Villa Finale staff celebrates its first anniversary of public tours

Now that we have completed our first year of public tours, Villa Finale Guide, Becky McColley and her husband, Joe were gracious enough to host a potluck at their residence this past weekend to mark the occasion.

While Becky and Joe provided the main entrée, members of our staff brought along a variety of tasty dishes such as arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), deviled eggs, au gratin potatoes, and several delicious desserts.  Best of all, however, was the company that evening – we certainly couldn’t ask to work with a better group of people.  Villa Finale’s National Trust staff recognizes the invaluable contributions our volunteer corps makes each and every single day.  While it may sound cliché, we certainly couldn’t do everything we do without our wonderful Volunteer Staff.

Thank you again, Villa Finale staff — here’s to a long future to come!

Would you like to be a part of our Volunteer Staff?  Click here for more information or to download a volunteer application.

My visit to a Texas civil rights treasure

A little over a week ago I had the pleasure of visiting the former Corpus Christi clinic of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, founder of the American G.I. Forum and civil rights leader.  The building is now in danger of being lost – however, a group of caring individuals is currently mobilizing to save the structure.  In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I was invited to write about my visit for the National Trust’s blog at PreservationNation.org.  Click here to read the story.

I have included more photographs of my visit here for readers of Villa Finale’s blog.  Now that Villa Finale is a National Trust Historic Site, we want to make people aware of the importance of historic preservation as well as inspire others, much like Walter Mathis did, to become actively involved in the effort.

If you would like to join the preservation movement and the vision of Villa Finale, we invite you to consider a membership to our site which includes a number of benefits.  Click here for more information.

A farewell to Sandra Smith

Sandra Smith, director of Villa Finale, a National Trust Historic Site in Texas, has recently been appointed the Director of Education and Visitor Services at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This senior management position provides oversight of all public and community programming, the museum shop and café, and the site’s facility rentals at the six-floor, 275,000 square foot museum and research facility.

Smith provided important leadership as the first director of Villa Finale, culminating last fall in the public opening of the site. Over the past five years, she assembled an exemplary staff, oversaw many extensive construction projects, developed the visitor experience, and opened the visitor center. Michael Anderson, Development and Marketing Manager, will serve as the Acting Director while the National Trust begins the search for a new Director.

Sandra’s last day at Villa Finale will be August 18, and she will begin at The History Center after Labor Day. Please join us in offering our heartiest congratulations on her new appointment. — Max van Balgooy, Director of Interpretation and Education at the National Trust for Historic Preservation

A glimpse in time: The Meusebachs

The Ellis-Meusebach House today.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting  Sarah Reveley, a sixth-generation Texan who is scheduled to speak at the Villa Finale Visitor Center in the fall about the Texas Historical Commission’s efforts to save damaged historical markers and historic buildings throughout Bexar County (click here to see Sarah’s website).  Being lovers of history, she and I began to talk about family heirlooms – this is when she mentioned letters written by her great-aunt Emmy Kailer relating her visit with the Meusebach [Moys-a-bach] family at their home on King William Street.  Of course, this immediately peaked my interest because the Meusebach home is right across the street from Villa Finale and it was one of the first houses purchased and restored by Walter Mathis in the King William neighborhood.

Here’s a little bit of background on the Meusebach family.  Baron Otfried Hans Freiherr von Meusebach, who later adopted the name John O. Meusebach, arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 as the new commissioner-general for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas.  In August 1845, John founded the town of Fredericksburg which served as a second stop en route to the Fisher-Miller Land Grant.  At roughly 40 years old, John married 17-year-old Countess Agnes of Corenth with whom he had eleven children: only seven of their children would reach adulthood.  Two of their sons, Otto and Max, lived at the house at 414 King William Street (then numbered 416) in the 1890s. 

A portion of Emmy's original letter to her mother.

Otto Meusebach had purchased the home in 1889 from original owners Smith and Josie Ellis for $2,500 (that’s over $60,000 in today’s values), and he, his wife Martha, sons Kurt, John and daughter Anita all moved in.  Max lived with his brother Otto’s family until about 1892.  By all accounts, the Meusebach brothers were colorful characters, especially around San Antonio’s bars.  If you haven’t had a chance to hear about them, I invite you to listen to the Meusebach house’s audio on our cell phone tour, The King William Homes of Preservationist Walter Mathis. 

