On Wednesday, October 21st, at 5-ish, the Villa Finale Visitor Center opened to the public with a lovely ceremony, fabulous and touching remarks and delicious food and drink provided by gracious donors.  I cannot forget the torrent that occured during the most important bits, but it really didn’t (excuse the cliche) dampen any spirits.

I was awaiting comment on the exhibition A Legacy Assembled, as it was scrutinized by its very first public audience.  My eavesdropping was a success, and I heard that the thing that the audience liked the best was that the objects could be examined in close proximity.   I hope very much that all who are in the area will come and see the exhibtion- in the Visitor Center gallery at 122 Madison Street.  But, if you cannot, I have prepared an on-line version of the exhibition, in which I have provided photos of each object and their interpretive labels.  I hope you enjoy it!

A Legacy Assembled 

–Meg Nowack

Last week, at long last, the Villa Finale Visitor Center opened to the public with great fanfare – both natural and manmade!  Nearly 300 friends and neighbors turned out to visit, explore our exhibits, and check out the Museum Shop during our opening celebration.  We began with a very touching dedication ceremony featuring remarks from a niece of Walter Mathis’s, as well as Jim Vaughan, the Vice President of Historic Sites for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Phil Hardberger, the former mayor of San Antonio.  All knew Mr. Mathis and remarked on how proud he would have been to see his dream of a museum beginning to come true.

Following the ceremony, the guests were treated to wonderful food from the Liberty Bar, beer donated Eugene Simor of Alamo Beer, and an excellent selection of wine generously provided by Charles Butt of HEB.  King William neighbors joined us as part of their quarterly social, and I think many of them were excited to learn more about their neighborhood and see objects they had loaned to us for the exhibits.

You’ll see additional blog entries about the exhibits and shop shortly, but in the meantime, if you’re in the neighborhood, come check them out!  The Visitor Center is located at the corner of Turner and Madison in the King William district, and we’re open from 9:30am – 3:30pm Wednesday-Saturday, and Tuesdays 12:00 – 3:30 pm. 

I also want to thank Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros for all she did to facilitate the event, Richard Thompson of Thompson Landscaping for lending us the gorgeous plants for the event, and Josie Fauerso and Joey Fauerso for the flowers.  And we couldn’t have done it without Esther Pipoly, Jessie Kardys, Josie Fauerso, Betty Murray Halff, Carolene Zehner, and Alice Lynch, who volunteered their time to help with the planning.  In addition to those mentioned above, we also had generous financial support from Dwight Hobart, Frost, and The Howard and Betty Halff Fund. 

It was a fantastic night, but what I think I’ll always remember is this:

Weeks ago, while we were planning the event, we went back and forth on whether to rent a tent.  They’re not cheap, and we hadn’t had any significant rain in South Texas for many many months.  The odds of actually getting rain that day seemed about as good as my winning the lottery – which is pretty impossible since I don’t buy lottery tickets.  But rain here is serious business.  No polite little drizzle making one want to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea.  We’re talking Noah-get-the-ark-because-the-floodwaters-are-rising kind of rain.  So we decided not to take any chances.  Thanks to the generosity of the Steves Foundation, we rented the tent, and are we ever glad we did!

Just as the dedication ceremony was about to get underway, Hurricane Rick decided to  make his appearance.  (Hey, who invited that guy?)  The roar of the rain on the tent was so loud that the guests couldn’t hear the speakers even with microphones, so we had to move everyone into the building for the speeches.  By the time the last speaker finished, we’d received about an inch of rain!   Thankfully the rain slowed after that and it turned into a very pleasant evening for all.

Orient Me!
This past Saturday marked a new milestone for Villa Finale: our very first Volunteer Orientation!  Current and new Volunteer Staff members attended a morning session in which safety, security, operational policies and the Volunteer Staff Manual were reviewed.  This was also the first time many on the Volunteer Staff had the opportunity to meet one another – and what better way to do that than over coffee and pastries!  If you would like to join our volunteer ranks, go the Get Involved section and click on the blue volunteer application link to download a form.  Congratulations to Villa Finale’s very FIRST volunteer class – we couldn’t do it without you!

Villa Finale's first volunteer class - left to right: Joyce Hotchkiss, Julie Abodeely, Bob Abodeely, Diane Malone, Merribell Parsons, Robb Wasielewski, Rebecca Ingraham, Laura Webb, Aaron Webb

Volunteer Council Formed
Saturday also marked the inaugural meeting of Villa Finale’s Volunteer Council.  This group of six have been active members of the Volunteer Staff for some time – they were chosen in part for their dedication and experience for this very important role.  The Volunteer Council will work closely with the Manager of Public Programs to recruit volunteers, create volunteer projects, mentor, help shape Villa Finale’s volunteer program, and more.  Villa Finale hopes to make the volunteer experience with the organization active and highly worthwhile - and the Volunteer Council will be at the heart of this endeavor.  Thank you Volunteer Council!

