National Register Listing

Guenther, Carl Hilmar, House

205 E. Guenther St., San Antonio, TX

Guenther's mill was the first steam and water powered mill in San Antonio.

The Carl Hilmar Guenther House, built in 1859 with later additions dating to about 1880 and most notably 1915, was the home of a successful San Antonio businessman and his family. Founder of C.H. Guenther and Sons, a flour producer now called Pioneer Flour Mills, Guenther built San Antonio's first steam and water powered mill in 1859. The Guenther House is one of eight dwellings that members of C.H. Guenther and Sons built at the intersection of King William and Ewell (now Guenther) streets. Now used as a museum of milling history, a museum store and a restaurant, the building design retains its historic fabric and rich details. The house meets Criterion C for its regional vernacular construction blended with Arts and Crafts styling.

Carl Hilmar Guenther (1825-1902) came to the United States in 1848, first to Wisconsin and then to Texas in 1851. The son of a prosperous merchant in Weissenfels (now in Germany), Guenther was a trained cabinet maker, stone mason and millwright. He wrote to his family, "I want buy some land along some river here near San Antonio, and build a mill." He purchased land on Live Oak Creek in Gillespie County, nine miles west of Fredericksburg in 1851, imported French millstones and designed equipment for a steam operated mill.

Floods almost destroyed the Fredericksburg mill during construction, but Guenther rebuilt and was subsequently successful enough to expand his system to grind wheat and corn for area farmers. Still, Guenther wrote to his mother on August 22, 1859:

...I have decided to travel to San Antonio in two days and find a better location for my steam and water powered mill. San Antonio has now 10,000 inhabitants and only one very meager water mill. I have been to San Antonio once or twice every year and have often remarked that there is real need for a good mill.
Bibliography
A.F. BecJunann Journal. Unpublished manuscript. Ernst Schuchard Collection, D.R.T. Library, The Alamo.

Bird's Eye View Map. San Antonio, 1873.

Burkholder, Mary V. The King William Area; A Historv and Guide to the Houses. San Antonio: The King William Assn., 1973.

Chabot, Frederick. With the Makers of San Antonio. San Antonio: Artes Graficas, 1937
Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

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.

architecture houses residential buildings
The discovery of oil in 1901 near Beaumont, Texas, sparked an oil boom that transformed the state's economy and led to the rise of the modern petroleum industry.
Texas random facts
Bexar County, Texas, holds a significant place in the history of the Lone Star State. Native American tribes thrived in the region for centuries before the arrival of European explorers. In 1718, the Spanish established the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known as the Alamo, which became a symbol of Texas' fight for independence. The area came under Mexican control after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821.

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.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey 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.