Now let me get back to Sarah Reveley’s great-aunt, Emmy.  (The exact connection between the Kailer family and the Meusebachs is unknown although it is likely Emmy’s father, Eugen Kailer knew the Meusebachs through business connections.  Eugen was once editor of New Braunfel’s Zeitung newspaper.)  Emmy visited the Meusebachs in San Antonio all the way from her home in New Braunfels in September, 1898.  Written entirely in German (thanks to Sarah for sending translations), on September 19 Emmy tells her mother how much she wants it to stop raining so she and Anita Meusebach could go to the theater … one can only imagine how terrible it was to navigate the muddy streets of the city back then!  Emmy’s mother wrote back the next day saying:

How happy I am that you’re doing well and arrived safely!  I’m only a bit scared that you won’t like it here anymore, when you’re being spoiled in San Antonio.  We’ve already shied away from the weather and thought about whether it’s raining where you are.  It’s rained a lot here and the paths and walks are so muddy that one doesn’t think about going out.

Emmy wrote back on September 22nd telling her mother how much she is enjoying going to the theater, even attending matinees with Anita Meusebach, how she plans to buy her little sister Hildegarde a fan (Hilde is Sarah Reveley’s grandmother), and about one of the Meusebach’s chickens singing to her every morning at her window.  It is easy to see the young Emmy’s excitement at being in the “big city” and spending time with the teenaged Anita Meusebach.  It is very sad to think that only two years later in May 1900, 16-year-old Anita would die of peritonitis.  

Peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity, is caused by a bacterial infection and was a common cause of death, especially maternal death, in the 19th century.  Infections spread into the abdominal cavity and were typically associated with poor hygiene – the practice of washing one’s hands was still in its infancy.  Mortality rates fell dramatically after people began practicing good hygiene, especially in the medical field.

Announcement of Anita Meusebach's death, May 1900.

Regardless of the reasons for Anita Meusebach’s death, the tragedy was surely devastating for the family.  In 1902, Otto sold the home on King William Street – he died the following year.  His sons went on to prosper, however.  Kurt became a coal merchant and John went on to be the treasurer of the San Antonio Machine and Supply Company.  Click this link to see an 1880′s photograph of Baron Meusebach’s sons: [Ernst, Otto, and Max Meusebach, sons of John O. Meusebach] :: ITC – General Collection.

A very special THANK YOU to Sarah Reveley for sharing her great-aunt’s letters with Villa Finale.  Emmy Kailer has given us great insight into the Meusebach family and life in late 19th San Antonio.

 

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to receive more information on Sarah Reveley’s presentation in the fall and other programs at Villa Finale by sending your email address to VillaFinale@nthp.org.

Staying “in tune” – update on our “Music for Your Eyes” tour and more

Walter Mathis's Edison Cylinder Phonograph.

Since its debut last April, our Music for Your Eyes tour has become one of our most popular programs selling out each time it has been offered (click here for tour information).  I am one of the ”hosts” for the musical experience as is Meg Nowack, our curator, and Syeira Budd, Villa Finale’s Community Programs Coordinator.  During the past four months, my colleagues and I have enjoyed sharing historic information behind Walter Mathis’s music machines as well as demonstrating these wonderful items. 

Walter Mathis loved music and enjoyed filling his home with its beautiful sounds.  Among the demonstrations on the tour are the circa 1912 Deluxe Model Violano Virtuoso, two Victorian music boxes, an Edison Cylinder Phonograph, and the grand finale of the 1910 Bechstein-Welte reproducing piano - I cannot tell you how many people have left the tour humming or whistling to the piano’s melody!  People on our tours have enjoyed hearing the rich history of the machines and the background information to some of the songs played.  All of the items on the tour are diverse in machinery as well as origin.

Meg demonstrates the reproducing piano.

South Texas as a whole has a wonderful musical history which is influenced by its diverse population.  Once part of Mexico and strongly influenced by Mexican border states, “Tejanos” of the era soon mixed their musical traditions with those of European immigrants.  It isn’t difficult even for the most “untrained ear” to hear the Waltz and Polka influences in Tejano music.  Make sure you check out the “Tejano Explosion” event during Fiesta San Antonio.      

