San Antonio Police History Archive

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Subject: Photo Crop of a photo of a watercolor sketch of the Alamo ruins created in 1838 by Mary Ann Adams Maverick (1818-1898).

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1856-1882. Subject: Photo crop of an early period photograph manipulated with line drawings. The view of the subject photograph is WNW across Plaza de Valero with the SW corner of the market building (1856-1882) in evidence. Originally known as the Plaza de Valero Market, it quickly became the Alamo Plaza Market (sometimes the Alamo Plaza Meat Market) as the Plaza de Valero was absorbed by Alamo Plaza. The photograph was (most likely) taken from the Menger Hotel. The road running west from the plaza, between the buildings and out into the trees, would have to be Crockett Street.   

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1859 (claimed). Subject: Photo crop of a bordered photograph. The Menger Hotel (1859) was designed by John M. Fries and built on Alamo Plaza by J. H. Kampmann. The view is ENE from the unpaved Blum Street intersection. The building in the lower right corner is the building in the next three photographs, at the SE corner of Blum and Alamo Plaza. That corner lot will be occupied by the Gallagher Building (1877), the ground floor of which will be the San Antonio Post Office. Also, the views of the plaza afforded by ID 149 and ID 163 is of two almost directly opposite points of the plaza at close periods of time.  

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1866 (claimed). Subject: Photo crop of a bordered photo with ascription and date. View is SW towards Alamo Plaza at Blum Street and elevated. Taken (almost certainly) from the Menger Hotel. Ascription is typed and reads: "Looking southwest toward Alamo Plaza and Blum from the Menger Hotel (1866)". This crop does not have the "E. Raba Photo" ascription in the lower right hand corner and the foreground building does not have the water decay marking on the left bottom corner of the foreground building, closest to the rail fence, that is present in the photograph with the "E. Raba photo" ascription. Also this photo is cropped more narrowly and thereby cuts off some of the buildings at the top left of the photograph. Note: ID24443 and ID 202.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1879-1883. Subject: The Gallagher building (1877) which housed the US Post Office, is present at left foreground. The two story Dreiss Building (1877), at right foreground, is present, The pagoda topped Dullnig Building of (1883) at Commerce and Alamo is not present. View is south on Alamo Plaza from the North side of the Blum street intersection. Note how quickly the area builds: ID 24070, 24443, 202 above.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1892 1910. Subject: Reuter Building(1892). Designed by James Wahrenberger in the Victorian-Empire style for William Reuter. “Billy’s Saloon” first floor. Offices 2nd and 3rd floor, Elks Club and Knights of Pythias Lodge, 4th floor. View is SSW from Alamo Street. The exposure window is framed from the completion of the Reuter Building (1892) to the completion of the asphalt paving project (1910) which is not present. Catered to the crowds at the Grand Opera House across Crockett street with a type of electrical signal system that would give alert for intermissions and close of curtain. Operated by William Reuter and half-brother George Benseler who used the last name Reuter. First listed as Barkeepers (both) working for A. Scholz in 1877. Ran the saloon “Billy’s and Joe’s” at 8 Soledad during 1880s. Ran the “Two Brothers” Saloon in the Dullnig Building late 1880s. William died 17 August 1897 at age of 53. George died four months and 7 days later, 23 December 1897, unknown age.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890 -1910. Subject: Photo crop of the Dullnig Building(1883) at Alamo and Commerce. Taken from the SE corner of the intersection. Exposure window is framed the wood block paving (1890) which is present and the Asphalt paving (1910) which is not. The Older (northern) portion of building proclaims a date of 1879. The southeast tower and 17 feet of eastern façade would be lost to the Commerce Street widening project 1913-1915. Southwest tower remained until at least 1922.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1905-1910. Subject: Photo crop of what appears to be a RPPC (Real Picture Post Card). The view is NNE across the plaza. Taken from a point within the plaza. The exposure window is framed by the fourth floor addition to the R. A. Arther Hotel(1893) on Avenue D. just beyond the left side of the US Post Office and Customs House(1890). Marked “Mexican Chili Stands, San Antonio, Texas.” Plaza fountain (1903-1910) is shown surrounded by tables. The fountain will be removed at the time of the asphalt paving project of the plaza in 1910.  Additional cut block in top left corner carries “www.thealamocity.com”.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1930s. Subject: The Menger Hotel(1859). John M. Fries, architect. J.H Kampmann, contractor. View is ENE and elevated from a building on the west side of the plaza. 

