EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Celebrate Texas Archeology Month!

Friday, October 30th, 2009
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Main Plaza at Dwyer Ave and the Old Dolorosa promenade

October is Texas Archeology Awareness Month and in celebration, the Office of Historic Preservation and the Bexar County Historical Commission would like to invite you to attend the grand rededication of the Official State of Texas Historical Marker for the "Storming of Bexar" and the unveiling of the new Main Plaza Interpretive History sign for the Texas Revolutionary Period fortification entrenchment found in 2007 during the Main Plaza renovation. In addition, artifacts from a number of excavations including Main and Military Plazas and the la Villita Earthworks site will be on display at the Bexar County Courthouse. For addition information about the event, please contact Molly Matthews at 207-1460.

Preservation Networking Event
The Friendly Spot Ice House, 943 S. Alamo
5:30 pm - Thursday, October 29th

Join us for a networking event for local preservationists. This event is open to anyone interested in preservation. We will use this opportunity to celebrate Audrey Zamora-Johnson's selection as a finalist (and hopefully the winner) in the "This Place Matters" photo contest.

Wood Window Workshop

Friday, November 13th
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Participation by Registration Only
$95 per person(includes lunch and all materials)

Register today! Space is limited! The window workshop will be held at ARTchitectural Interiors, 1350 E. Southcross. Windows are often character defining features of historic buildings but people are pressured in the name of energy efficiency to replace them. Most of the time, however, the more cost effective and sustainable solution is the rehabilitation of existing windows. Many of the typical problems associated with wood windows can be handled with proper maintenance and repair, extending the life of the window for another 100 years. At this workshop, participants will learn the basics of window repair and proper maintenance. This includes training in how to identify the main problems with the window and how to fix them. For additional information or to register, contact Molly Matthews at 207-1460.

Community Symposium: "Defending the Spanish Borderlands: Perspectives on the Massacre of the San Sabá Mission, Texas"

Saturday, November 7th
8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Mission San José
Visitor Center
6701 San Jose Drive
San Antonio, TX 78214

In celebration of the exhibition The Arts of the Missions of Northern New Spain: 1600-1821, SAMA will host a symposium on November 7th, 2009 at the Mission San José Visitor Center. The symposium will feature presentations from experts including city archaeologist Kay Hindes on the San Sabá Mission. Advance registration for the symposium is requested. Seating is limited. To register, please contact Katie Erickson at (210) 978-8151 or katie.erickson@samuseum.org

“Echoes of the Eastside” Architectural and Cultural Tour

Self-guided tour of San Antonio’s Eastside Available Online

The Office of Historic Preservation has collaborated with the Office of Cultural Affairs to produce an online self-guided Eastside neighborhood tour.  Visit Ellis Alley and St. Paul Square, the traditionally African American commercial and residential hub.  Explore the City Cemetery District with its 31 public and private burial grounds spanning over one hundred and fifty years.  Drive the streets of Dignowity Hill, a local historic district and San Antonio’s first exclusive residential suburb.  View public art, learn about local artists, and taste cuisine from some of San Antonio’s eastside eateries.  The tour is free of charge and available to download or view online at www.saculturaltours.com.  Other neighborhood tours are also online.  The “echoes” of the Eastside await!

Preservation Success Story

People throughout San Antonio are working to rehabilitate historic properties (some in extreme disrepair due to a sudden act or from long-term deterioration) that have significance to the community. The house located at 921 Burleson in the Dignowity Hill Historic District is great success story for the district and historic preservation. The property has a long history of code compliance issues and neglect. In 2005, the Dangerous Structure Determination Board (DSDB) identified the property as a candidate for the historic stabilization program - giving the house another chance to be saved from demolition. The property owners, Thomas and Lydia Fonseca, started the renovation process with the help of the stabilization fund. The Office of Historic Preservation commends the property owners for their contribution to San Antonio, Dignowity Hill, and historic preservation. The completion of an extensive rehabilitation process is nearly finished, which shows that even homes that are considered by some to be “lost” can be saved and preserved for generations to come—contributing to the neighborhood once again.

Educational Opportunities for Students

The Office of Historic Preservation provides educational opportunities for students through hands-on classes, lectures from nationally recognized experts, and internships. Laura Carrera, a student at UTSA, writes about her recent participation and experience in preservation.

My interest in historic preservation began during last semester when I took a graduate course in Preservation taught by Professor William Dupont. We worked with Professor Gale from UT Austin researching materials of a 1900's Fire Station and developing a feasibility analysis for its future purpose. During spring break, I traveled with Professor Dupont to New Orleans where I worked with a team of students restoring a 1920's house located in Lower Ninth Ward through an organization called Historic Green. With a few tools, I discovered my true passion and I began a deep and sincere appreciation for the buildings left to us by previous generations. A few months later while attending a Window Workshop held by the San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, I had the honor of meeting Walter Sedovic, AIA, LEED, an expert in the field of Historic Preservation, and Rudy Christian, founding member of Preservation Trades Network. Besides teaching us about wood work and windows, their lectures clearly expressed the importance of traditional construction methods in order to successfully preserve a building. As a result of my involvement in the window workshop, I was offered a summer job as an architectural intern at Walter Sedovic Architects in Irvington, NY. After spending an entire summer working on historic projects on the outskirts of New York City, I am eager to further my education through a deep understanding of historic materials and restoration techniques. 

Are you frustrated with your high energy bill? If so, you may want to check out the "Weatherization Guide for Older and Historic Homes" available through the National Trust's Website at www.preservationnation.org. The guide discusses everything from diagnosing energy waste areas of your homes to how to take advantage of energy incentives from the state and federal governments. Before you start considering your options for increasing energy efficiency, it is important to understand how your home is currently performing. Most heat loss in a building occurs through the roof and other gaps in the walls and foundation. The best way to identify these problem areas by conducting an energy audit. Professional audits in the San Antonio area generally cost between $250 and $500 depending on the services performed (www.cpsenergy.com). A professional audit will help you identify sources of energy loss and the most cost-effective options for sealing off leaks. If the primary source of heat loss is air leaking through an attic hatch or a poorly-fitted fireplace damper, replacing your windows is not going to help and could actually cost you thousands more. The Office of Historic Preservation is working with CPS energy to develop information and resources for historic properties.