Location and History
The quiet neighborhood of Woodlawn Place Addition, once
advertised as the “Million Dollar Addition,” is located just
northwest of downtown San Antonio, along Martinez Creek between
Woodlawn Ave., Fredericksburg Rd. (a section of the Old Spanish
Trail) and N. Zarzamora.
The 100 acres, first platted in 1922, were chosen for the
abundance of large mature trees that would surround the new
bungalows and impressive homes with styles to include, Tudor
Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Moorish-Spanish, and
Craftsman architecture, with thoughtful designs in stonework and
stucco. These homes included the latest in modern
appliances, electrical lighting, gas and plumbing, all on paved
streets with walks and curbs. The neighborhood was an
“automobile suburb,” and the streets were designed to be eighty
feet wide to accommodate the automobile, with rear garages and
all power poles located in alleyways to not obstruct the beauty
of the homes. A character-defining feature of this area is the
tiled street names on every corner with street names continuing
from the adjacent Woodlawn Lake District. The period of
significance for Woodlawn Place Addition is 1924 to 1940 when
the majority of these homes were built.
Developers
Three prominent San Antonio businessmen, Norris Dickinson, owner
of N.S. Dickinson & Co., Kenneth Wimer, President and Manager of
Wimer-Richardson & Company, Investment Bankers, and Leland
Busby, President of the Busby Building Corp., all collaborated
in the development of Woodlawn Place Addition, also known as the
“Picture Book Addition,” and they each owned homes in this
neighborhood.
Norris Dickinson, a leading real estate dealer and home builder,
chose the land to plat and develop. He was also the Vice
President of Busby Building Corp. and placed many ads in the San
Antonio newspapers announcing the new model homes, some of which
were sold fully furnished. In 1926, an ad included 1546
West Magnolia Ave., a fully furnished Moorish-Spanish style home
for $11,500. In 1940, 1612 West Huisache was advertised as
a “lovely, six-room home for rent at a reduced price of
$50.00/month."
1612 W. Huisache
1546 W. Magnolia
Leland Busby traveled to Denver, Salt Lake City and several
cities in California to study stucco and brick veneer
construction and concluded that stucco homes would best adapt to
San Antonio and its needs. He built several stucco homes,
especially on W. Summit St., which became known as “Busby’s
Stucco Row.” There are seven of the 20 stucco homes remaining
today. Busby’s homes featured three-wall construction,
reinforced concrete foundations, plaster finishes, hard wood and
tile floors, and fire resistant mineral sheathing which also
acted as an insulator.
Kenneth Wimer, who contributed greatly to the development of San
Antonio, resided at 1506 Huisache, a magnificent two-story
brick Tudor Revival. Urban legend has it that this house was
later a brothel, complete with secret passages so that when the
police arrived, all occupants could hide without being found.
 
 
A Complete Community
Commercial buildings added to the convenience of living in this
area. They included: Woodlawn Place Grocery and Market
located at 1651 Woodlawn as listed in the 1927 San Antonio City
Directory; Diamond Service Gas Station #1 located at 1650 West
Woodlawn, listed in the 1929-1930 Directory; and Beacon Drug
Store located at 1655 Woodlawn listed in the 1929 Directory.
In 1935, 1639 West Mistletoe was listed as Mrs. Ware Blanche
Convalescent Home, which became Morgan Nursing Home from 1946 –
1970, and later became the Kerper House, a halfway house for
released criminals. Today only the rear apartment stands
on the large quadruple lot.
Woodlawn Elementary School opened in 1924, while Woodlawn Place
Tabernacle served the community at 1701 West Woodlawn Ave., the
closest religious sanctuary in the area. By 1934, it had
changed its name to Woodlawn Methodist Church and is now El Divino United Methodist Church.
There are 30 apartment buildings out of the 221 resources in
Woodlawn Place Addition. Most of these multi-family
dwellings border the edges of the major streets in the area:
Woodlawn Ave., N. Calaveras, and N. Zarzamora.
Today the Woodlawn Place Addition is well maintained and still
adds to the beauty and history of San Antonio.
By Lisa M. LeJune
San Antonio Conservation Society volunteer - Historic Survey
Committee
February 2009
Original Draft By:
Rachel Baumann, Historic Preservation Intern 2004
Sources
New Encyclopedia of Texas, “Men of Texas” p. 493-494
San Antonio Light, May 1926, and July 1940
City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation Archives
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