From left to right: Merribell Parsons, Robb Wasielewski, Diane Malone, Rebecca Ingraham, Laura Webb, Aaron Webb

Interim Chair:  Merribell Parsons
Co-Chair:  Aaron Webb
Secretary:  Rebecca Ingraham

Volunteer Milestones!
Villa Finale would like to thank the following Volunteer Staff members for their significant milestones … glad to have you part of the team!

Merribell Parsons:  One year service milestone, over 200 hours

Diane Malone:  Over 100 hours

Rebecca Ingraham:  100 hours

..like the kind that Walter Mathis had back in 2002 0r 2003.  According to my predecessor, Mr. Mathis, knowing that he was leaving the house to the National Trust, wanted to rid himself of everything that he found extraneous, and so he held a yard sale.   He had boxes of antique German Christmas ornaments, rare prints and drawings, oriental rugs, one-of-a-kind posters, antique Texas pieces, fine china and more.  Although I was not present for this extravaganza, I had a little taste of it while cleaning out the Carriage House for our second auction of unaccessioned objects.  As mentioned in last year’s post about our first auction, Villa Finale’s staff very carefully assembled objects that were never part of the site’s permanent collection and are not at all integral to the site’s interpretation and placed them in the hands of Vogt Auction Galleries, to be sold at public auction.

I noticed, as I was organizing the items to be sent over this time, that there were handwritten price tags on many of the objects–handwritten by Mr. Mathis himself.   The most amazing things were three antique circus posters and the mother-of-all-great-graphic-design posters, an original 1968 Hemisfair poster, giant in size, inscribed to Mr. Mathis and signed by the artist–Robert Indiana.  BUT, that too had a Mathis-written price tag stuck on the glass.  So away it went.  It was obvious to me that Mr. Mathis wanted to get rid of these things, and for Villa Finale it can only be beneficial.  All money earned from these auctions goes in to a restricted fund used for permanent collection conservation.

This year’s auction will be held tomorrow at 7 p.m.  Here is the link.  There is on-line bidding for the posters only.  They are beautiful, and all San Antonio based.

–Meg Nowack

Last Friday some of us took to advantage of the short workday to have lunch at the Cool Cafe downtown.  If you have never been to the Cool Cafe, you are missing out on a hidden little gem.  The cafe, which specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, is a treat for the riverside patio-dining experience alone.  After spending a couple of hours enjoying a few laughs over delicious sangrias, Rob, our unofficial expert on San Antonio dining, suggested we visit the adjacent Havana Riverwalk Inn.

The Havana's front garden

Cozy lobby

Built in 1914 as a residential hotel, the Havana is a treat from the second guests cross the front gate which leads into a charming little garden accentuated by salvaged items of architecture, cleverly used as garden decor.  Once we entered the lobby of the hotel, we were greeted by the Havana’s friendly staff who allowed us to walk around the building a bit – what a treat!  From Navarro Street, where the building is located, it’s hard to imagine the architectural beauty that continues within.  The cozy lobby is furnished as though this were a private residence welcoming tired travelers to San Antonio – I didn’t have a difficult time imagining myself having a morning cup of coffee here before beginning a fun day of sight-seeing! 

Rear patio

Main staircase

The warm yellows of the walls contrasted wonderfully with the dark wood trim of the windows and doors as well as my favorite, the main staircase.  Upstairs, the Havana offers guests serene patios, one at the front off Navarro Street, and one at the rear with a calming little water fountain perfect for relaxing next to after a long day’s walk.  The Havana’s staff was also kind enough to show us a couple of the rooms off the lobby.  I wanted to kick my shoes off the second the first room’s door was opened – tastefully decorated in period furnishings, the rooms provide guests an experience of comfort and style.

Guest room

Front of hotel

The Havana Riverwalk Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 while in serious need of restoration.  It was purchased and dutifully renovated to its present state in 1992.  In 1997, the hotel’s Club Cohiba opened featuring a variety cocktails, wines, and an antique humidor – another reason to return!  The hotel was recently sold: it is our hope that its new owners preserve the Havana’s historic beauty and tradition.

While modern hotels are great in their own right, there’s something to be said about the uniqueness of staying in a hotel like the Havana – especially when visiting a history-rich city like San Antonio.  If you’re going to visit, why not get the full experience? 

