San Antonio Police History Archive

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: Building constructed in 1858   Subject: Photo crop of Casino Club Hall and Theater. View is SSE. Taken from a point on the north side of Market Street showcasing the hall.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 17 December 1892  Subject: Photo crop of crowd scene on Main Plaza. View is west and elevated. Taken, almost certainly, from the French Building, showcasing the cornerstone ceremony for the Bexar County Courthouse.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1891-1897  Subject: Photo crop of interior of building. View is interior. Taken from a point inside the building showcasing the saloon. Almost certainly “Billy’s Saloon,” first floor of the Reuter Building (1891), SW corner of Crockett and Alamo Plaza.  Note the glass mugs, porcelain dinnerware and spittoons.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1914-1915  Subject: Photo crop of Alamo National Bank. View is SSW.  Taken from a building across Commerce showcasing the widening of Commerce Street and particularly the raising and moving of the Alamo National Bank at the SW corner of Commerce and S. Presa. It is said that the 8000-ton building was raised by 1800 screw jacks, placed on 1600 rollers and then pushed back 17 feet. That much is fact. The legend says it was all done while not disturbing bank business inside. Another part of the same legend says once it was on the rollers it was drawn over and let down onto blocks of dry ice which as they evaporated, allowed the building to settle.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1941   Subject: Photo crop North St. Mary’s Street. View is south. Taken from a point in middle of St Mary’s, north of Pecan Street showcasing a night scene.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1929  Subject: Photo crop of San Antonio. View is NNE and elevated. Taken from the new Smith-Young Tower showcasing a portion of Commerce Street. Joske’s massive store at Commerce and Alamo Plaza has not yet done the 1936 renovation. The Plaza Theater in the renovated Gallagher Building (1877) which was once the US Post Office, is still in operation at the corner of Blum and Alamo Plaza and has yet to be razed. St. Joseph’s Church still has its rectory (with St. Mary’s Street alongside) and has not yet been encircled.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1917  Subject: Photo crop of Jewel Tea Company route vehicle and salesman. View is unknown. Taken from within a few feet of subject.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo:  1906/07-1913 Subject: Photo crop of the St. James Hotel. View is North. Taken from building across Houston to the south. Originally constructed as Mackey Block (1892). Becomes St. James Hotel 1897-1913. Becomes State Bank and Trust Building in 1914. Photo shows Kress store building (1906/07) to the east.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1934   Subject: Photo crop of the National Theater. View is NNE. Taken from a point in the W. Commerce Street and North Santa Rosa Street intersection showcasing the theater.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1881-1883  Subject: Photo crop of a line drawing or lithograph of the Bexar County Courthouse, then on the east side of Soledad.  View is east. This drawing was produced either to show how the renovation of the courthouse was to look in the future or to reflect how it did look at the time of the creation of the drawing. The renovation of the courthouse was begun in 1881 and completed in 1883.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo:  12 November 1912Subject: Photo crop of the interior of a bicycle shop with handwritten ascriptions. View is interior. Taken at 106 S. Laredo showcasing the interior and persons. Note the bicycle clips on the pants of the two younger persons and the phone on wall.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1924-1928   Subject: Photo crop of a book/magazine page with printed caption. View is north. Taken from a point within a few feet of subject. Jordan-Ivers Motor Co. in place by 1924 – Garden Street renamed in 1928.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1899   Subject: Photo crop of a post card of the New Market House (1899), W. Commerce at N. Santa Rosa. View is west. The written ascription is, of course, incorrect as Military Plaza with City Hall at its center is several blocks to the east.

Photo crop exposure date: UnknownExposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1906-1917   Subject: Photo crop of post card depicting Electric Park. View is probably south. Park was located south of San Pedro Park, fronting on N. Flores, it was more than a city block wide and extended east to Nixon Street.