Mary Hardin-Baylor University, Luther Hall 1886-1929

 

View of one corner of Luther Hall, photo retrieved from plaque on UMHB campus, date unknown

When construction began on the first building of the new Baylor Female College campus in Belton, Texas the school was already established having been chartered in 1845 as the Female College of Baylor College in Independence, Texas. It was the earliest women's college west of the Mississippi River. In 1851 the school separated the men from the women and relocated the men to a location about a mile away. Both schools prospered until the 1880's when the railroad bypassed Independence and the community began to decline. The decision was made to permanently split the two schools. The male college was relocated to Waco and became what is now Baylor University; the women moved to Belton after a grant of $31,000 and a tract of land was offered to the College.

Postcard of Mary Hardin-Baylor College 

A massive three-story building built of limestone was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architect Matthew Dow and construction was completed in 1866.  For many years this was the only building on campus until enrollment increased and other structures were added.  The building remained the centerpiece of the growing campus. A fourth story was added and, in 1919, the building was named in honor of Dr. John Hill Luther who served as President from 1878-1891.

In the early morning hours of January 26, 1929, fire broke out in the ceiling of the kitchen located in a ell of the building.  Despite the efforts of several fire companies the entire building was quickly engulfed in flames and firefighters turned their efforts to saving the surround buildings that were being showered in embers and several small fires were already burning. 

The 200 young ladies living the building all escaped safely and the practice of frequent fire drills on the campus was credited with their swift and orderly evacuation.  As the fire raged they were gathered into the parlors of nearby Burt Hall where there were several tense minutes as a roll call was taken.  They were all in their nightgowns and slippers with a few wearing coats or robes.  There was much rejoicing as the roll call ended and all were safely accounted for that morning.  Donations of clothing were quickly offered by fellow students and the following day the community began an outpouring of assistance to the women and the school.

Belton Journal Thursday, January 31, 1929

The rubble of the once grand building became a popular gathering spot for campus activities and served as a backdrop for many plays and other performances.  In 1944 the Luther family contributed funds for a memorial and plans were developed.  In 1954 the rubble was cleared and stones from the original building were re-assembled to replicate the arches of the building's façade. A bell tower and memorial wall completed the tribute to the campus' first building.  Dedication of the memorial was in May 1955.

Stones from Luther Hall replicate the arches of the building. 

It appears that the memorial faces the circle driveway just as the original building did. I wished that I could walk through the arches and suddenly be transported inside this long gone building! 

The Baylor Female College Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 1990.

Onion Creek Post Office and Stagecoach House

The high bluff overlooking nearby Onion Creek made it a convenient location for a post office and stagecoach stop along what is now known as the Old San Antonio Road running from Austin to San Antonio, Texas. Water from the creek provided refreshment for the stagecoach horses and the sight was conveniently located near the highway. Ground was broken for the small, limestone post office in 1875 along with a two room dog-trot style house.

The post office was finished in 1876 and served residents of the community and stagecoach passengers until 1880 when the Postmaster moved the post office to the nearby developing town of Du Pre, renamed Buda (pronounced BYOO-dah). in the late 1880's. The completion of the International & Great Northern Railroad lines to San Antonio and Laredo ended the necessity of a stagecoach stop.

These very large oak trees to the side of the house probably saw the stagecoaches arrivals and departures.

T.E. McElroy and his wife bought the house and surrounding 234 acres and developed a successful livestock and agricultural program while eventually adding over 1,000 acres to the ranch. In 1906 Ann and John Severn purchased the ranch from the McElroy estate and continued the ranching operations.  Upon their deaths the house and property saw several owners and the eventual sale of individual tracts of land.  In 1998 the current owners, brothers Victor and Joe Stanzel, donated the house, post office building, and remaining 51-acres to the City of Buda with the stipulation that the house be restored and used for community purposes.

Renovation on the house revealed answers to questions about its transformation from the 1875 two room dog-trot style cabin to its current appearance.  Updates are traced to 1885, 1900, 1920, and 1950.  The Severns were very influential citizens and are thought to be responsible for the 1920 renovation; the house has been restored to that time period with the exception of a mantle painted by artists that rented the house for a time in the 1970's.

Evidence found during the renovation process indicates that the house was originally oriented to face the tributary of the creek located to what is now the rear of the house. The two rooms on either side of the front door comprised the original two room dog-trot cabin.

Each renovation seemed to change the structure even more while making it useful and modern for the residents.  As a result, it assumed some strange characteristics that added interest to the house.

I stumbled upon this property on a recent visit to Buda and had no idea of its historical significance until I returned home and began researching it.  I did not make many pictures, so a return trip when the weather cools off is on my go-to list. The surrounding park features many amenities as well as walking trails through the former stagecoach stop and ranching property.