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1909-1912. Subject: What appears to be a color post card (RPPC) or color souvenir card of Alamo Plaza. Subject view is north and elevated (almost certainly from Gallagher Building (1877). Gibbs Building (1909) is present. The Hugo & Schmeltzer Building has not been razed (partial razing in 1912), however, the Hugo and Schmeltzer name has been removed from the building. The crop exhibits a printed ascription in script font "San Antonio, Texas, Alamo Plaza." located at middle bottom of photograph. There is also (in a different font of two lines) a copyright symbol followed by "Lacy Family Estate" and "Bee County Historical Society Archives" in the bottom left of the photograph. A number: "26432" appears in the bottom right of the photograph and there are very small letters and numbers in at least two other areas.  

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1889-1892 Subject: Photo crop of the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House. Opened Dec. 20, 1886. 487 seats at the orchestra level; 343 in the balcony; and 500 in the gallery. Closed in the 1930s. Razed in 1954. Replaced by the H.L. Green department store. View is WNW from Alamo Plaza. Reuter building (opened in 1892) across Crockett Street to the south is not present. The street would appear to be under construction, perhaps due to the wood block paving project (1889-1891). Note the round sign on the sidewalk in front of the building that reads Grand Opera House.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1901-1909. Subject: San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House. View WNW from Alamo Plaza. See "Photo #1" for additional details of Grand Opera House. Note: the cover over front sidewalk. Extends width of building. Cover was in place for speech by President McKinley 4 May 1901. Sunset Railroad maintained office at location from 1892 to 1909.  Round Grand Opera House sign has been moved around to the side of the building along Crockett Street. Note the new lateral electric light sign: THE GRAND.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A. Subject: Photo montage composed of a photo crop of the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886) in 1922 (see ID 178 below) and a crop of a page from San Antonio Light newspaper in 1915. The view of the Grand Opera House is NNW from Crockett street. The lateral electric bulb light announcing the Grand is gone and replaced with a much larger vertical electrical sign of one word GRAND. See "Media ID 203 and Media ID 187" for additional details. Note the advertisement and the electrical enhancement for the radio presentation of the game.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: the week of 8 January 1922. Subject: Photo crop (#109) of a book page of the West side of Alamo Plaza with a typed and incomplete ascription assigning a date of 8 January 1922. The first silent film version of the play “Baby Mine” was released in 1917 and is playing for one week beginning Sunday 8 January 1922 along with “Riding With Death” starring Buck Jones as can be partially seen under the street cover. The view is north from Crockett Street intersection. Buildings on West side are the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886) on the NW corner, then the Wickes Building (1886), then the Crockett Block (1882), the Woolworth Building (1921) at the SW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza. The tallest building in the view is the Gibbs building (1909) on the NW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza, west and across Avenue D from the US Post Office and Customs House (1890).

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1910. Subject: A type of asphalt paving being placed on Houston Street in front of US Post Office and Courthouse (Ref "photo #9"). North side of Alamo Plaza. View is ENE from Houston Street.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1913-1915. Subject: Photo crop showing the Alamo Plaza (east elevation) face of the Swearingen-McCraw Building, formerly the Maverick Bank Building (1884). View is west from the plaza. The photo crop is the "left side" slice from a panoramic photograph. The "middle" crop can be accessed under Media ID 23853. 

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: ca. 1890-1893. Subject: US Post Office and Customs House (1890). North side of Alamo Plaza. View is NNE from Alamo Plaza at a point about even with the southern corner of the Swearingen-McCraw Building (formerly the Maverick Bank building). The R.A. Archer Building (1893) to be located just north of the Post Office on North Alamo Street, is not yet present, but can clearly be seen in, "media ID 195".

