This Used to Be San Antonio

by Gil Dominguez

Overview

Wandering along the Riverwalk or exploring one of San Antonio’s unique historic neighborhoods, any curious traveler will inevitably begin to speculate about the past. Was that always a church, a market, or a museum? Find the answers to all your musings in This Used to Be San Antonio.
From the iconic Alamo that played an indispensable role in the state’s and country’s history to a mansionturned-casino that was originally won in a card game, you’ll get a tour of these places paired with stories that will inform and sometimes surprise. Along the way, you’ll meet a colorful cast of characters who walked through those places in a totally different era.
Local author and journalist Gil Dominguez brings an historian’s eye and penchant for detail to this revealing look at his hometown. His fascinating descriptions will bring you a better understanding of San Antonio’s history and culture, from major historical landmarks to prominent churches and military bases, all with a nod to the San Antonians who made these places important. Be transported through three centuries of history and find out what used to be in the Alamo City.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681063430
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	10/01/2021
Series:	This Used to Be
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,046,761
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Gil Dominguez is a San Antonio native. He holds a B.A in journalism and worked for more thirty years as a writer, editor, and public-affairs specialist with the Department of Defense. While employed with the government he was selected to attend the Joint Course in Communication at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, completing the training as Honor Graduate – the first civilian in the first thirty years of the program to receive that distinction. His first book, They Answered the Call: Latinos in the Vietnam War, was published in 2004. A second book titled It Happened in San Antonio appeared in 2018. Gil has also taught government, English composition, and technical writing as an adjunct college instructor. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, Rosemarie.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Introduction 1

San Pedro Springs Park 2

The Acequias 4

San Fernando Cathedral 6

St. Mark's Episcopal Church 8

St. Joske's 10

Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) 12

Mission Concepción 14

Mission San José 16

Mission San Juan Capistrano 18

Mission San Francisco de la Espada 20

La Villita 22

Veramendi Palace 24

Spanish Governor's Palace 26

Market Square 28

The King William District 30

South town 32

The Steves Homestead 34

The O. Henry House 36

A Judge Roy Bean House 38

The "Red" Berry Mansion 40

The Fatal Corner 42

Where the Rough Riders Were Born 44

Union Stock Yards 46

Cattleman Square 48

The Southern Pacific Depot 50

The International & Great Northern Railroad Depot 52

The Katy Railroad Station 54

San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad Depot 56

The Lone Star Brewery 58

Pearl 60

Hot Wells 62

St. Anthony Hotel 64

The Blue Bonnet Hotel 66

The Gunter Hotel 68

The Emily Morgan Hotel 70

The Menger Hotel 72

Frost Bank 74

Pioneer Flour Mills 76

Butter Krust Bakery 78

Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company 80

Joske's 82

When Harry Met Hannah: Landa Library 84

The Alameda Theater 86

The Majestic Theatre 88

Texas Theater 108

The Quadrangle 110

Kelly Air Force Base 112

Brooks Air Force Base 114

Hangar 9 116

Stinson Municipal Airport 118

River Walk 120

KCOR-TV: The Birth of Spanish-Language Broadcasting 122

The Woolworth Building 124

Kress Building 126

The Borglum Studio 128

VFW Post. 76 130

San Antonio Municipal Auditorium 132

The Mission Drive-In 134

Maverick Carter House 136

Jeremiah Dashiell House 138

Home of a Beer Baron 140

Hotel Emma 142

Skyview at La Gloria 144

Eastwood Country Club 146

The Liberty Bar 148

The Willy Wonka Factory of San Antonio 150

Tower Life Building 152

Kallison's Block 154

The McNay Art Museum 156

Briscoe Western Art Museum 158

Aztec Theatre 160

Empire Theatre 162

Teatro Guadalupe 164

The Arsenal 166

St. Mary's University 168

Thomas Jefferson High School 170

The Yturri-Edmunds House 172

Surrender at the Cos House 174

Navarro House 176

Villa Finale 178

Kampmann House 180

Bexar County Courthouse 182

Bexar County Jail 184

Brackenridge Park 186

Cementville 188

HemisFair '68 190

Datapoint 192

Museum of Science and Technology 194

Sources 196

Index 200