Historic Castroville

 

Historic Castroville

One day, we took a drive around the walking tour route to see some historic buildings in Castroville.  Although this was termed a walking tour, it would have most likely taken us a good portion of the day if we had walked it!!  So, we cheated!!  These are not all of the historic buildings, but they are those that seemed to have the best story and seemed to be close to it’s original appearance.

This small church (on the left) stands on the grounds of the Moye Retreat Center.  It was the first stone church build in Medina County and west of San Antonio.  The first church built was of “earth and wood” in 1844.  When Father Dubuis, the first priest of Castroville, arrived in 1847, he encouraged the town to build a larger and more solid church.  It was completed in 1849 and dedicated in 1850 and still stands today.  When I read this was the larger church, I have to admit I wondered how small the first one was!  It is still used for special occasions.

There have been a few buildings on the ground where the Moye Retreat Center (on the right) now stands.  First, a school was built on these grounds in 1870.  It was known as the St. Louis School.  This large building was built in 1873 and was the first Convent and Motherhouse of the Sisters of Divine Providence.  Then, in 1938, it became a military school for boys and operated for 21 years.  It then seemed to come full circle and again became a convent and school for young girls aspiring to become nuns.  Now, it is a retreat center.

The original structure of this building, the Carle House and Store (built 1865), was a single room and cellar, which is now part of the rear of the building.  This was built by Joseph and Catherine Krust.  In 1873, Catherine sold the property to Joseph Carle for $1600.  He agreed to build a one-room house with a porch and kitchen to be rented to Catherine for $1/year for the rest of her life.  He operated a general store in the building for many years.  The building was sold to the Belchers in 1972 and now operates an antique store on the first floor, and there are living quarters on the second.

Dr. John Fitzsimon built and operated the first Castroville drug store in this location in 1907 (building on the left).  It then became the home of another doctor and a title company currently calls this building home.

This building, the Hans Meat Market (on the right),  was the first brick retail building built in Castroville in 1910 by Ed Hans.  Ed’s wife, Molly, was very active in the town community, and was in charge of the kitchen of St. Louis church, mentioned earlier.  She also was a key person in collecting donations to build a parish hall for the church.  After Ed died, Molly married Louis Schott and they lived here for the rest of their lives.  It currently is home to Castroville Pottery.

This building, The Old Standby (1857),  was one of the first two-story buildings in Castroville and started off as a saloon in 1857.  The bar was downstairs and the owners’ family lived on the second floor.  When Prohibition hit, the saloon closed down, and the new owner opened a drug store and soda fountain.  It was home to several families over the years and is now a private party venue called Serendipity’s.

This building is the second county courthouse for Castroville.  It is built on the site of the first courthouse and was built when Castroville was the county seat of Castroville, in 1878.  The county seat is now Hondo, about 10 miles west of Castroville.  When the county seat moved, this building was then converted into a pubic school for the area.  By 1961, the building was once again vacant, and so the town purchased it to house its administrative offices.

The  Kiefer-Wernette-Tondre Store building, on the left, has housed some interesting businesses.  Originally, it housed the Kiefer Brewery and Saloon (circa 1860s).  It was then purchased by Philip Wernette who operated a saloon and built the second floor to house a dance hall.  For some reason, it was then named the Wernette Opera House, also it doesn’t appear to have had an operas performed there!  At one time, there was a second floor balcony, where the dancers could enjoy the night air as they caught their breaths.  After Philip died, it was purchased by Louis Tondre, who, along with his sons, operated it as a grocery, lumber and dry goods store.  It then lay vacant for over 20 years.  It now houses retailers on the bottom floor, and event center is located on the second floor.

The original Zion Luthern church for this congregation was built in 1854, and was replaced by this new church in 1939.  The grounds have undergone several changes, with other buildings coming and going over the years.  This building is now known as “The Ark” and houses the church’s Sunday school and quilting group.

At one time, there were many buildings similar to this one offering services such as wagon freighting and wheel wrights, but times have changed and now, this is blacksmith shop, built in the 1920s, is the only building left standing.  It’s now the home of Spartan Leather, a custom leather shop.

To many residents, this building will always be known as the Old Highway Filling Station (built 1926a), even though it started its life as a saloon. The station was operated by Charles Suehs and his sons, and was known as the Magnolia Station.  It was also a liquor store and bus station and now is home to a small diner.

At the time this building was built by Henri Castro, in 1849, he chose it because it was a day’s drive from San Antonio (it’s now only about 30 minutes from San Antonio!).  In the 1860s and 1870s, it was known as the

Vance Hotel, when John and Rowena Vance owned it. Later, it was turned into a gristmill, and then processes grain, cotton, wool and cypress. In 1927, the mill was converted to generate electricity for the town by Jordan T. Lawler.  His sister, Ruth, reopened Landmark Inn in 1942 and then donated the property to the State of Texas in 1974.

This is the last original freestanding one room cabin left in Castroville.  It’s known as the GL Haass Log Canin (1847 – 1849).  It’s thought that this building was built elsewhere and moved her, although the reason for that is not known. 

Xavier Jung received the deed for this property from Henri Castro in 1845.  The walls are constructed of massive cypress timbers with fachwerk, one of very few houses left in Castroville with that style.  The house is believed to be one of the oldest structures built in Castroville.

Enjoy!