Description:
August Staacke came to San Antonio from Germany in 1848 and began a general merchandising store, which also sold carriages and wagons. His three sons took over his carriage business in 1889. They hired prominent San Antonio architect James Riely Gordon to design their Commerce Street store, which was completed in 1894.
Three years earlier, in 1891, Gordon had built the Stevens building for John James Stevens. Stevens served as postmaster of San Antonio and played a prominent role in civic affairs. He was a charter member of the University Club, which had its headquarters and clubrooms in the Stevens Building.
The Society saved the front 97 feet of the Staacke and Stevens Buildings from demolition by purchasing the properties in 1979. A group of local investors purchased both buildings in the early 1980s for adaptive use as retail and office space.
Three years earlier, in 1891, Gordon had built the Stevens building for John James Stevens. Stevens served as postmaster of San Antonio and played a prominent role in civic affairs. He was a charter member of the University Club, which had its headquarters and clubrooms in the Stevens Building.
The Society saved the front 97 feet of the Staacke and Stevens Buildings from demolition by purchasing the properties in 1979. A group of local investors purchased both buildings in the early 1980s for adaptive use as retail and office space.
Credit Line:
Courtesy of the San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation.
ID Number:
1988—0039
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Staacke (left) and Stevens (right) Buildings, c. 1980. Photo by Ron Jones.
The Stevens Building's (right) missing elements reconstructed, c. 1983.
Staacke (left) and Stevens (right) Buildings, c. 1980. Photo by Ron Jones.
The Stevens Building's (right) missing elements reconstructed, c. 1983.