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: post 1910. Subject: US Post Office and Customs House (1890). North side of Alamo Plaza. View is north from across Houston Street. The asphalt paving project (1910) has been completed.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1912. Subject: Photo crop of Houston Street. View is WNW from a position on south side of Houston street. The US Post Office and Federal Building is in the foreground on the north side of Houston with the Gibbs building (1909) west and across Alamo Street, followed by the New Moore Building (1912) and last, the Hicks Building (1896) can just be seen at the NW corner of Houston Street and Avenue C.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1908-1909. Subject: Photo crop of a book page of Alamo Plaza. View is north from an elevated position (most likely the Gallagher building 1877). The police sub-station in the Alamo Chapel has been removed. Hugo & Schmeltzer building (1877) is present. The Gibbs building (1909) is under construction. Several of the parked vehicles are automobiles.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo:  1892-1896. Subject: Alamo Plaza. North end of park with concession wagon at curb. Hand printed ascription. View is WSW across plaza from the Hugo & Schmeltzer Building.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1923. Subject: Photo crop of  Rotary Christmas Tree in Alamo Plaza. The crop eliminated the framing banner and the typed ascription "Property of the DRT Library" within the bottom banner. See ID#24262.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1886-1888. Subject: Alamo Plaza. Gallagher building (1877) is present, also the Menger Hotel (1859) extending north to the Carter & Mullaly Livery. Horse drawn street car on single track is present at the Post Office (Blum Street) bypass. The San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886) and the Wickes building (1886) are present, although there appears to be a developmental defect causing a foreshortening effect marring the upper right corner of the photograph. View is SSE and elevated across the plaza, almost certainly taken from the Swearingen-McCraw (Maverick Bank) Building (1884). There is no evidence of either the plaza paving (1889) or the park landscaping projects(1889). Hand printed ascription.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo:  Post 1926. Subject: Alamo Plaza. Medical Arts Building (1926) in background(r). US Post Office and Courthouse (1890) in background. Vehicles parked at curb of plaza park as well as head in parking against convento (long barracks) wall. Street lights frame Alamo Chapel and are placed on sidewalk along convento. View is north from sidewalk of plaza park. Hand printed ascription COPYRIGHT BY HARVEY PATTTESON 1. Research is on-going as to the exact date of the photograph.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1926. Subject: Photo crop of north end of Alamo Plaza. Medical Arts Building (1926) in foreground(r), US Post Office and Courthouse (1890) in foreground(l). The Morgan Hotel (1909) and the Scottish Rite Theatre and Grand Ballroom (1924) can be seen in the 200 and 300 blocks, respectively, of Avenue E. View is NNE from the Woolworth Building at Houston Street and Alamo Plaza.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1922-1924. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. Alamo Chapel in foreground (l). Convento (Long Barracks) exhibited as ruins. Tour vehicles at north sidewalk of plaza park. Quick Tire Service moves to 300 Alamo Plaza in 1922 and is present in photograph as is Standard Motor Sales at 314, which is vacant by 1924. The view is SSE and elevated, taken from (most probable) the Woolworth Building on the west side of Alamo Plaza.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1921-1932. Slightly better quality photo crop than #146 of an Alamo Plaza Christmas crowd scene. View is WNW from Alamo Chapel. Woolworth Building (1921) is present, so are street cars (last run April 1933).

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1901-1906. Subject: Photo crop of corner of Alamo Plaza (west side) and East Crockett. Reuter Building (1891) at 130 E. Crockett (corner) with tenants DITTMAR & OPPENHEIMER (1901-1906), Doctor's Offices on second floor and DRAUGHON’S COLLEGE (3d Floor).  View is WNW from in front of the Menger Hotel.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1987. Subject: Copy of a "Walking Tour" overlay of Alamo Plaza, depicting the 1987 plaza with the 1836 plaza. The current (2026) streets and plaza (2026) have changed again. 

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1934-1939 Subject: Alamo Street, view is south from Alamo Plaza.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: late 1940s. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel. Streetlights have been removed. Sidewalk and buildings to south of Chapel have been removed and Faux ruins constructed. Plaza park removed. Some type of memorial object implaced in ground to the south west of the Chapel. Vehicle traffic rerouted to pass the Chapel further to the west. No close parking. View is ENE from Alamo Street.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1882-1889. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. The Alamo Plaza (originally Plaza De Valero) Market House (1857) has been removed (1882). The Gallagher Building (1878) on Corner of Blum Street and Alamo Street houses the US Post Office on its first floor. Construction has not yet begun on the US Post Office and Customs House (1890) at the north end of Alamo Plaza. The Millinery and Fine Goods shop of Miss Paulina Schneider at 20 North Alamo (opened in 1884/1885) is present. The plaza is not yet paved (1888). The View NNE and elevated, is almost certainly from the Dreiss Building at 19 North Alamo Street. 

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: N/A  A conceptual reconstruction/overlay of how where  the plaza of the late 1870s was located on a modern map.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1908. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. Close-up of Hugo & Schmeltzer Building (1878), and the north edge of the plaza park (1890). The view is NNE from Alamo Street. The Hugo & Schmeltzer Building is closed by the State Supt. of Buildings in April of 1908. 