Villa Finale would like to thank the friendly staff at the Havana Riverwalk Inn for their generosity.

– Sylvia Hohenshelt

Since our move to the Visitor Center on the corner of Turner and Madison, we have all been very busy getting the building ready for its public opening.  Here is a video update of the changes that have taken place inside.  Enjoy! — Sylvia Hohenshelt

In celebration of San Antonio’s feature in the upcoming Man vs Food, I thought I would take a trip through some of my favorite places in SA to carb load.  We sure know how to eat here in central Texas!

In no particular order … here are my top six.

Patty’s Taco House #1

2422 S Hackberry 78210 (eastside) 210 534 3395

I lied, this really is my number one. I don’t know if there is a Patty, but if there is, I would like to thank her.  This is a favorite lunch escape of mine … good food, great prices.  I don’t know about the rest of the menu, but I always get the gordita platter.  A fresh corn tortilla pocket filled with meat and love.  I could eat the fresh corn tortillas all day, if it weren’t for the eventual morbid obesity that would be sure to follow.

Josephine St Steaks & Whiskey #2

400 E Josephine St (central) 210 224 7181 www.josephinestcafe.com

There’s a lot in a name, but sad to say I have never had steak or whiskey at Josephine St … not that I would be opposed to either.  What I love at this place is the chicken fried chicken.  Super YUM!  Combine it with a wilt salad (bizarre, but good) and you will have a satisfied tummy.  Cozy booth seating is also a plus and since it is generally not as crowded at the Liberty Bar next door, you can get in quick and get “yer grub.”

Liberty Bar #3

328 East Josephine 210 227 1187  www.liberty-bar.com

Yes, I love this place … it can be loud, crowed, pretentious … but I love it.  It is as San Antonio to me as eating toast and smoking at Earl Abel’s at 1am(at it’s original location on broadway).  The Liberty Bar’s menu is intense but, Pear and Stilton cheese salad for me, please!  And keep that bread coming!  I hear they are moving to St Benedicts on S Alamo and rumor has it they will close down the Josephine location all together.  Too sad … I will miss those wonky floors.

Tycoon Flats #4

2926 N St Mary’s 210 320 0819  www.flatsisback.com

Let’s stay in the Monte Vista area and take trip to Tycoon Flats.  Now many of you, including myself, haunted this haven on St Mary’s when we were just little marys and moes ourselves.  Well all those things that made it special in the 80’s and early 90’s has returned!  Yum Yum burgers and margaritas on the patio while listening to local music.  Not only is it GLBT family friendly but kid friendly, too!  You don’t get more Texas than a kiddie playground inside a drinking establisment.  Go there now.

Chris Madrids #5

1900 Blanco Rd 210 735 3552 (Alta Vista area) www.chrismadrids.com

Burger burger burgers.

Cheese cheese cheese.

Beer.

Yes, it is that good. I want to be there right now.

Jim’s #6

4108 Broadway 210 828 5120 ( just off Hildebrand)

Anyone who grew up here hung out at Jim’s at one time or another.  Coffee for hours and you probably didn’t even leave a tip.  For shame!  This place has a special place in my heart.  When I moved to Seattle a good friend of mine stole a Jim’s Menu and mailed it to me … it’s still on my fridge.  Cinnamon ice cream and apple pie is the thing for me.

Well, the edible options in this city are endless.  We may not have the best-in-world cuisine but we have comfort food down!  So wear your elastic pants, pack some tums in your pocket and go get something to eat!

Sylvia shows the lack of food in the staff fridge - time to take one of Rob's suggestions!

The Perils of 401 King William concludes with this fifth installment.  At the end of Part Four, John and Elva Cunningham had purchased the property at what was then 407 Pershing Avenue - the city had changed the name of the street after the United State’s involvement in World War I and growing anti-German sentiments.  The Cunninghams moved into the property following the debackle between Martin Morales’s Bacon Investment Company versus J. H. Compton … little did they know they would become part of the crazy story.

In 1921, the City Commissioners of San Antonio ordered grading, paving, and curb improvements to many areas of the King William neighborhood, including along Pershing Avenue.  The city hired the Uvalde Company to complete the improvements and under city ordinance, residents were responsible for any and all costs involving work to sidewalks fronting their properties.  As the contractor, the Uvalde Company was given the right to secure payment plus 7% interest beginning on the day work was completed.  This interest portion of the contract was to be secured through, what else?  property liens. 

