Dienger, Joseph, Building

The Joseph Dienger Building is one of the finest 19th-century commercial structures in the town of Boerne, with excellent late Italianate detailing. The building occupies a prominent site on the north side of the Plaza and was constructed by Joseph Dienger to serve as both his residence and dry goods and grocery store.

The two-story limestone structure erected by Joseph Dienger in 1887 as his home and store stands as one of the finest 19th-century commercial buildings in Boerne, with most of its handsome exterior detailing intact and in excellent condition. The deep gallery that wraps around the two street facades of the original structure resembles that of the nearby Kendall Inn (National Register). Together, the Dienger Building and the Inn form an architectural ensemble that borders the north side of the town's plaza. The 1887 Dienger Building served two functions; the lower floor was used for a grocery business, while the upper floor was a family residence. In 1900, a long, one-story addition was built to the north of the main structure, providing space for other members of the Dienger family to run a dry-goods store.

Carl Dienger, the father of Joseph, immigrated from Germany by way of New Orleans. He accompanied George Wilkins Kendall, for whom Kendall County is named. Carl married Dorthea Boehner, who was also from a German immigrant family. Carl Dienger was an educated man; he taught school in Texas and later acquired considerable property in and around Boerne. He and his wife had six children. Joseph, the oldest son, became engaged in the grocery business in Boerne in 1882. He purchased the present lot north of the town plaza and west of Main Street in 1884 for $900.00. In 1887, he and his wife, Ida Dietert Dienger, contracted with a San Antonio Lumber company for building materials with which to build the combination store/residence described herein.  In 19003, Lina and Louise Dienger convinced their brother Joseph to expand their store so they could open a dry-goods business. A long, single-story limestone structure was added to the north of the original store, and an opening was made in the common wall to allow access between the two. The two sisters enjoyed a prosperous business in the sale of men's and ladies' ready-to-wear, shoes, linens, and fabrics. Around 1912, Joseph Dienger sold the grocery business to his brother Charles and bought out his sisters' interest in the dry-goods store. Charles Dienger later sold the business to his nephew Lou Dienger, and Joseph Dienger passed on the dry-goods business to his son Herbert Dienger, and to his son-in-law H.J. Vogt. Members of the Dienger family operated the grocery business until 1936,5 and the dry-goods business remained in the family until Herbert Dienger died in 1951. The property was then leased to various tenants until it was purchased by Kendall Developers, Inc., in 1967. The original store was used by the Antlers Restaurant from 1968 to 1978.7 In 1981, the Dienger Building was rehabilitated as offices for the Tectonex Corporation, a petroleum exploration and investment firm.

The Dienger family is perhaps a typical example of the hard-working German settlers who peopled western Central Texas. The Joseph Dienger Building is an example of architecture as visual history, for it successfully documents the culture and industry of the German pioneers in Texas--a faction that at the turn of the 20th century comprised one-fifth of the population of the state.