715 Water Street

UPDATE:  More digging in old newspapers revealed that this brick building was constructed in the spring of 1909 by Davey & Schott for Charles Schreiner.  The first occupant was William Boeckmann and Co., who opened a recreation hall here.  It was "designed to be a high-class place of resort and innocent amusement."

This building at 715 Water Street, now home to the Kerrville Main Street office, is another of the many downtown buildings that is more than a century old. I don't have an exact date--there are gaps in the historical record, but we know it was built sometime between 1904 and 1910.  In 1910 this building appears on the Sanborn-Perrin fire insurance map as a pool hall and restaurant.  

On August 10, 1910, the following ad ran in the Kerrville Mountain Sun: " Pastime Parlor. J. H. Jones, Proprietor. Billiards, Pool, Dominoes, Auto-Motor pictures. Lunch and Short Orders. Water Street Kerrville."  There were two properties on Water Street in 1910 described as a billiards hall and restaurant. One was Geo. Walther's amusement hall in the 800 block of Water Street.  For that reason, I believe this to be the Pastime Parlor.

UPDATE: I have come across additional material.  While it is certain that this building served as a pool hall almost to the time Self took it over, it may have remained in Boeckmann's hands the whole time.  There are gaps in the newspaper record and what is in the paper isn't clear.

About 1919 A. E. Self moved his jewelry store from Earl Garrett Street to this location on Water Street.  Said to be the first jeweler in Kerrville, A. E. Self's business began when he purchased an existing business in the corner of the Rock Drug store in 1903. [The Rock Drug building is in the 800 block of Water and is part of the telephone company building.] In time he moved his business to a wooden building next to the Masonic Building on Earl Garrett, then here.

In 1926 it was remodeled to conform to the Arcadia Theatre next door. 

Self's was not just a jeweler, but also offered optometry and film processing services. Blanche Self (later Blanche Self Hall) was the first film processor in Kerrville.

Self's was here until October 1938, when the store moved to 723 Water. A series of small businesses, non-profits, and government agencies have occupied the space since.

For those really interested, the partial list of tenants includes: the National Farm Loan Association, Garrett Insurance, Charles Henry Realty, Democratic Party Headquarters (1940 election), Kerr County Aid Association, VFW committee during World War II to help young men qualify as air cadets, Charles W. Henry real estate, Ware's Shoes, and Karen's House of Fashion.