Speaking of European immigrants, German music in Texas can be traced back as early as the 1830s with the arrival of the first settlers here.  The polkas we all associate with the very popular Oktoberfest originated in 19th century Bohemia.  The German version of this genre, also known as “Oompah,” is very identifiable by its use of the tuba, clarinet, trombone and of course, the accordion.  If you would like to get a feel for what the King William neighborhood would have been like during the late 19th century, visit the Beethoven Maennorchor on Pereida Street on First Friday or during one of their Gartenkonzerts - you will not be disappointed!   

One of the music boxes demonstrated on the tour.

Of course, any mention of Texas and music wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Country music.  In Texas, the genre is uniquely influenced by its many immigrants: Spanish, Mexican, French, German and more.  San Antonio has a variety of historic venues where people enjoyed live country music performances during the genre’s golden era including The Majestic Theater, the Empire Theater – where Gene Autry performed – and the Aztec Theatre.  If you would like to take a trip back in time, the Aztec Theatre hosts the San Antonio Rose Live show which is a tribute to classic country music in an equally classic venue.

If you enjoy music, and enjoy little historical tidbits like those I mentioned, make sure you join us on the next Music for Your Eyes tour.  The experience is a treat for your eyes … and ears.

A picture is worth 1,000 words

Dillard R. Fant in front of Villa Finale, ca. 1904.

If you have been following our blog, you may have read a series of posts I wrote in 2009 called “The Perils of 401 King William,” a five-part series relating the story of Villa Finale’s many owners.  It’s fascinating that despite the home’s many high-profile occupants, very few early photographs of the property are known to exist.  Until this week, the earliest photograph our staff had ever seen of the house dated to about 1915 when the property was owned by Eva and Dwight Potter.     

Earlier this week I received an email from Frederick and Patsy White; Patsy is the great-granddaughter of Dillard R. Fant, one of the twelve owners of 401 King William Street.  Fant was a well-known trail boss who is credited with extending the famous Chisholm Trail to Corpus Christi.  His wife, Lucy, daughter of original Texas settlers, was involved in many charitable organizations in San Antonio.  The couple had ten children; Patsy White’s grandmother, Lucille, was number eight.  You can read more about the Fants’ ownership of the house in my original blog post here.

Lucille Fant and James South, ca. 1905.

I personally have been fascinated with the history of Villa Finale’s ownership and have given presentations on the subject, sharing the few photographs we have in a PowerPoint presentation.  You can imagine my excitement when I discovered Frederick and Patsy were kind enough to forward snapshots of the Fant family taken on the property during their ownership … this was a thrill!  My excitement was doubled when Anita South, whose husband is a great-grandson of Dillard Fant, forwarded various snapshots of the family.  It’s amazing how you can read about these people from the past, but it isn’t until you see their images that they really come to life.

On behalf of Villa Finale’s staff, I would like to thank Patsy, Frederick and Anita for helping us with our ongoing research into Villa Finale’s ownership.  Dillard R. Fant and his family are definitely an important part of the home’s long and fascinating history.

Fant family, ca. 1890s.

Adventures in Guide Training, 2010

 

Mary and Elizabeth at Woodrow Wilson House.

I was debating how to begin this post and I really cannot find any other way than by saying … the last three months have been a whirlwind!  But not a “Dorothy stuck in a tornado” whirlwind, more of a Charlie going through the chocolate factory type whirlwind – full of delightful surprises at every turn. 

Villa Finale’s very first Guide training began in May with a class of nine.  Due to the site opening in the fall, we were forced to conduct classes during the summer.  This created a sticky situation as people were eager to become Guides but they also had well-deserved vacations planned and paid for.  So what to do?  Rather than lose so many enthusiastic folks, I and the rest of the National Trust staff assisting with training worked with individual vacations.  I was moved to discover that some of our trainees even took class materials on vacation … now that’s dedication! 

Mary, one of our Guides-to-be, even wore her Villa Finale t-shirt while on a trip to Washington, D.C. to help us get the word out.  She and her daughter, Elizabeth wore their shirts while visiting Woodrow Wilson House, another National Trust Historic Site and former site of our busy curator, Meg Nowack. 

Elizabeth with her Villa Finale t-shirt.

 

We were also fortunate enough to have additional folks call along the way and express interest in becoming Guides.  When I informed them they would need to catch up with the materials, they weren’t the least bit deterred which of course made me very giddy!  They promptly came in, took orientation, and were quickly immersed with all the materials.  Now, this is where I have to thank the rest of our trainees – they have done an amazing job of taking late-comers under their wings and answering any and all questions. 