The house serves at the Buda Visitor Center, but is currently closed due to the COVID pandemic.  However, from reading the nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places designation about the evolution of the cabin to modern home I am sure it will be worth exploring.

The remains of a watering trough are located a short distance from the house.

This one room building tweaked my imagination as to its original purpose.  There is a vent pipe visible on the back of the roof indicating that there was some type of wood burning stove inside.  Possibly the ranch office, but I'll have to find out on the next visit.

Now you see it - now you don't

Alamo Plaza Bandstand, photographed May 1, 2018

Earlier this month the bandstand on Alamo Plaza was relocated. This is part of the plan of the Texas General Land Office and the City of San Antonio to restore reverence to the 1836 battlefield. 

May 18, 2020,the brown brick base is all that remains

Just over five years ago I had posted The Battle of the Alamo hasn't ended.  Since that time the powers that be have introduced and modified several plans for the area around Alamo Plaza, often referring to the area as "hallowed ground".  

Public outcry has been vocal, but ignored. In fulfilling their idea of restoring the 1836 footprint they intend to destroy other footprints with no regard for the complete history of this area. 

Alamo Plaza, former site of historic bandstand, photographed May 18, 2020

Part of the plan calls for the relocation of the bandstand to another area of town. This icon of Alamo Plaza was constructed in 1976 as a replica of the original one that was built around 1890. The plan calls for the bandstand's removal because it “does not architecturally relate to the period of historical structures surrounding it."

The nearby Cenotaph will be moved to the area where the bandstand was located. We are also in danger of losing the old Woolworth Building (directly across the street).  The plan calls for it to either be gutted or completely replaced for the creation of a "world class museum". 

The Woolworth Building has been on Texas' list of Most Endangered Places since 2016.  It is recognized as a significant contributor to the Civil Rights Movement in San Antonio. Photographed May 14, 2020

I'll share more in upcoming posts. The Battle hasn't ended.

Bandera County, Texas Courthouse

The National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Bandera County, Texas Courthouse begins with the statement

The three-Story rusticated cut limestone courthouse built in 1890-91 with a central clock tower, is the focal point of the Bandera public square, and the dominating architectural feature of the town

And, indeed it is dominating.  From anywhere in this charming Hill Country town that calls itself "The Cowboy Capital of the World" the Courthouse's clock tower can be seen. However, don't look up to see what time it is as the clock face is actually painted on the tower.  Time in Bandera is frozen at 10:10.

Bandera County was created in 1856 and the town of Bandera was designated as the county seat.  From 1877-1891 the county used a coursed rubble limestone building built in 1856 as its makeshift courthouse.  The completion of the current day courthouse in 1891 was a sign of Bandera's post-Civil War prosperity.

B.F. Trester, Jr. of San Antonio, Texas was chosen as the architect. In recent years an intriguing mystery about Trester and the design of the courthouse came to light in the discovery that an identical architectual twin existed in Boone County, KY.  Today, the Boone County Courthouse is altered in appearance, but it's still easy to see the similarities.  To read about this mystery and see comparison pictures click here.

On Friday, July 11, 1890 County Commissioners accepted the bid of William Braden and Sons to construct the Courthouse according to Trester's plans for a sum of $19,914.00. Sometime between that time and February, 1890, Trester passed away at the age of 40 years and County Commissioners appointed A.B. Frankel as supervising architect. 

Trester's death was just one of the delays that would plague Braden in completing the project.  These trials, including the walking off the job by Braden are detailed in The Bandera County Historian, Fall 1991 issue that commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Courthouse's completion. 

This article describes how Braden used itinerant Russian rock masons to cut the limestone blocks from a quarry across the Medina River. Sand for the mortar was dug from along Indian Creek and hauled to the construction site by two local men. The blocks were lifted in place "in four-man slings up staircase-like scaffolds"; as a result there were no lifting holes drilled into the stone blocks.

During 1966-67 the interior underwent a remodeling, although I couldn't tell what might have been remodeled as it seemed to retain many of its original features.  I did notice the wall-to-wall carpet in most areas of the building.  At the same time a one-story addition to the east side of the building altered its façade.  The windows were replace with modern aluminum frames.

Hallway of 1966-67 addition

I966-67 addition in foreground

In 1998 work to stabilize and repair the clock tower/cupola was undertaken after receiving an emergency grant from the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation program.  Temporary shoring was used to stabilize the ceiling above the judges' bench in the district courtroom.  The tower and cupola were reinforced and the metal roof replaced.  Work was completed in 2006.  Just to note I could not find any reference as to when and why the tower had been painted silver. To see before and after pictures click here.

District Courtroom, August 2018

A very kind bailiff or deputy sheriff took me into the courtroom and into several offices to see the original fireplaces. 

 The Courthouse was designated as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1972 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.