New Kerr County History Book Available!

Monday, October 19, 2015

But first, let's complain.

A. C. Schreiner home, Kerrville.
click on image to enlarge
Last weekend, this newspaper reported the old A. C. Schreiner home, which is just east of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, had been gifted to the City of Kerrville by an anonymous donor.
It came as no surprise, at least to this observer, that 'controversy ensued.'
At the meeting where the Kerrville city council accepted the gift at least one person spoke against taking the building, citing its numerous defects, including lack of handicap access, lack of air conditioning, and difficulties in accessing the upper floor of the home. If I remember correctly, another complaint was the amount of city staff time needed to develop a plan for the building, and for its inclusion into the 'library campus.'
Indeed, several have visited with me sharing similar complaints about the transaction. Many are concerned city government has a pitiful record when it comes to historic preservation, and most mention the city's lack of stewardship with the Arcadia Theater on Water Street. Still others bemoan the tax dollars the project will be spent on the project.
So, if you'll allow me, I'd like to step up on top of my soap box for a second.
A casual reader of this column will likely note I have a fondness for local history. In telling the story of our county, I have tried to build community; it's my opinion a community without a story is not a strong community.
We here are blessed with a strong story. The weakness has been so few know that story. We have a candle we've hidden under a bushel basket.
Our community has an even worse record of historic preservation. There have been a few attempts to collect items for a local history museum -- efforts that began as early as the 1920s. In each of these campaigns the ball never crossed the goal line; many of the donated historic materials ended up in the garbage or on a garage sale table. And we have no history museum.
Over the past few months I have been posting on my blog (www.joeherringjr.com) a series of historic photographs paired with photographs taken recently from the same spot. In the old photograph, you see an historic building or home; in the new photograph, you can see what's there, now. The series has garnered thousands of views, not only from local folks, but from viewers around the world, many of them former residents of our community.
Can you guess what the most consistent response has been to this series?
The most consistent response has been: I wish our community did a better job of historic preservation. Period.
And yet, when the gift of a historic home is given to the city government, the first thing people do is complain.
In the case of the A. C. Schreiner home, an anonymous donor purchased the property and donated it to the city, to be a part of the library system. The city accepted the gift.
Will the building project be expensive? Will it take city staff time and effort? Will someone complain about it? Will city government make mistakes in regard to the project? Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
On the other side of the ledger, consider this: a historic home will likely survive another generation.
A. C. Schreiner was the oldest child of Captain Charles Schreiner; A.C. ran the Charles Schreiner Company, the mercantile store, while his siblings ran other of the family's enterprises. A. C. Schreiner was on the very first Kerrville city council. He and his wife donated funds to build the old sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church. He made numerous contributions to our community, as did his children, and their children.
The home there is likely the second home A. C. Schreiner built on the property; I believe the first was destroyed in a fire.
There are other structures I wish could be donated to the city: the Tivy Hotel; the Comparette House; the Arcadia Theater. I even wish the lot between the A. C. Schreiner home and our print shop could be donated to the city: the oak trees there were living when the founder of Kerrville, Joshua D. Brown, lived on that lot, and on the land on which the A. C. Schreiner home now stands. I call the large oak tree there "Founder's Oak," and I hope it, too, can survive another generation.
To the anonymous donor: thanks for your gift. I hope our community does a good job with it.
Until next week, all the best.  I'm off of my soapbox now.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who thinks most people would be surprised to know who the 'anonymous donor' is.


4 comments:

  1. Keep the soap box handy and yes we would like to know the donor(s) so that proper recognition could be given. With due respect to the donor(s)' wishes, it doesn't surprise that the city acted behind closed doors.

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a native Kerrville-ian (and an amateur genealogist) , just let me say that I'm with you 100%. We just spent several days in Kerrville for the first time in many years and both of us were appalled at the condition (or lack thereof) of some of the "historic" buildings in Kerrville! So, I would say to those people who are complaining about "the cost, the lack of City interest in the up-keeping of the building, etc, etc." just quitcher yer bitchin! Get involved instead! This is OUR community, after all!

    I would follow my own advice but it is just a little far to commute to Kerrville from Southern California!

    Keep on getting on your soap box - the citizens of Kerrville need it!

    Kathy turley
    Nuevo, California

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm a native Kerr Countian, born & raised at
    Mt. Home. Spent nearly 40 years working wherever my agency needed/transferred me. Have made periodic visits to Kerrville-Mt.Home to see relatives/friends and over the years just couldn't understand why Kerrville hasn't taken better care of some of its resources.... many thing haven't been 'developed' to their potential, other things no longer exist. Sad!! Especiallysince the past 17 years since we retired, have been living in a town that has embraced it's treasures. A strong historical board, a city council with save our 'roots' mindset, countless volunteers and 'speak-up' citizen residents have contributed tremendously to our town that has made it a thriving town. We have a beautiful Courthouse Square with antique & junketique shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, coffee shop where you can check out a game of scrabble etc to play while you enjoy your latte, book store, live theatre group & library that both have various workshops for various ages...... whew! .... I'm getting long-wided, but I have a couple more things to say..... our downtown San Gabriel Park is as pretty and accessable as you'll find anywhere and our walking-hiking-biking trail system from downtown to & around Lake Georgetown is awesome! 20 to 30 miles of it.... use as much or as little as your body can handle.
    Oops! I guess I guess I gave it away.... I'm in The Red Poppy Capital of Texas as designated by our Legislature in 1997. GEORGETOWN, TEXAS

    Oh, how I would love to see Kerrville begin to save & capitalize on its many assets before it's too late!!!

    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are right on target, Joe! So glad the city accepted this beautiful home which is such a part of historical Kerrville. I hope all of the beautiful Schreiner homes are preserved by the city at some point, for everyone to enjoy, as we always did the Schreiner mansion or "fairytale castle."

    ReplyDelete

Please remember this is a rated "family" blog. Anything worse than a "PG" rated comment will not be posted. Grandmas and their grandkids read this, so please, be considerate.

AddThis

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails