Schroeder-Yturri House

The Schroeder-Yturri House at 440 E. Commerce, located on part of lot 11, Block E, was built between 1868 and 1877, After inheriting property in February, 1868, Texas P. Dimmitt took out a deed of trust for lots 2, 3, 4, 10, and 11, Block E, and released the mortgage on June 2, 1869, The Schroeder-Yturri House, or a portion of the house, could have been constructed at this time. On June 1, 1869, H.B. Adams and E.D.L. Wickes paid T.P. Dimmitt $1,050 for lots 3, 4, 10, and 11 and then sold lots 10 and 11 for $1,800 to George Schroeder in December, 1877, In addition to the 1868 mortgage, certain architectural de-tails, such as the six over six light windows and the central hall plan, characteristic of the Greek Revival period, suggest the early construction date. However, the increased price of lots 10 and 11 in 1877, as well as Victorian features in the gallery detail, the doors, sidelights and transoms, and the rear ell, suggest that the house was built ca. 1870s.

The first resident listed in the San Antonio directory at the address 440 E. Commerce was George Schroeder, The house remained the Schroeder family residence until 1910. During the late nineteenth century, Schroeder owned a store a short distance from his home at 341 E. Commerce, where he sold groceries, provisions, dry goods, boots, and shoes.

George Schroeder's daughter, Antoinette Keylick, who was deeded the pro-perty in 1910, sold lot 11 to Josephine Allen in 1912, After a series of owner-ships, lots 11 through 16 were sold to E.H. Yturri and E.H. Marx in 1936. Eventually, Yturri owned the entire parcel of land. The Yturri family con-tinued to own the property until Urban Renewal bought the land in 1965.

From 1914 to 1960 the Schroeder-Yturri House sheltered various renters, particularly commercial businesses. Between 1960 and 1964 the house was vacant, but on March 5, 1965, the Urban Renewal Agency bought the land from Enedina H. Yturri in preparation for Hemisfair '68. In September, 1966, an amendment to Public Law 284, Eighty-Ninth Congress, ordered that the Schroeder-Yturri House, as well as several nineteenth century homes on the Henisfair property, be preserved by the City of San Antonio and the exposition, funded by the Secretary of Commerce. At that time, the building was renovated for use of Century Souvenirs. This company remained as leasees until mid-1971.

Now numbered as 1040 E. Commerce, the Schroeder-Yturri House has been vacant since ownership was awarded in 1971 to the San Antonio Water Board.

Typical of many San Antonio homes built during the 1860s and 1870s, the Schroeder-Yturri House represents one of the few remaining symmetrical Victorian homes, A transitional style between the Greek Revival and the richly detailed symmetrical Victorian homes of the late nineteenth century, the house is an important example of San Antonio's architectural development. Although presently surrounded by modern office buildings, wide thoroughfares and parking lots, the house remains on its original site and reflects the type of construction that once surrounded this section of San Antonio.