The The place I Stay sequence goals to showcase our various metropolis and area by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Every week a neighborhood resident invitations us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood particular. Have we been to your neighborhood but? Get in contact to share your story. In case your story is chosen and printed, you’ll obtain a $250 stipend.
In our nearly 35 years of marriage, Kevin and I’ve lived in 13 properties, most of them in San Antonio. We lived on the East Coast for 3 years however instructed most individuals we have been simply out of city for a bit. We each went to highschool and faculty right here. San Antonio is our hometown.
We efficiently downsized in 2016 and moved to the close to Eastside. After residing in 4,000 sq. toes with my mother-in-law and daughter earlier than she went to school, downsizing to 1,400 sq. toes was an train not solely in reorganization, however a philosophical change in how we lived and used smaller areas.
Our most up-to-date dwelling was throughout the road from the historic San Antonio cemeteries in Dignowity Hill. Kevin preferred to present cemetery excursions for pals throughout the 36 cemeteries spanning 110 acres. A few of San Antonio’s founding relations are buried there — Guenther, Steves, Driscoll, Frost and Menger.
The San Antonio Nationwide Cemetery was in-built 1867 and is the oldest in Texas which honors Civil Conflict troopers, the Buffalo troopers and Medal of Honor recipients. Dwelling subsequent to a cemetery just isn’t for everybody, however the quietness of the cemetery was offset by the enterprise of East Houston Avenue. Very similar to in different areas we’ve got lived, Dignowity Hill is a neighborhood in transition and that’s a part of its enchantment.
On a Monday night this previous November, we have been visiting the canine park at Lockwood-Dignowity Park and seen a on the market signal on a house we at all times admired. We laughingly mentioned, “We should always go have a look at that,” realizing the dimensions and prominence on the nook of the park was the other of downsizing from a a lot quieter avenue half a mile away.
We checked out it on a Tuesday, made a proposal on Wednesday, had a contract on Thursday and inspection on Friday.
Three weeks later we moved into our 14th dwelling: The Friedrich Home, a Victorian structure home within the Queen Anne fashion in-built 1906. All our small and understated plans now centered on a 120-year-old dwelling that was greater than double in measurement with a half-acre nook lot. We don’t even have furnishings for the downstairs.
Dignowity Hill is superbly positioned at one of many highest factors in San Antonio geographically giving it among the finest views within the metropolis. To not point out the close by development alongside Broadway and the quickly to be sports activities and leisure district downtown.
Whereas most of the articles on this sequence usually converse to the neighborhood eating places, retailers and group actions in a sure space, we really feel an infinite accountability to not solely inform the historical past of this iconic San Antonio dwelling, but in addition share it. We nonetheless can’t imagine we really reside right here.
Like many entrepreneurs in San Antonio within the early twentieth century, Edward Friedrich constructed his home near his enterprise. He may oversee his manufacturing unit on Commerce Avenue and I think about 100 years in the past, he walked the 6 blocks to work on daily basis. Whereas Friedrich didn’t wholly invent air con, he’s credited with the invention of room air conditioners and meals preservation by means of refrigeration.
Friedrich grew to become one of many largest producers of business refrigeration tools. The most effective half is that Friedrich was a craftsman and cupboard maker which makes for a singular dwelling with nice woodwork. A lot of his work might be discovered at his brother Albert’s bar, The Buckhorn Saloon, which opened in 1881.
Kevin and I just lately accomplished a complete renovation on a small Nineteen Twenties home which gave us the boldness to tackle this lovely property. We knew what to search for within the basis and mechanical methods. We additionally knew the significance of a very good renovation and restoration. She — the home — has been superbly renovated, however we need to take it additional and actually restore her. Particularly since not one of the inside historic doorways really latched! Kevin spent one full weekend chiseling out the strike plates and realigning the bolt containers.
The format is what you’d count on of a home like this. All of the traditional areas are downstairs; grand lobby, formal parlor, eating room and library together with an unexpectedly massive kitchen and full toilet with the most important clawfoot tub I’ve ever seen. We’ve determined to embellish the downstairs in interval items, relative to the 1900s by means of Nineteen Thirties and possibly sort out the kitchen in a few years. Vintage sellers at the moment are a few of our greatest pals. The upstairs has 4 bedrooms and one other two full loos. We’re making a extra personal house upstairs and we’ve got accepted that our TV and recliners are a part of our fashionable lives.
However the true spotlight of the home is the turret and her downtown views. Located dealing with the southwest, we are able to clearly see the Southside, the Alamodome, the Tower of the Americas and a lot of the San Antonio skyline. New Yr’s Eve was unimaginable. As we start residing within the final home of our lives, we all know that she is going to hold busy along with her limitless to-do listing. We’re grateful that our daughter lives 5 blocks away and depend on her opinions of how the property needs to be restored. These of us that tackle outdated homes know any challenge is more likely to take twice as lengthy and value 3 times as a lot.
For now, we take pleasure in watching the day by day exercise of the park and assembly neighbors as we sit on the porch with our household. Sunday mornings have change into unofficial cigar events as we wave to pals strolling right down to the Farmer’s Market at Nolan and Pine. We look ahead to residing a few years within the Friedrich Home and are excited to tackle this stewardship. In the event you see Kevin and ask about “that massive yellow Victorian on the East Aspect,” you higher settle in. He’s bought limitless tales and footage to share.