In-class sessions ended the last weekend in July and now Guide trainees have been busy helping Meg reassemble the house - what better way

Trainees sharing info inside Villa Finale.

to familiarize yourself with the collection than reassembling the exhibits! – and walking through the house practicing their tours.  I should also say that in addition to being incredibly enthusiastic, our Guides-to-be are also dedicated.  Last Saturday most of us went out to La Mansion del Rio’s breakfast buffet and all of them shared pointers with one another and gave me some wonderful feedback to share with the rest of the staff – and of course, we also shared many laughs!  Everyone agreed that we should make it a regular habit.  (A great big “thank you” to the staff at Las Canaria’s Restaurant for their top-notch hospitality.) 

 So many of our Guides have told me how much they appreciate Villa Finale’s flexibility with their schedules and eagerness to answer questions about training materials — however, it is Villa Finale that is eternally grateful to this wonderful class of now fourteen for learning the material without really ever seeing the house in all its glory … not an easy task by any means! 

I would like to mention one more thing: last week as trainees were walking through the house, I sat back to listen to their conversations about preservation, architecture and the collections … if tours are half as engaging as what I heard, our visitors are due for a quite a treat!  Thank you inaugural Villa Finale Guide class — we could not have wished for a better group of folks!   (If you would like to be a Guide at Villa Finale, go to the “Volunteer” section and fill out an application.  Our next Guide training will be held in January – more details coming soon.)

Breakfast at La Mansion del Rio's Las Canarias Restaurant.

Restoration update: June 18, 2010

Things continue to move along at 401 King William. The Carriage House at the rear of the property is a shadow of its former self. It’s hard to believe most of us had our work stations there barely two years ago.  Here’s our latest video showing the changes within the Carriage House.  Enjoy!  

Villa Finale Restoration Update

Here is a brand new video showing the progress of Villa Finale’s restoration. Enjoy!

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HAVE A MERRY little CHRISTMAS!

The holidays are now in full swing in San Antonio.  The Riverwalk is all lit up, the houses in King William are decked out, and so much more!  There are also other “little” traditions around the city … literally!  Last year we highlighted the gingerbread house at the Guenther House Restaurant which is located just a short walk from our Visitor Center – well, it is such a work of art that we decided to write about it again this year.  The gingerbread masterpiece, which is a replica of the Guenther House itself, goes up just after Thankgiving after 150 hours of “sweet” work.  The 90 pounds of edible goodness include: Peanut Butter Logs, royal icing, Skittles, spearmint leaves, Apple O’s, Starbursts, Smarties, Chicklets, Rock Candy, marshmallows, piping gel, Vienna Cookies, yogurt pretzels, sour green ropes, gum drops, fruit stripe gum, Lego’s Candy, Mother’s Cookies, candy canes, gumballs, pretzels, gelatin sheets, Silver Dragees, and Twizzlers Ribbon – whew!  Congratulations to the folks at Guenther House for another job well done! 

The Fairmount Hotel less than a mile away from King William also has their own “little” holiday tradition.  As guests drive up to valet parking they are greeted with fun holiday decorations, including this adorable little chapel.  If you’re into miniatures like some of us, or are just a kid at heart, you will really appreciate this adorable building.  If you visit, take a peek inside the chapel – it’s as cute as the exterior.  And of course, make sure to see the rest of this beautiful historic hotel … and say hello to Luke, The Fairmount’s famous Hotel Dog Concierge!

The last stop on our “little” holiday journey is our own Villa Finale Visitor Center.  We have started our own holiday tradition by exhibiting the Mathis Rockport Doll House for the holidays.  The Doll House, a replica of the Mathis family home in Rockport, Texas, was built for Agnes Mathis Bain, sister of Walter Mathis, by the Rockport Art Association as a gesture of gratitude for her generous donations.  Completed in 1981, the Rockport Doll House is 1/12 scale, measures approximately 5′ x 6′, has working lights, period furnishings, and is meticulously recreated down to the wall paper – a true work of art!  Being a lover of doll houses myself, I know I would be through the roof if I were ever to have one of these under my Christmas tree! 

Make sure you visit us at the Visitor Center, take a walk down to the Guenther House, and stop by The Fairmount Hotel.  These little holiday traditions are truly a BIG treat! — Sylvia Hohenshelt