North Bexar County OST 2004 Motorcade

East Bexar County OST 2004 Motorcade

Back to Counties Index

North Bexar County OST 2004 Motorcade

     The 300 block of N. Flores has the Robert E. Lee hotel (highly important sponsor of 1920s OST development), cafes, lounges and the new Villa Hermosa apartments.
      The 400 block is old established businesses, Alamo Music and an OST 1920s sponsor, S. X. Callahan auto repair, then modern ARTPACE buildings facing Main, and the SAISD complex. Sunshine Laundry and Akers family business are also some of San Antonio's oldest. Fox Tech was San Antonio's first "Old Main" HS.
     Passing under IH-35
     Homes beginning here were built along El Camino Real cart road from Mexico to Louisiana. From Houston St. to San Pedro Springs the OST was built on this N. Flores section of El Camino Real. This portion of N. Flores is being turned into a true "street of flowers" by Scenic San Antonio. 1108 has historic designation as a Carranza family home. 1219 was the Walsh family city home, with a small caliche building being restored under San Antonio's oldest rose bush. The Walsh's followed El Camino Real back to their large ranch south of town near the new Toyoto plant.
      Salvation Army, 900, VFW Post 8132, Refugee & Immigrant League & Education Services, and I Have a Dream Foundation are interspersed among the historic homes with supporting shops: dental, barber, restaurants, etc.
      Early cart roads led to San Pedro Springs from Fredericksburg, Laredo, Culebra hill & Blanco. Between Culebra and Blanco Rds. were the OST support Pig Stands, cafes and fuel stations.
Much economic development is needed on this area of Fredericksburg Rd. before inviting motorcades for the OST Centennial. Some has begun across from St. Ann's Catholic parish, 700, at French/Michigan. During the early 1920s Fredericksburg Rd. was named Foch Highway in honor of French Field Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Allied Commander credited with winning the Great World War. He visited San Antonio Dec. 7, 1921.
     Passing under IH-10 into area of dairy cattle pastures along Martinez Creek. Note stonework on the west side of the road across from Oak Farms Dairy and then Cool Crest, the oldest putt putt golf course in the nation. Uphill into housing developments and shops built during the 1920s. Then to the Deco District Revitalization Corridor, IH-10 to 2700, where building facelifts and new infill projects are generated by grants and economic development funding. Underground utilities, stone planters and bus shelters, student hanging tile enhancements, HEB palm trees & North Dr., just north of HEB, where new Jack-in-the-Box added stonework matching old stonework. Within the Primrose Senior Community is the restoration of the German style stone Bihl family home, 2803. It indicated to early drivers that the OST was leaving San Antonio and entering the foothills of hill country German settlements. 3326, Walgreens' stone retaining wall leading to bench installed at Vance Jackson by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in 1936 to commemorate the OST.
     Fredericksburg Rd. has been greatly widened removing any enhancements and even old motels, gas stations and cafes supporting the OST. As Balcones Heights is entered, the Siesta Motel, 4441, may be the oldest motel left in Bexar County.
     North of loop 410 live oak trees begin to soften the rolling landscape especially at Oak Hills Country Club and subdivision.
     Many professionals from the Medical Arts Building (restored as the Emily Morgan Hotel on the OST behind the Alamo) were among the earliest OST highway promoters. Offices, hospitals and other facilities of the medical community are now located in the Medical Center between Louis Pasteur and Hamilton-Wolfe Dr.
     Famous Nine-Mile Hill; all downhill from here into San Antonio. Stone walls have been saved at 9-mile Motors with a plaque placed by One-Stop Markets. USAA complex, new apartment complexes and a bit of undeveloped land just south of historic Locke Hill Cemetery at the southwest corner of Huebner Rd.
     There are two more blocks of Fredericksburg Rd, but from there to 1604 the OST has been paved over by IH-10. It is easiest to enter IH-10 via Huebner Rd. from the south.
     This is part of the 32-mile "Headquarters Section" of 1920s OST promotion. The OST Beautification group asked businesses and residents to landscape and decorated their entrances with native stone. Architectural drawings were made available to OST association members to encourage enhancement from coast to coast. Much was lost with the widening of Fredericksburg and overlaying of IH-10.
Exit IH-10 at UTSA Blvd., cross over UTSA Blvd. and park in the north end of North Point Mitsubishi Motors (Acura, Jaguar) to view across IH-10 the State Historically Registered Moos Home and Smokehouse being restored in the Gunn Auto Complex. Mrs. Moos was National Chair of the OST Beautification Committee encouraging decorative stone walls and landscaping, as still seen north of 1604 at Leon Creek. The Moos home is better viewed from the IH-10 southbound access road.
     Upon returning to northbound access road, follow the "LOOP 1604 WEST" signs. Stay in furthest right lanes. IMMEDIATELY after emerging from underpasses, Old Fredericksburg Rd. proceeds north. Watch traffic carefully as you pass under last overpass section, move across traffic to right lane and immediately turn right onto OST. North beyond the Leon Creek low water crossing begins the OST requested 100-foot wide right-of-way, stone walls and decorative entrances of Mrs. Moos' neighbors.
     At the north end of Old Fredericksburg Rd. follow IH-10 access south under 1604 following "EAST LOOP 1604" signs left and left onto west bound IH-10 access road. Return to IH-10. Raymond Russell Park and Mission Park Cemetery are nestled among new developments with new stone enhancements. This area enters the aquifer recharge zone placing controls on the many development opportunities. Research on this area of the OST is just beginning. Did the OST followed closely the RR tracks along the northbound access road or follow the hills past 22193 with its stone entrance on the south bound access road ? Much oral, military and TxDoT documentation of the Leon Springs, Camp Bullis & Camp Stanley area needs to be gathered.
     Exit IH-10 at Leon Springs Boerne Stage Road. Bear to the right on Old Fredericksburg Rd. The OST leaves Old Fredericksburg Rd. in Rudy's parking lot and follows Boerne Stage Road west and then north into Kendall County. Camp Stanley Historical marker is just before the IH-10 underpass in the "CAR POOL" parking lot. On Boerne Stage Rd., open the windows, enjoy the smell of cedar, sounds of birds and Leon Creek, views of mesquite, cedar, and oak, landscape and both old and new stone enhancements. Boerne Stage Rd. makes a sharp right at the Scenic Loop/Toutant Beauregard stop sign, continues past stables, farms, deer, livestock, beautiful fences and gates and rocky terrain of the hill country.
     The Bexar/Kendall County line at Balcones Creek was the first large project of the 1920s OST Beautification Department. The 32-mile "Headquarters Section" of the OST from San Antonio to Boerne was the model for other counties and states to follow. Architectural drawings would be sent for the suggested county line markers, stone or concrete gateways or columns. Balcones Creek Park was created by the joint efforts of civic organizations from San Antonio and Boerne; land, work, material and monetary donations. The stone caretaker's house was built to oversee the park of stone tables, benches and fences. Altho' flooding, utility and road construction has removed many enhancements, parts of the county line marker on the east side of the road, north of the creek and the stone walls and restored caretaker's house south of the creek remain, altho' under private ownership.
     Follow Boerne Stage Rd. under IH-10, turn immediately left on Cascade Caverns Rd, right on Cascade Caverns Rd. and immediately left onto Old San Antonio Rd. Proceed past Kendall Middle School into Boerne past many more old and new stone fences.
Charlotte Kahl
(210)735-3503
Co-Chair OST100
(with Marianna Jones)

