Elmendorf, Emil, House
509 Burleson St., San Antonio, TXThe house is a good example of the Victorian raised-cottage style, and was designed by Alfred Giles, an important local architect.
The house located at 509 Burleson Street was built for Emil Elmendorf in 1884 in one of the most prestigious residential areas of San Antonio, Dignowity Hill. It is an example of the prosperity experienced by the city during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It is significant not only for its architectural style, that of a Victorian raised-cottage, but also because it was designed by Alfred Giles, an important local architect known throughout the Southwest. The house is one of only a few remaining raised-cottages in San Antonio. The gently, sloping hill on which the house is situated demanded a particular design and Giles' graceful integration of design with the site is evidence of his remarkable ability to adapt traditional forms to certain situations. Many of the houses Giles has designed are still serving their original purpose. His houses have remained functionally adequate, providing both comfort and convenience. Of historical importance is the fact that the owner, Emil Elmendorf, was a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families in San Antonio and the Southwest. He was one of the owners of Elmendorf and Company, a hardware business, established in San Antonio in 1859, which held the position of the largest firm of its kind in the city.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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.