The 1886 Courthouse and Where it Went

I first wrote about the Courthouse here.

It may surprise people to learn that parts of the 1886 Kerr County Courthouse still exist in the area.  After the current courthouse was opened for business in 1926 the previous 1886 courthouse was torn down and the materials sold. T. W. Sawyer was in charge of the razing.  The March 1, 1928, Kerrville Mountain Sun listed everyone who purchased materials from the courthouse.  Those who bought the limestone rock were: Sid Peterson, Mrs. H. C. Geron, Herb Johnson, W. A. Lochte, Aron Denton, Mrs. Geo. Morris, Oliver Goss, Mrs. H. A. Shand, Louis Domingues, G. W. Walthers, J. C. Adrian, Schreiner Institute, Robert Saner, Jack Moore, Otto Bernhardt, August Leeder, Heidel.

Those who bought lumber, "which by the way was in splendid condition, straight grain, heart pine,"
were: Judge Baker, Harry Karger, P. L. Raaz, J. C. Hux, W. H. Reshworth, T. K. Carr, J. W. Denton, Jim Whalen and I. W. Van Hoozer.

Those who bought tin were: Fred Real, Ameil Harbecker, Capt. McCaleb and A. J. Colbath. B. C. Richards bought the old vault doors; A. L. Starkey, window sash; Mrs. S. E. Thompson, the iron cornice and Mrs. P. J. Domingues and Louis Domingues, bought the judge's desk, bannisters and stairway, all solid walnut wood.

The largest purchaser of rock was the Schreiner Institute, who got 108 loads.  August Leeder was next with 75 loads.

Remaining material was ground up and used as the road base for the parking lot surrounding the courthouse.

What did Schreiner Institute do with the rock from the 1886 Courthouse?  The August 9, 1928, Kerrville Mountain Sun reported that the limestone wall along the Old Spanish Trail (Hwy 27/Memorial Boulevard) came from the old Kerr County Courthouse! Although the main entrance to Schreiner is being widened, it appears that some of the old wall, built from these historic materials, is still there.
I think the wall around Glen Rest Cemetery is part of that. There is a rock wall along a house on Jackson Road in the same style that MAY also be from the 1886 courthouse.
Doubtless there are other remnants of the courthouse still around as well. If you know more, please let me know.

Valley View Addition

Kerrville Mountain Sun, January 7, 1926

In 1926 L. A. Schreiner's Valley View Addition opened in Kerrville. It was close to Hillcrest Addition. I've already written about Hillcrest here. That subdivision opened in 1922. Four years later a section in the same area called Valley View also opened. The surveyor's notes in the Kerr County deed books show that the main road in the subdivision is Mae Drive.  It runs northwest from Stadium Drive.  This Valley View Addition should not be confused with the Valley View Road of today located south of the river.

The Valley View portion of the advertisement to the right from the Kerrville Mountain Sun, January 7, 1926, reads

E. L. Sublett and M. F. Weston, Proprietors. Exclusive Agents for Hillcrest Addition.

L. A. Schreiner Valley View Addition.

Valley View

This beautiful new addition to Kerrville is located above the city just off the Fredericksburg Road and overlooks the Quinlan Creek Valley, hence the name "Valley View."  Property in this desirable addition is being sold in acreage tracts and already several nice suburban homes have been built in this section.  These beautiful home sites are priced very reasonable and will be sold on easy terms.  If you are in the market for a home or a good investment, let us show you over this property and quote prices.

Kerrville Mountain Sun, January 21, 1926

The first sales in Valley View reported in the newspaper were L. A. Schreiner to Walter A. Lorenz, lot 6, block 5, for $2,550, and L. A. Schreiner to T. G. Johnston, lots 1, 8, 9, block 5,  $1,700, followed shortly by a sale to Peter Dondlinger of lot 10, block 1 for  $650, and to Walter E. Saenger lot 2, block 5 for $500.

Barnett Chapel United Methodist Church

Barnett Chapel United Methodist Church, 710 Paschal Street, was established in 1896. It is the oldest historically black church in Kerrville.   Due to segregation, there were no schools or churches for non-whites for the first four decades of the county’s existence.  The black community was very small.  Four of the first black families in Kerrville were the Buckners, the Robinsons, the Butlers, and the Blankses.  Recognizing the need for a church and school, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Barnett were instrumental in organizing the first religious observances, first in homes then in a small, one room building in 1897. Later the congregation met in an old schoolhouse.

In 1898 they bought the land they still own today and have worshiped at this location continually since. The present house of worship was erected in 1963, adding a parsonage in 1976 and a multi-purpose building in 1982.
Josephine Barnett, whose name the church carries, was one of the original church trustees. The others were Levi Butler, Z. T. Wilson, and James Askey
Circuit-riding ministers from Bandera, Uvalde and Fredericksburg preached the early services until 1902 when the Reverend W. M. Mosby, a Methodist, was assigned as the first minister to Barnett Chapel.
Barnett Chapel has been an active participant in Kerrville since its earliest years. Notable programs have included Juneteenth and Heritage celebrations, youth programs, emergency relief, Women’s Conferences, musical programs, evangelism and outreach, and community-wide interracial programs.  Through its many years of service and mission, the church has had a significant impact on the community and region.