Anton Wulff House facts for kids
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Anton Wulff House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Anton Wulff House in 2005
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 Anton Wulff House
Location in Texas
Anton Wulff House
Location in the United States
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| Location | 107 King William St., San Antonio, Texas |
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| Part of | King William Historic District (ID72001349) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | January 20, 1972 |
The Anton Wulff House is a special historic building in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. It is recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bexar County, Texas (NRHP). From 1975 to 2022, the house was the main office for the San Antonio Conservation Society. The house was built for Anton Wulff, a German immigrant and a successful businessman. He was also a city leader, San Antonio's first park commissioner, and he helped design Alamo Plaza.
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Discover the Anton Wulff House
The Anton Wulff House is a multi-story building made of limestone. It is built in the Italianate style, which means it looks like an Italian Renaissance villa. You can find it at 107 King William Street in the historic King William District in San Antonio.
How Old is the House?
The house was built between 1869 and 1870. The land it stands on was once owned by Pedro Huizar. This area was also part of the San Antonio de Valero Mission a long time ago. In the 1800s, the property even had its own boathouse and bathhouse.
Changes Over Time
In 1902, the Wulff family sold the house to Arthur and Elise Guenther. A big flood in 1921 led to changes in the San Antonio River. Before that, the Wulff house was right next to the river.
Later, in 1950, the house was sold again. It was then changed into several apartments. A group called the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners bought and remodeled it. In 1968, the house got a special permit because it was part of the King William Historic District.
The Conservation Society's Role
In 1974, the San Antonio Conservation Society (SACS) bought the house. They raised money to restore it to its original beauty. In 1975, SACS moved its headquarters into the Wulff House. They used it as their main office until 2022. There is even a garden next to the house named the Pedro Huizar Garden, honoring the land's first owner.
Why is the Wulff House Historic?
The Anton Wulff House is very important for history. It was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1976. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a key part of the King William Historic District, which is a protected historic area.
Who Was Anton Wulff?
Anton Friedrich Wulff (1822–1894) was born in Hamburg, Germany. He moved to Texas in 1848. In 1852, he married María Guadalupe Olivarri, whose family were among the first Canary Islanders to settle in San Antonio. Wulff became a United States citizen in 1854.
Anton Wulff's Businesses
Anton Wulff started by working in stores in San Antonio. Then, he opened his own dry-goods store in Fredericksburg. He grew his business to other towns like Coke County, and border towns like Laredo.
During the Civil War, Anton Wulff provided supplies to both sides. Because of this, he was accused of being a spy. To stay safe, Wulff sent his family to Germany and moved to Mexico until the war ended.
Wulff's Contributions to San Antonio
After the war, Wulff and his family returned to San Antonio. He built his beautiful home there. He became very involved in making San Antonio a better place. He was the city's first park commissioner. He was also elected as a city alderman, which is like a city council member.
Anton Wulff designed the layout of Alamo Plaza. He loved gardening and spent his own money to make the plaza beautiful. The city's business leaders were so thankful that they gave him a special walking cane as a gift.