The Cunninghams continued the unpleasant tradition of 401 property owners’ troubles with property liens.  By mid 1922, the Cunninghams remained indebted to the Uvalde Company.  As if that weren’t trying enough, they were also responsible for a promissory note of $10,000 Martin Morales had made in 1918 using the property as collateral – that note was interesting in itself as ownership of 401 was being disputed at the time.  John and Elva Cunningham had enough of the burdens that accompanied the property – in July 1922 they sold it to Dr. G. E. Gwynn.  When Dr. Gwynn bought the property, it was back to its original three lots and was once again officially on King William Street.

There’s a large gray area in the story following Dr. Gwynn’s purchase.  Not long afterwards, 401 ended up in the hands of the infamous Billy Keilman.  Among his many claims to fame in San Antonio, Billy was a bar-owner and “provider of female services to gentlemen.”  He also published a booklet entitled “The Blue Book for Visitors and Tourists and Those Seeking a Good Time While in San Antonio, Texas” – but visitors and tourists wouldn’t find fun places to take the “kiddies” in Billy’s Blue Book: the booklet was a guide to the city’s red light district.  In 1925, Billy Keilman’s life came to an abrupt end after he was shot during a poker game by a man he caught “cold decking.”  In his will, Billy left 401 to his son, Rudy who in turn gave the property to his step-mother Minnie.

Keilman's infamous Blue Book. A quarter would be the equivalent of nearly $6 today, a hefty price for a 30 page booklet.

Minnie’s “fair sex” didn’t make her any less of a character than her dearly-departed husband.  Minnie too was involved in the distribution of female services as well as the bootlegging of liquor, an operation conducted from the basement of 401.  By the late 1940s, the property had been converted into low-income apartments to meet the city’s desperate need for affordable housing.  The once beautiful rear garden had by that time been converted to an all gravel lot to allow for automobile parking. 

It was in this state that Walter Mathis saw the property in 1967 when he was looking for a new place to call home – his own estate on Mulberry Street in Monte Vista was on the table to be demolished to make way for a section of highway 281.  Fortunately for the King William neighborhood, Mr. Mathis was able to see past the deplorable condition of the property choosing instead to focus on its large lot, eight fireplaces, and hidden charm.  401 was then owned by James Campbell, Minnie Keilman’s grandson who had no interest in selling the property, but the clever Mr. Mathis had a way around that situation.  On January 5, 1968, he wrote a check to James Campbell for the entire amount he was offering for the property.  It would be difficult for anyone to resist cashing a check for thousands in one’s name and Campbell was no exception.

Walter Mathis’s purchase of 401 King William, which he would rename Villa Finale, was as colorful as the stories of the owners that preceded him.  Unlike all the rest of them however, Mr. Mathis would not only go on to purchase over a dozen properties in the neighborhood, he would also become the the home’s longest-running owner — after nearly 100 years, 401 King William would finally enjoy happy and stable ownership.

– Sylvia Hohenshelt

Over the weekend, I saw the movie Away We Go with some friends.    It’s a very sweet movie about a couple who, while expecting their first child, travels to various cities in order to find a place to settle down and raise their family.  They’re looking for roots, so each place they choose to visit is the home of a family member or old friend, and hilarity ensues, as you can imagine.  Seriously, Allison Janney and Maggie Gyllenhaal should get awards for their performances as truly awful people – I’m still cringing at them even two days later.  And John Krasinski…

But I digress.  One of the friends I went with is the Historic Preservation Officer for San Antonio, and after the movie, we talked about the fact that each of the homes they visited were either historic or traditional local architecture.  Miami’s was a low 1960s ranch house surrounded by orange trees; the Tuscon home was stucco and stone; in Montreal, they visited a lovely urban brick townhouse.

It’s made me wonder, if, like the couple in the movie, we’re all so drawn to places with history, roots, and individuality, why are we so hell-bent on making every city in America exactly alike?  Visit some of the newer suburbs in any major city and you’ll see the same tract homes, the same shopping centers, and the same traffic jams.

San Antonio’s falling into this trap as well with its outer suburbs, although the downtown area and older suburbs are still distinctly San Antonio – and thankfully, San Antonio is like no other city.  I think we can thank the early founding of the San Antonio Conservation Society for this, as well as an active Historic Preservation Office.  Preserving the spirit of a city is an ever-changing battle, but if we don’t want to live in McAmerica, it’s one worth fighting.

–Sandra Smith

Hello to all!  If you have been keeping tabs on what Villa Finale is doing, then you know that half the staff has moved into our visitor center on the corner of Turner and Madison.  It’s been one month since the move, and those of us in the building are still getting used to the new “pad.”  I wanted to post some pictures of the building’s interior which include or new exhibit cases and office furniture — it’s great having a solid desk after working on a folding table for a week!  Keep checking in with us for more updates.  — Sylvia Hohenshelt