Old Lone Star Brewery (Boundary Increase)

The four structure addition to the National Register Nomination of the Old Lone Star Brewery completes the complex, which is an outstanding example of turn-of-the-century industrial architecture. Although not included in the previous nomination (1972), the additional buildings played a vital role in the brewing process and constitute the re-maining structures of the complex. Constructed between 1895 and 1903, the addition includes the following structures: the Engine/Boiler Rooms, a two-and-one-half story structure which contained mechanical equipment for brewing operations, attached to the main brewing building; the Ice Plant, a two story structure which housed a brine tank for ice manufacture on the second floor and storage space on the first floor; the Stable, a two story building with stalls for draft horses and vehicles on the first floor and a hayloft on the second floor; and the Wash House, a small, single story unit surrounded by the Ice Plant, Warehouse, and Stable which was used by employees as a place to wash and change clothes. Similar to the other brewery buildings in materials and style, these structures were built of load-bearing brick reinforced with iron, and feature the same interplay of vertical and horizontal elements created through a diverse format of fenestration and brick delineation. The relationship of the structures to one another as well as the main building (which housed the brewing equipment) was established ac-cording to function. The area surrounding the buildings is covered with paving brick and serves as parking and courtyards.

Horizontal in form and decorative emphasis with references to verticality, the Engine/ Boiler Room contributes significantly to the visual impact of the main building which faces south on Jones Avenue. The walls, fabricated with pitch-faced ashlar and brick, are pierced with a variety of arched door and window openings. Accessibility to this wing from Jones Avenue was limited to the Engine Room which features segmented arched doorways. The horizontal emphasis is strengthened by the brick string courses across the parapet while the arched windows, bricked pilasters rising above the roof line, and stepped parapet reflect the verticality of the five story towers rising from the main building. Decorative iron supports on the flat roof of the Engine Room indicate the existence of a roof garden. A smoke stack originally extended from the boiler room, but has since been removed.

Located within the interior of the brewery complex, the Ice Plant is less decorative than the structures visible from Jones Avenue. The walls are punctuated with segmented arched door and window openings, accentuated with brick string courses at the second floor and roof line, and pairs of pilasters terminated with curved merlons projecting above the roof line. Alterations to the structure include the removal of windows on the first floor and the addition of a loading dock.
Visible from Jones Avenue, the Stable features a high degree of decorative brickwork. The symmetrical facade of the structure features corner pilasters and a stepped para-pet. This is further emphasized by corbeled string courses. The segmented arched openings are emphasized by brick hood moldings. Featured on either side of the facade are two bull's eye window openings, one of which retains its original "star" window mullions. The remaining facades reflect the decorative details of the front facade. Modern storage sheds are currently attached to the north wall of the Stable but will be removed in the restoration of the property.

Nestled among the Ice Plant, Stable, and Warehouse, the small Wash House is rich in decorative detail. The brick walls are broken with arched openings and accented with horizontal courses encircling the structure. The narrow facades of this rectangular form are given a vertical emphasis with pairs of merlon-capped pilasters projecting above the roof line.

Recently the San Antonio Museum Association acquired the property with plans to restore it for use as a museum and cultural arts center for the city of San Antonio.