Back to Top

East Bexar County Texas OST 2004 Motorcade

             Driving east bound on Houston St. from N. Flores. The Houston St. Bridge over the San Antonio River is one of Texas' earliest surviving concrete bridges of continuous girder design. The facade of the Texas Theater was saved during modernization of #175 E. Houston. Most building facades on this corridor of the Houston St. OST have not changed from the 1920s. Street furniture and landscaping have been added over the years. #205, Gunter Hotel was the headquarters for the OST from 1919 to 1930.

The entire OST corridor from Fredericksburg at Culebra, across Houston and New Braunfels and out Seguin St. is in the City of San Antonio's Downtown Empowerment Zone which has brought outside investment to restore these beautiful old buildings. In keeping with city plans, many have been converted to residential.

            It may be advisable to walk these few blocks of downtown Houston St. or ride the yellow route trolley to look at the addresses that are listed here as businesses on the 1920s OST Founders List. #109 Silk House, #122 Savoy Hotel, #221 Frost Brothers, #223 P. J. McNeel Jewelry, #231 Riegler Confection Co, #308 Martin Wright Electric, #313  Central Trust Co., #315 S. H. Kress & Co., #318 Beyer Phonograph, #401 Washer Bros., #501 Commonwealth Bank, #509 Fomby's Clothes, #518 Woolworth Co., #728 Clifton George Bldg.

That 16-story ornate building centered in the street view was the Medical Arts Building, converted in 1984 to the Emily Morgan Hotel. Many officeholders there were Founders of the Old Spanish Trail auto highway. The roadway takes a slight jog to the right, then left behind the Alamo at the Central Fire Station, another jog to the right a block later at Bowie and #901, the Cottonwood Trading Co.  

Under IH-35.

The area around the Southern Pacific RR tracks is beginning to see some revitalization, more is needed.

At the present time we need to take a 5 block detour as TxDoT and San Antonio Public Works reconstruct Houston St. for better access to the new SBC Center. Note at #1631 an old Texaco Station on the NW corner of Olive across from the Carver School building for Performing Arts. From Cherry to Palmetto, #s 1400 to 2000 Houston, the OST corridor passes through the Dignowity Hill Historic District. The homes near Pine St. originally had their yards terraced in stone. Concrete faces have replaced the sidewalk retaining walls, but stone alley, driveway and entrances remain. #1824 with its pair of magnolia trees is named TRAILS END. Across the street at #1833 a fountain is always running. #1914 is a registered National Wildlife Federation Habitat at Florence Alley. This portion of the OST has been designated Rosa Parks Way.

