The Heart of Bexar County

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FOREWORD For the last 17 years, as a consultant and then director of the Bexar County Heritage Department, I have devoted a large part of my time to the restoration of our courthouse. I was educated, trained and prepared for the job, but I could not have succeeded without Nelson and Tracy’s tenacity and determination to meet all challenges to complete the work. And it was not easy. I was threatened with contempt by a few of the Civil District Judges when they did not like some of our decisions. Nelson stood up to defend me and pushed the projects forward. When the projects were concluded, these same judges who previously criticized me then complimented our work. We have won 23 awards for design, construction, and restoration of the courthouse. Together Nelson and Tracy have creative ideas, a can do/why not attitude, a strategic political barometer; an internal gyroscope that unfailing directs them to do the right thing. It has been an honor, challenging, and fun working with them. I have been blessed professionally and personally to be on their team. We are all our best when our best is expected of us. We gave it our best and have restored San Antonio’s greatest historical structure. For generations to come our citizens of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs will be proud of our county’s heritage when they come to see this magnificent building that represents Bexar County. Betty Bueche, 2018 F o r e w o r d F 7
I E V O L U T I O N O F C I T Y H A L L A N D T H E C O U R H O U S E by Tracy Wolff q The north side of Main Plaza, 1849, by former Bexar County Commissioner W. G. M. Samuel County and city government offices have always been located in historic civic center buildings in San Antonio near Plaza De las Islas (Main Plaza). The plaza was formed in 1731, when 19 families from the Spanish Canary Islands came to San Antonio to create our first city government. They surrounded the plaza with their homes and in 1734 they laid the corner stone of San Fernando Cathedral on the west side of the plaza. Eight years later in 1742, they built Casa Reales as the first permanent governmental structure in San Antonio. It was a one-story adobe structure with dirt floors located on the southeast corner of Plaza de las Islas. It was rebuilt in 1779 by Don Jose Antonio Curbelo, Alcalde de Villa San Fernando de Bexar. In 1783 a jail was built behind it. Both the city and county shared Casa Reales. 8 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R C O U N T Y
Page 1 and 2: THE HEART OF BEXAR COUNTY RESTORATI
Page 3 and 4: First Edition Copyright © 2020 HPN
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS FOREWORD .................
Page 7: q Architectural drawing of the Cour
Page 11 and 12: q Above: Bottom, right: The Masonic
Page 13 and 14: q Architect’s Drawing of the Bexa
Page 15 and 16: II R E S T O R A T I O N O F C I T
Page 17 and 18: q San Antonio City Council Chamber.
Page 19 and 20: III T H E D E C L I N E O F T H E C
Page 21 and 22: 2 0 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R
Page 23 and 24: Both designs were ill conceived, mi
Page 29 and 30: q Bexar County Courthouse. submitte
Page 31 and 32: VI T H E C H I L D R E N ’ S C O
Page 33 and 34: q Above: Children’s court Judge R
Page 35 and 36: VII T H E F I R S T R E S T O R E D
Page 37 and 38: q Before and after restoration of t
Page 39 and 40: In 1996 Father David Garcia, belove
Page 41 and 42: IX L A D Y J U S T I C E by Tracy W
Page 43 and 44: q Top, left: The Lady Justice fount
Page 45 and 46: q Right: Lady Justice during the un
Page 47 and 48: q Above and below: Construction of
Page 49 and 50: With that picture of the original c
Page 51 and 52: q Above: June 17, 2018, King Felipe
Page 53 and 54: q Above: Removal of the Gondeck add
Page 55 and 56: q Bexar County Courthouse after the
Page 57 and 58: XII T H E B E X A R C O U N T Y A R
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q Above: Texas A&M-San Antonio Arch
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XIII T H E B E X A R H E R I T A G
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q Exhibits from the Bexar County He
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q Right: Northside view of the Bexa
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS C O U N T Y N E L
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APPENDIX A A R C H I T E C T S & C
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APPENDIX C A R C H I T E C T S & C
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APPENDIX D B E X A R C O U N T Y O
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7 4 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R
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JTM CONSULTING, LLC Drawing on a lo
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G BRACEWELL, LLP From top to bottom
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NICHOLAS & BARRERA, P.C. For nearly
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DAVIS, CEDILLO & MENDOZA, INC. G To
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LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON,
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LAW OFFICES OF SERNA & SERNA Growin
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G ESCAMILLA & PONECK, LLP Above: Pa
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WATTS GUERRA, LLP G Left: Mikal C.
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GUNN, LEE & CAVE, P.C. G Left: Ted
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THOMAS J. HENRY LAW Thomas J. Henry
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$34.95 978-1-944891-70-1 Ë|xHSLJOE
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The Heart of Bexar County

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