To the student of Texas history San Antonio is Rome. All roads lead hither; all roads hence.
The first grant or deed of land in the city to an individual was in the year 1727. These grants or deeds were often verbal, depending for their proof on witnesses and occupation of the land. In May, 1749, it was decreed by Gov. Pedro de Barrio Junca Espilla that “from this time forward all titles, grants, etc., of any nature be put in writing to avoid discord,” or, as the quaint old record puts it, “una Guerra.” The first recorded grant of land was on Soledad Street in 1744, the same year in which the street received its title of Solitary.
It is said that the mortar used in the construction of the various missions in and around San Antonio, especially that for the domes, abutments and altars, was mixed with milk furnished largely from the corrals of private families, who in their holy zeal made daily sacrifices in order that the good friars might not be disappointed in the necessary supply; and the children, inspired with hope of what was to be a veritable St. Peter's, are said to have toiled at piling the small stones and pebbles in smooth heaps for ready use, often handing them to the workers, who labored slowly but faithfully on. So grew old San Fernando.
Three sides of the stone wall which enclosed its church square, the first “Campo Santo” of the city, within which slept the dead of the parish, weré torn away in the early seventies. The piece facing west is part of the original wall.
Just across Galan street, on the corner of Military Plaza, stood the building 51 that tradition says was honored by the presence of Santa Anna on the night previous to the occupation of San Antonio and siege of the Alamo. In this block was the old Cassiano residence. It fronted east on Main Plaza, standing on the site now covered by the Southern Hotel.
The “Quinta,” an old rock house used by General Arredondo in 1813 as a military prison for women, fronted west on Quinta street, adjoining, perhaps, part of the old Bowen residence. 52
In the early days of the city, San Antonio river and San Pedro creek ran full and clear. The average width of the river was sixty feet, and that of the creek fifteen, and both were bordered with Tula grass stretching out here and there into great fields. As late as thirty years ago the Mill Bridge was a most picturesque locality. The river ford was full two hundred feet wide, with a sweep of crystal water from one to three feet deep, fed by a spring at Carcel, or Market street. Back of the old Losoya homestead on Losoya street, about fifty yards above Crockett, was another large spring and rivulet, and just north of the Commerce street bridge from under a huge boulder of limestone came a bold flow of pure water. Alas, what was is now no more; but the day brave Ben Milam and his followers crossed the “Ford of los Tejas,” on their way to the “Molino Blanco,” it was a river well worthy of name and fame. Locate this ford at the bridge, near the Lone Star Brewery, and the old mill a few hundred yards below on the west bank.
Of the Garza house, the south front and west corner are intact. Worthy of notice are the small window over the door, and the deep well. This place became the property of de la Garza in 1734. Mr. Leonardo Garza has the deed, which is dated 1771. From the signatures and transfers it seems clear that the house was built between 1735 and 1740.
The Navarro building, on the northeast corner of Commerce and Flores Streets, was torn down about two weeks ago. This building had walls three and a half feet thick, and was built of adobe 53, with red cedar rafters. On one of the rafters the date 1728 was burned into the wood. This property was transferred from Veramendi to Navarro in 1838, according to the records.
The Veramendi house is still standing, its facade marred by advertisements and a tin awning. The zaguan, or entrance hall, is one of two belonging to the eighteenth century left in the city. The other is that of the Alamo. Some ten years ago the Veramendi doors were covered with a coat of green paint and marked with the words, “These doors have swung on their pivots since 1720.” I have not been able to verify this date. The consesus of opinion among those in a position to know would make it about ten years later. Just beyond the entrance fell Milam. Yoakum says, “Milam was buried where he fell,” but local tradition says it was under a group of fig-trees on the slope to the river, and that his remains were afterwards removed to the old Protestant cemetery, now Milam Park, where he still sleeps—if not exactly under the stone erected to his memory, certainly within twenty feet of it.
East Commerce street was called the “Alameda” as late as 1875, and on this street, in the vicinity of St. Joseph's church, tradition tells of a huge grave filled with the mortal remains of the heroes of the Alamo. How many such graves are all around us—brave dead, whose names are never, and never will be, seen or heard, who faltering not in the path of duty respond only to the roll call from above.
51. Torn down in 1895.
52. This location agrees with the Yoakum map.
53. Adobe is really sun-dried brick, but common use applies the term to all the old rock buildings in the city, which are built of all sorts and sizes of rock and pebbles cemented together.
How to cite:
Cooley, Emily B., "A RETROSPECT OF SAN ANTONIO ", Volume 004, Number 1, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 54 - 56. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v004/n1/article_7.html
[Accessed Mon Nov 23 17:16:06 CST 2009]
