentially eligible for a nomination to the National Register of Historic places.

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Braun, Friedrich House and Barn

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Philipp Friedrich “Fritz” Braun (b. July 9, 1832-d. December 25, 1915) made his first purchase of land in Bexar County on July 8, 1865, for which he paid $700 to H.J. and Maria Inselmann. This land was described as the lower half of the 640 acres of the Colden Denman Survey and was said to be on the Los Ricos, a tributary of Leon Creek.

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