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1925 -1939. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. Crockett extension through Alamo Plaza (1925) is present. North Plaza Park is razed for installation of  the Cenotaph in 1939.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: Post 1925. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. Menger Hotel (1859) and south portion of plaza park, showing the Crockett Street separation of the park. Sconce style Streetlights in evidence. View is ESE and elevated from the Grand Opera House (1886), at NW corner of Crockett and Alamo Plaza.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1915 -1920. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Chapel. Convento walls have been espaliered (1914-15) . View is ENE from street. The chapel will receive a new roof  in 1920.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1915-1920. Subject: Photo crop of a stereo view of Alamo Plaza. The View is north at an elevated wide angle taken from the roof of the Gallagher Building at Blum and Alamo. The plaza park and the new bandstand (1915) is in foreground with the entire north center of plaza and beyond in view. The Swearingen-McCraw Building (formerly the Maverick Bank Building 1884) at the SW corner of Houston and Alamo is present (will be razed in late 1920 for the Woolworth Building opening in June of 1921) The Gibbs Building (1909) is next, across Houston to the north. The US Post Office and Customs House (1890) facing Houston Street, dominates the background center of the photograph. Note the traffic signal hanging from a lateral pole half-way up the east side of the park sidewalk. It is handling the westbound Crockett Street traffic. 

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1915-1920. Subject: Photo crop of an aerial view of Alamo Plaza. Commerce street runs left to right at bottom of photograph. The massive Joske’s building (1887) with its 1909 renovation has not yet completed the surrounding of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and rectory at Commerce and St. Joseph. To the west of Joske’s across Alamo Street on the NW corner of Commerce and Alamo is the Dullnig Building (1879/83) with its single western tower after losing 15 feet of its front and the eastern tower to the Commerce Street Widening Project (1913-1915). Crossing back to the east side of Alamo Street and moving to the north of the massive Joske’s building, there is the Gallagher Building (1877) at the south east corner of Blum and Alamo, which once housed the US Post Office. Across the street to the west is the Reuter Building (1891) sitting on the SW corner of Crockett and Alamo Plaza. It is the large white building with the three slit like windows to the left and down a little from the bandstand in the middle of plaza park. Across Crockett Street to the north of the Reuter Building is the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886). Continuing up the Westside of the plaza from the Grand is the Wickes Building (1886), the Crockett Block (1882) and then the Maverick Bank Building (1884) renamed the Swearingen-McCraw Building in 1894, on the SW corner of Houston and Alamo Plaza. Across Houston Street to the north is the Gibbs Building (1909) and across Alamo Street to the east is the US Post Office and Customs House (1890). Moving south across Houston is the Alamo Convento (Long Barracks) and then the Alamo Chapel and continuing south, the Menger Hotel (1859).

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1889 -1910. Subject: Photo crop of the Menger Hotel (1859), south end of plaza park and a portion of Blum Street. Block paving (1889) and landscaping (1889) is evident. Asphalt paving (1910) not present. View is east and slightly north from Blum and Alamo intersection.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1918. Subject: Damaged photo crop of north side of Alamo Plaza. The US Post Office and Courthouse (1890) in background. A section of the north traffic island in Alamo Plaza as well as the northwest corner of the Alamo compound can be seen. Good close- up of Street car. View is north on Avenue E. from a lower balcony of the Swearingen-McCraw (Maverick Bank) Building (1884).

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1903-1910. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. View is south and elevated almost certainly taken from the US Post Office and Courthouse (1890). Exposure window is framed by: Plaza fountain (1903-1910) is present. Crop eliminated ascription: PROPERTY OF DRT LIBRARY. See ID# 24282.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1890-1903. Subject: Photo crop of Alamo Plaza. Southern corner of Swearingen-McCraw (Maverick Bank) Building (1884), then (moving south on the west side of the plaza) the Crockett block (1882), The Wickes Building (1886), the San Antonio Club and Grand Opera House (1886). Crockett Street intersects, then the Reuter Building (1891), the Dreiss building (1877), and finally on the corner of Alamo and Commerce the Dullnig building (1883) with its eastern tower still intact (removed 1912-1915). Paving and Landscaping (1890) of the park with advanced foilage is evident. Streetcar with electric service (1890) is present passing in front of the Crockett block. No indication of internal combustion automobiles. “The Katy Flyer” of the MK&T (advertisement on side of Wickes Building) begins service in 1896. View is SSE and elevated almost certainly from the US Post Office and Courthouse (1890). The Plaza fountain (1903-1910) is not present.

Photo crop exposure date: unknown. Exposure date (or window) of subject photo: 1918. Subject: Photo crop of a Southern Pacific Lines photo card with handwritten message along margins. Photo on card is before 1915. View is north and elevated across plaza park almost certainly from the Gallagher Building (1877) at NE corner of Blum and Alamo. Margin message mentions Kelly Field #1 (opens 1917) and Line “C” (Existed June to November 1918).