Franklin, Thomas H., House
105 E. French Pl., San Antonio, TXThe Franklin House is a rare example of a transitional Queen Anne-Shingle style residence in San Antonio and stands as an important architectural landmark in the locally designated Monte Vista Historic District.
Thomas H. Franklin was born in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on March 4, 1854, the son of George Anson and Mary J. Clifton Franklin. Franklin was admitted to the bar in 1874 in Louisiana, but came to Texas in 1876. During his distinguished legal career, which spanned five decades. Franklin was an outstanding supporter of law enforcement in Texas. He was a senior member of the law firm of Denman, Franklin, and Denman, and served as president of the Texas State Bar Association. In later years he limited his practice to civil law, but his earlier career as a prosecutor attracted the attention not only of Texas governors, but also of President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland appointed him special prosecutor to investigate election-law violations, and later to prosecute several people charged with train robberies in Texas. Franklin was active in local and national civic affairs and was a member of numerous social organizations. He married Marianna Jackson on January 18, 1883, and they had two children: a son who died as a young man and a daughter, Marianna Catherine, who married CoL W.L. Hart. Thomas Franklin died on March 23, 1932.
On March 21, 1890, Thomas H. Franklin, with the intent of erecting a new house, purchased a lot at the northeast corner of East French Place and Main Avenue, and during the next year contracted Eugene Davis to build the house which James Riely Gordon had designed. Three years later. Franklin added a porte cochere and a carriage house. Franklin lived in the massive residence for over 40 years, until his death in 1932.
James Riely Gordon, designer of the house, was a prominent San Antonio architect during the late 1800s. Born in Virginia in 1863, but raised in San Antonio, Gordon is best known for his Romanesque Revival county courthouses throughout the state. Many of these extant masonry structures are listed in the National Register and include the courthouses for Wise, Ellis, Fayette, Gonzales, Victoria, Hopkins, Lee, and Comal counties. The majority of his projects in Texas involved public, institutional and commercial buildings, but the Franklin House represents an important and rare example of one of his residential designs. After moving to New York in 1902, Gordon began to specialize almost exclusively in public buildings, and worked on the staff of the Architect of the Capitol. He was supervising architect for the construction of the United States Post Office, Court House, and Customs House in San Antonio, and also designed the Capitol at Phoenix, Arizona. Highly respected with his peers, Gordon served for 13 terms as president and chairman of the board of directors of the New York Society of Architects, and was made honorary president of that organization.
F.M. Conlon bought the house in 1932, and his wife taught piano lessons in the house to students of St. Mary's Hall. In 1941, Franklin's daughter and son-in-law purchased the house and lived there until July 1944, when they sold it to Saint Mary's Hall for $25,000. The residence became a dormitory for senior girls. San Antonio Academy, a private school for boys, acquired ownership of the property in 1969. Plans for the structure are to employ the house for administrative offices for the school and for apartments for faculty members, an excellent example of adaptive reuse.
Bibliography
University of Texas at Austin, Archives of Architecture Library, data on T.H. Franklin House.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, is one of the largest universities in the United States and has produced many notable alumni, including several U.S. presidents.
During the Texas Revolution in 1836, the Battle of the Alamo took place, where a small group of Texan defenders valiantly fought against Mexican forces. Although the defenders ultimately lost, their bravery and sacrifice galvanized the Texan cause. Soon after, the Republic of Texas was established, and Bexar County was officially created in 1837, named after San Antonio de Béxar.
Bexar County played a vital role in the westward expansion of the United States. It became part of the United States when Texas joined as the 28th state in 1845. The county saw significant growth with the construction of railroads, the establishment of military bases like Fort Sam Houston, and the influx of European immigrants. In 1968, HemisFair '68 brought international attention to the county, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and attracting visitors from around the world. Today, Bexar County is known for its vibrant tourism industry, robust military presence, renowned healthcare institutions, and prestigious educational establishments.
Bexar County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Bexar County, Texas.
Pre-19th Century: The region that would become Bexar County was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Coahuiltecan and Lipan Apache.
1718: The Spanish established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known today as the Alamo, in what is now downtown San Antonio. This marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the area.
1821: Mexico gained independence from Spain, and the region came under Mexican control.
1836: The Battle of the Alamo took place during the Texas Revolution, where a small group of Texan defenders fought against Mexican forces. Though the defenders were ultimately defeated, their resistance became a symbol of Texas independence.
1837: The Republic of Texas officially established Bexar County, naming it after San Antonio de Béxar, the former Spanish name for the area.
1845: Texas joined the United States as the 28th state.
1861-1865: During the American Civil War, Bexar County remained part of the Confederacy.
Late 19th-early 20th century: The county saw growth and development with the expansion of railroads, the establishment of military bases like Fort Sam Houston, and the arrival of European immigrants.
1968: HemisFair '68, a world's fair, was held in San Antonio, bringing national and international attention to the city and the county.