            Past the Dorothy C. Pickett Academy (old Fannin Elementary), medical facilities indicate moving into the commercial corner at New Braunfels Ave. During January, the nation's largest MLK march begins from here. To the south is the Martin Luther King "I Have a Dream" statue; to the north a monument "IN THE MEMORY OF THE WHITES OF GOODWILL WHO LOST THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE PARA LOS HOMBRES DE BUENA VOLUNTAD QUE MURIERON POR LA LIBERTAD DE TODO EL MUNDO." Smaller ground plaques commemorate the first Hispanic SAISD Superintendent and first Hispanic San Antonio Mayor (Dr. Victor Rodriquez and Henry G. Cisneros), and those who donated to the Martin Luther King statue with the Youth Leadership Conference.

New technology in this area will redirect traffic to or from the SBC Center rodeo, sport and civic events. Turn north, left onto New Braunfels. The Cobb family has been selling building supplies from #520 since Malcolm Cobb returned from WWII in 1946. Old, new, active and empty buildings and lots are found along New Braunfels. It is always a busy section of the San Antonio OST. In the 1920s #908 was the White Front Lunch Room and #1003 the Tourist Cafe. While crossing the new RR bridge, look down to the right to view the old motor courts that served the OST and the railroad. After the RR bridge, immediately turn right on Osborn, right on Benton and right on Seguin for a closer look at the old motor courts and the stone arch enhancements from the courts to what during the 1940s was known as Paul's Beer Garden. Turn around and proceed east on Seguin noting the large old cactus and yucca of the yard at #200 on the corner of Benton. Small houses and light industry are along this section of Seguin. OST drivers could get auto repairs next to the Nave home at #319. The old OST road bed is covered by IH-35 from Walters to Salado Creek.

As you approach the end of Seguin St. at the top of the hill, bear right to enter the IH-35,

Pan Am access road. From the Walters St. traffic light, follow the north bound IH-35 access road 1.8 miles to Salado Creek. Avoid the SBC Center traffic by staying in the left lane. Precede through one more traffic light, again moving left. Just past Splashtown, watch for the first turn to the left labeled with a 19 ft. 8 in. height marker and a CROSSOVER sign. Pass under IH-35, cross over the south-bound IH-35 access road and turn right onto Seguin Rd. and the Salado Creek low-water crossing.

            Old stone walls lead into San Antonio Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments' restoration of the home of  1950s San Antonio Mayor Jack White, as the beginning of the Salado Creek linear park. There is another half-mile of more new light industry and hotels before Seguin ends at Binz-Engleman and the new Brook Army Medical Center of Ft. Sam Houston. Turn right on Binz-Engleman, pass under IH-35. Follow Kirby, IH-10 and 410 signs to the right under the Southern Pacific RR. Immediately turn left onto eastbound Farm to Market Route 78. Just one mile from the RR underpass, after Buzz Aldrin Dr., Old Seguin Rd. leaves 78 at the traffic light to bear right into Kirby. This summer, Kirby is also paving the Old Seguin Rd. OST.

            Take the time to see Kirby's old and new homes and businesses leading to Hugo F. Lentz City Park and a bit of countryside before reentering FM 78. This next four mile section follows 78 past new subdivisions, new retail services, the very large blue roofed Woodlake Hills Middle School, Woodlake Golf Club and tree-lined creeks.

A sign indicates ENTERING CONVERSE. Just after Coers Blvd, Upper Seguin Rd. bears to the right, crosses Saltillo Creek and ends on FM 1516 at the Panteon de Guadalupe and Herman Sons Cemeteries. Turn left on 1516, S. Seguin St. of Converse. Stay on S. Seguin by crossing 78 through the light to drive through Converse past Judson High School. Again notice new buildings among the older homes. Just to the north of #305, Converse modern City Hall, is the General Store and Quilt Studio, from OST times. 

            More study needs to be done about the actual roadbed of the original OST from Converse to Schertz before Randolph Air Force Base was built in 1930. For the purpose of this 2004 motorcade we are passing another old gas station and bearing right on N. Seguin St., FM 3502. There is a RR underpass on Cimmeron Trail leading to Aviation Blvd of Universal City. We will not take the north route but will continue on to turn left at the light back onto 78. Aviation Blvd does follow the RR to a low-water crossing of the Cibolo Creek into Schertz and Guadalupe Co. Old maps show the paved highway south of the RR track. Oldest residents remember the highway to Seguin between RAFB and the RR with stations at the Randolph gate and in Converse for commuters from Seguin or San Antonio. We will pass under loop 1604 and along Randolph Air Force Base. The same San Antonio Chamber of Commerce members and legislators who brought the OST to San Antonio in 1919 were also successful in gathering the funding and convincing the US government to place the premier Army Air Corps flying school on the OST in 1927.

            FM78 passes RAFB and crosses a new modern bridge over the Cibolo Creek out of Bexar County.

 Charlotte Kahl

Back to Top